Microphone input... is it broken, or something odd?

[Imidazole]

I use Ventrilo to speak to my WoW guild.

The built in Mic works fine. However, the mic-in (left side of MBP C2D) - doesnt register any audio with either of my 2 mics!

Strange thing is, one of the mics, I cant even plug it all the way into the port. Its almost as if the port is too short (or the plug is too long). In the sound preference pane, under recording, when I plug in the mics I see it jump (you know, how you plug something in... and you hear a bit of static or a loud noise the first time) - but it never registers actual audio.

Is there something strange about this port I should know about?

 

[WildCowboy]

You need to have some sort of preamp to power your mic and bring it up to line-level so that your Mac can get a signal.

 

[Imidazole]

You need to have some sort of preamp to power your mic and bring it up to line-level so that your Mac can get a signal.

Wack. Ok, I didnt know that. So basically, I cant hook up a simple microphone, it it has to have an amplifier?

I wish there was a software option to change it from a line-in to a mic in