Recording problems with microphone

I've been reading around trying to find a solution to very low sound levels when I record.

It seems that the input is a line in which means you need a powered microphone.

I already have a powered microphone which I bought to use with a minidisc recorder - it's a sony ECM MS907.

I tried using the USB - microphone adapter that you can get with Playstation for Singstar without success.

I've even tried plugging the mic into my Behringer Ultra DI-100 to boost the signal.

I'm trying to avoid spending any more money than I absolutely have to. Does anyone know if there is a solution without getting a USB mic or the apple imic adapter thing? Or is my mic simply the wrong sort?

many thanks in advance!

Have you checked in the system preferences? In there you can control the input level of the microphone?

~~ TS ~~

I'm having the same problem - my built in microphone on my macbook is very very quiet compared to my gf's macbook when I'm using iChatAV. Also, when I use skype, the recipient always hears this 'pinging noise' constantly going. Is there something wrong with my microfone?

When I look in the Sound section in OS X preferences, I can never achieve the full bar for my input sound from my microphone unless i literally scream down the thing.

In addition to the Sound section within System Preferences, make sure your settings are correct under Applications --> Utilities --> Audio MIDI Setup.

What application are you using to record? You may have to make adjustments there as well.

the DI turns everything to mic level. If you plug in your mic in the di, it wil just stay mic level. The behringer tube ultragain mic 100 will give you enough level.

This is what I do if I want to record through my Mac's line input. I hook up whatever microphone I want to use to a simple analog mixer (doesn't have to be a large format mixer, just a simple two or four channel desktop mixer kind of thing). The mixer's mic preamps will give the microphone sufficient amplification and you just have to send the line outputs of the mixer into the line input of your Mac (two 1/4" from the mixer into 1/8" line in of the Mac).