Why can't I RECORD sound through my microphone anymore?

Hi you, has anybody any idea why I can't RECORD sound using my microphone anymore? It has been working in SuSE 8.2 and maybe 9.0 (I am not sure and I don't know anymore whether I tried it in 9.1, I guess not). However, in 9.2 it doesn't work anymore. Despite that I CAN use Skype f.e. to make softphone calls and I CAN play soundfiles, but I couldn't figure out how to record sound using my microphone. Can anybody help please? hopefully Martin