or maybe I hate my microphone. OR maybe I hate my computer. Or maybe I hate all three. Just maybe, I hate myself. I can't get my mic to work and/or Audacity to work. Yes, I have the mic plugged into the mic outlet on the back of my pc tower.

I downloaded Audacity 1.2.4b (it's a stable program). I installed it. That proved promising as two icons magically appeared on my desktop. I plugged in my mic. BTW, there were no instructions with the mic. I read the online Audacity tutorials. I listened to IC's audio tutorial on Audacity (A GAZILLION times).

I realized I hadn't downloaded the lame MP3 encoder. IC's tutorial says this is a little difficult to navigate. No kidding! With the help of IC, I found the instructions of how to download the MP3 encoder. The key words are Optional Downloads.

There is a list of places to get the lame recorder. I used the Finland link, but still I had to click the right mouse button to Save Target As. It downloaded the zip file. I opened the zip file and found the dll file named lame_enc.dll. I tried to extract it by using the extract mechanism, but I was denied acces. You know, that hateful circle with a slash mark in it that means NO, NIEN, YOU CAN'T DO THIS, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, FUGGEDABOUTIT.

Anyway, it wouldn't let me extract it to the Audacity folder. Finally, IC said, just click and drag. Viola! That seemed to work. I fired up Audacity to make a test recording. Sounds simple, right? NOT. I was not GOOD TO GO. So far, after many attempts, no recording. We checked my audio configurations just in case there's a ghost in my machine. We also checked Audacity's configurations.

I'm at a loss. I can't figure out why I can't make a recording. I'm now at the point where I feel totally helpless with audio software. I hate this feeling. All I can think to do is call the Geek Squad and have them make a housecall.