How to Record From a Turn Table to a Computer

Listening to old records can be like taking a trip through time. The sound quality is much different from CDs, with a certain charm being carried through the pops and hisses of records. Many recordings of older classical and jazz music never received proper CD or digital releases, so you can only listen to them on your turntable. However, with the right equipment, you can put those charming old recordings right into your music library or MP3 player and take them on the go in all of their original glory.

Instructions

1

Plug your turntable into your preamp.

2

Plug your preamp into your computer's stereo jack using your RCA-to-1/8-inch cable.

3

Place the album you want to record onto your turntable but do not play it yet.

4

Turn on your computer and open Audacity (or any other music-editing software you choose). (See Resources)

5

Set the input source for recording inside of your editor to "Line-in." In Audacity, this option is presented in the form of a box located below the "Fast Forward" button near the top of the program.

6

Press the record button in your software, this will be a circle with a red dot in the center of it.

7

Begin playing your record on your turntable. Allow for the record to play all the way through.