Microphone settings, Recording Control won't let me choose USB microphone, help?

Want to use a USB microphone/camera on a Windows XP computer for Google voice search. Microphone works as I use it often on Skype. Went to Control Panel > Sound & Audio > Voice and selected the USB camera as the default voice recording device. Didn't work so clicked on Volume button below and went to Options > properties. Mixer device was listed as 'Realtek HD Front Pink Jack' I switched it to USB Camera clicked okay and closed the window but when I reopened the window the mixer device was still listed as 'Realtek HD Front Pink Jack' it's not the USB camera causing the problem as I tried switching the mixer device to other things and it always went back to Realtek HD Front Pink Jack. I'm fairly sure this is the problem - although it could be another setting that I don't know about. Thanks for replies.