problems with MIDI and recording

the last time i came to the forum, Beagle, guitarhacker, and Greg57 were helping me with my driver problems.  i decided that instead of trying to get the ASIO driver installed (something that seemed difficult and time consuming) that i was going to work my proyect without ASIO.  the first proyect that i did with MC3 and Lexicon Alpha i was not aware of ASIO and didn't miss it.  although i have to confess that the previous proyect was simpler. (didn't Greg57 tell me back then to make sure the computer was in WDM mode when i work with the Lexicon Alpha?) 
 
anyway, i created some accompaniments in MIDI, via Staff View with the idea of turning the MIDI track into Audio tracks. the problem i'm having is that MIDI playback is slighly poppy and when i create the new audio track the poppy sounds get recorded. is there a way of stopping the pops?
 
the second problem i'm having, and the one that has me on the border of Histeria, is that i cannot record my voice. when i plug in the microphone to the Lexicon Alpha and click ARM, the green lines that are supppose to come up to show me the line is opened for recording aren't showing up. i tried everything you guys have taught me in the last bit of time, several times: made sure all the Alpha Lexicon were selected inside the computer by going into the control panel>audio>etc.,  and in the MC. i'm having a hard time keeping the Driver Profile window on the Lexicon Alpha selection (the one inside the AUDIO window) ; it continues to revert to the Conexant A/C Audio Link, no matter how many times i select it.) the Drive window and General are both in Lexicon Alpha. 

i even had the computer test the hardware.  when i connect an old Sony mike i have directly into the computer the computer test well.  when i do the same test through the Lexicon Alpha it doesn't.  however, when i recorded the keyboard to the audio track using the Lexicon Alpha, it recorded well.  (????)
 
perhaps if i was using the ASIO drivers i wouldn't be having these problems, but what do i know?
 
sirena del mar

Are you BOUNCING TO TRACK for the midi when you convert it to audio...or ARE you converting it to audio?

In the playback of the midi through a synth, latency IS an issue and if you have inefficient drivers or the wrong drivers installed, you will get serious latency and the pops and clicks of dropped audio. HOWEVER..... when you BOUNCE TO TRACK or freeze the synth ( I prefer bounce over freeze) then archive the synth track..... the processor can take it's time to render ALL the music properly to audio and the resultant audio track should NOT have the pops and clicks or the latency in them.

i own two mikes:  Stereo Sony microphone (#ecm-ms907) and a Shure mike,  for which i forgot the model.  i am able to record in the computer with the Sony mike, but i'm having problems with the Shure, which is the one i connect to the Lexicon Alpha pre-amp through a mike cable that i bought less than a year ago.  nothing has fallen or be left to get wet or in any way damaged accidentally.  im suspecting the cable, since it seems the only logical culprit.  i also suspect that the Norton Anti-virus was not up to date.  i have had the computer not work properly when the updates aren't done and then when i update things it works.  i'll try this later tonight, as i just updated the Norton anti-virus and see. 

thank you for your comments.  they help.

sirena del mar

i don't know about 48v phantom power.  but i recorded songs before with the Shure mike and all i did was plug into the Lexicon Alpha.

actually, i think i found the source of the problem although i don't know how to solve it.  after reading a lot of pages in MC and going into the computer control panel several times, i discovered that while connected to the Alpha when i go Speakers>Options>Properties, in the Properties window there is Playback and Recording.  Playback is selected and there is a short list of how playback works in the computer.  however, when i clicked on Recording, there is no list.  the rectangle below Recording is blank.  when i checked Properties in another laptop i use ocassionally, it list Stereo Mix, CD Audio and Microphone, which is what i need.  

i'm almost sure that is the problem, but i have not a clue as to how to solve it.  i hope at least one of you guys does, because i'm stucked.

thanks,
sirena del mar 

i'll try that solution, but i plugged the Alpha last again last night and i still would not record.