>> ... find a cheapy microphone and plug it into your Line in ... My primary Mac is my 17" MacBook Pro. Its Line IN requires a preamp for my Heil PR40 (and other mics) - just plugging in a microphone won't provide enough signal. I'm using a ProSonus TubePRE with a TungS 12AX7 tube. Not sure if this helps ... -Clint Bradford, K6LCS