btw: it has voice activation feature (only recodes when there is sound
coming in, other wise it pauses). So when I record it is always
pausing. If I turn off voice activation, it shows that it is
recording, but when I listen to the recording, it sound like quiet
white noise.
So I deduct that since the voice activation does not ever get ingage,
it means the mic is not picking up any sound (that applies to both
external mic or built in mic). recorder is 1 year old.

lbbss