I've noticed you had no responses to your problem. A new questions here are in order.

The microphone you purchased from radio shaft, does the microphone itself have a 3 pin "XLR" type connector at the end of the microphone? I'm not talking about the cord here, just the microphone. Is the microphone a condenser type that requires a battery? Or is it a dynamic type that requires no battery?

It may not be good enough to plug your microphone into the microphone input jack on either of your computers. Because this particular type of microphone jack already has some DC current in the jack that powers really cheap multimedia style computer microphones. This sounds you're describing sound like your adapter that you are using is shorting out the direct current in the microphone connection within both computers.

Generally if you want to use a better type of microphone with your computer you'll also need to purchase a decent entry-level microphone preamplifier that will be external to both of your computer's. The external microphone preamplifier must be plugged into the computers "line input", NOT the microphone input.

If either one of your computers does not have a line input jack, you will need to purchase a USB audio interface that will also be external to the computer. A USB audio interface generally only has line level inputs on RCA jacks. I haven't seen any low-cost, entry-level, USB audio interfaces with microphone inputs that are $100 or less.

So you are looking at an additional 100 to $200 investment just to use a better microphone with your computer. If you want to record more than 1 microphone, you will need an entry-level microphone mixer made by companies like Mackie, Beringer, Sound Craft and others. So you are then looking at an additional 100 to $300 investment for a small mixer.

Sorry that's how it goes and it has nothing to do with the quality level of your computer.

Computers have bad microphone inputs.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Hi Ms. Remy,

Thanks for your response. The mic doesn't have any unusual connector. The cable just runs from the mic straigt down for 9 feet to a 1/2" (guess) connector, then I put that into a converter that makes it into 1/4" to get into my computer. The mic also doesn't have any power input, or battery space.

But the problem I'm having is not related the mic. Since if I leave the MIC unplugged (as if I have no mic what so ever) and then set my recording source to mic input, with volume up, then I click reload I get full of pffff sounding noise, it's very consistant sound, it has no crackles in it. If I increase the db's then it just becomes a boooom base sound. The same with my laptop, if i leave the mic unplugged, I get the silent beeps.

I tried what you suggested and plugged the mic into my line in. I put the line in recording volume to max, turned on the mic, and I really have to almost scream to get some audio that I can hear on playback. So it seems clear that if I use the line-in I will need these mic amps you are recommending.

Do you happen to know if there is any stand alone, even portable device that can be used to plug mic(s) into it and record? I guess it would record to? That would be the most ideal so then I can carry it home and import into the computer and edit it. I guess something like an iPOD might do something like this, but that's not designed for recording; and I highly doubt it would have any good quality on it.

For my notes:

Equipment 1: decent entry-level microphone preamplifier that will be external to both of your computer's. The external microphone preamplifier must be plugged into the computers "line input", NOT the microphone input.

Equiptment 2: USB audio interface that will also be external to the computer. A USB audio interface generally only has line level inputs on RCA jacks. I haven't seen any low-cost, entry-level, USB audio interfaces with microphone inputs that are $100 or less.

Equiptment 3: entry-level microphone mixer made by companies like Mackie, Beringer, Sound Craft and others. So you are then looking at an additional 100 to $300 investment for a small mixer.

The above 3 things seem feasble for me to get. But I'm thinking if a portable recording device to replace the computer would be best. Then I would get that portable device + mic mixer + mic(s) (and one preamp per mic).

Any specific brand/model recommedations would be appreciated.

Thanks again for taking the time to write a response.

Regards,
Ramiel

Microphone inputs should never be left turned up without anything plug into them.

Again, I'm not clear on your microphone cord? 1/2" as in 3 pin XLR to 1/4" adapter and another one from 1/4" to 1/8" adapter into the microphone input on your computer? And from your description appears to be a dynamic microphone like an imitation Shure SM58?

It sounds to me like you should not have any microphone inputs turned up if you do not have any microphones connected. Microphone inputs that are not terminated by a microphone will generally induce quite a bit of noise on their own.

You cannot power a line input from a microphone source! You must have a preamplifier first.

If you are looking for a " Notebook studio", there are many available from companies like Roland, Teac, Fostex, Yamaha, which should definitely give you a better education with a more responsive device in a very compact manner. Many include various and sundry effects, CD burning and nonlinear track building capabilities. Once you become proficient with one of those, you may be ready to step up to the more modular and component oriented recording systems that most of us use here.

I hope this gives you yet a little better insight?
Ms. Remy Ann David