Hi Mira,
I could write an entire book of misery on the ALSA troubles I’ve had. These two discussion threads have typically bailed me out:

1. https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37495
   2) https://www.reddit.com/r/raspberry_pi/comments/6jbv4v/raspberry_pi_3_alsa_issues/
2. The advice also depends on whether your audio output is via HDMI/USB/audio-out

A combined USB Mike+audio-out option is the only one that’s reliably worked for me ever.