How to test my microphone and what apps can I use to record?

[aleska]

So, while I've been using Ubuntu for about 11 months now, and Kubuntu more recently, I'm realizing, I've never used my microphone. It's plugged into my sound card, sitting there, pointing at me, and frankly taunting me. Well I won't have that!
Can anyone tell me how I can test to see if it is working, and use it to record? What apps should I use/install?
TIA!

[dibl]

Re: How to test my microphone and what apps can I use to record?

I only recently started digging into the recording/digitizing possibilities of Linux myself -- mainly to start capturing a lot of vinyl record albums and even old 78 rpm records.

Although Krecord comes with your Kubuntu, it is pretty basic. Audacity looks like a better choice for recording, and working with the resulting files. Your ALSA mixer is also an important tool -- that's what you use to set the levels and mute the channels you are not using, etc. I'll be using Gnome Wave Cleaner to clean up the tracks from the old records. If you want to get more sophisticated, there is Ardour and some other higher-end packages.