There are, of course, also IBM applications which will create sound files, but they are not discussed in this document. Regardless of the recording software you have decided to use, you will need to do certain things to prepare the computer you are using for recording. The computer must be new enough so that it will accept a external microphone. If you are working in the LLL Microcomputer Lab, you can check out a microphone from the Lab attendant. Other configurations require you to plug the microphone directly into the system unit.
Most Macintoshes have several possible sources of sound input.
You must determine which one you are going to use. This will guarantee that you can hear the audio as you work. If you fail to do this, the recording software will be paying attention to some other channel such as the CD, and will ignore input from the mic. Usually 22.050 is adequate. Setting it to more wastes space, and setting it to less degrades the sound quality.