GarageBand recording level discrepancy between PA and external mic timelines

Setup, Site PA output and external mic into Audio Midi Setup. GarageBand identified the two inputs correctly.

Live recordings, the input bar for the PA indicated up to yellow with gain slider at 0dbs. The mic picking audience response was1/2 way into green with full 6dbs gain.

Timeline showed signal for PA but virtually none for the mic. The GB altomatic normalised o/p gave useable audio for both though with little noise.

To try to produce a viewable signal on the Mic timeline the EQ gain was put to maximum (24dbs) but there was no change on it's timeline but the recorded O/P had very severe chipping.

Why was this not seen on the timeline?

nb GB recording gain & automatic level blanked out with this setting for both I/ps.

Any ideas for live viewing recording levels please?

I'm a novice on GB. Thanks Ken

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Monitoring recording level