>>Trying to record myself talking. I tried the Windows Sound Recorder (with the existing mic which is part of the web cam). But the quality is very bad. I suppose because the mic is about 24 inches away from me (on the top of the screen). Plus the quality of the mic is questionable. And I mostly what I want to know is if I buy a better mic, would the Sound Recorder be sufficient or I should also buy an app.
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>The webcam microphone is a typical omnidirectional, square-law mike, which means it gets everything from all directions, with amplitude dropping with the square of the distance. Which means it catches all the ambient sounds and echoes that you usually filter out when talking with people. Seeing them talk helps too, you concentrate on the face and you're partially lip-reading.
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>For recording your own voice, the much better option is a headset with microphone, any 7$ gamers' piece will do. It's made to have low range and catch very little of ambiental sound, but gets your voice straight. Much better than any mike standing on the desk, which will also catch most of the vibration you make while typing and/or clicking and the whir of the fans if your machine sits on the same desk. Just the trouble you'll have trying to isolate the mike mechanically is worth the price of a headset.

I ordered one that is a standing on the desk ($21). The Amazon web site where this microphone is sold has a video of a guy recording himself with this microphone and it sounds very good. I agree, much better than the web cam mic. Yes, I hear all kinds of background noise when I record myself with web cam microphone. Oddly though, when I talk to a friend on Skype, she says that I sound very clear. Although she may have nothing else to compare with. And I can hear her very well. So, the software (MS Sound Recorder vs Skype vs Audacity) may make a difference. I will test it when I get the shipment.