How To Record Vinyl Records to a Computer
Getting the analog grooves out of old vinyl into the digital realm of a computer can transform a record collection into a useful and portable part of a modern music library. Once digitized, old analog recordings can be burned to a CD or uploaded from the computer to a portable audio device such as an MP3 player. Getting the recordings into the computer requires a turntable and audio recording software. Newer turntables may be equipped with a USB plug and software for a direct connection to the computer. Older turntables will need an analog to digital audio converter, available at electronics stores, to connect with the PC.
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Things You'll Need
- Analog to digital audio converter with USB cable
- Turntable with RCA-type audio cables
- Audio recording software
Instructions
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Connect the turntable's audio cables to the analog to digital converter box using the white plug for the left audio connection and the red plug for the right audio. Turntables with a USB cable can be connected directly to the computer.
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Attach a USB cable from the converter box to a free USB port on the computer.
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Open the audio recording software, such as Audacity (see link in Resources).
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Click the "File" tab then select "New Recording Project" (or similar wording, depending on the software) from the drop-down menu.
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Place a record on the turntable and lower the tonearm to start playback.
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Click the "Record" button on the computer software to begin capturing the analog vinyl recording and converting it into a digital file.
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Click the "Stop" button on the software when finished recording, then click the "File" tab and choose "Save As."
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Type a name for the recording, then click the arrow below the name to save it as a .WAV file, which is suitable for burning to a CD, or an .MIDI file, which can be uploaded to a portable digital media player.
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Click "Save" to store the digital recording on the computer's hard drive.
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Tips & Warnings
Placing the turntable close to the computer makes it more convenient to operate the equipment from one seat without using audio extension cables.
Recording tracks one at a time and saving each file individually takes more time up front, but makes it much easier to create mix CDs, if desired, or to rearrange tracks for uploading to another device.
Unplug all electronics from their outlets while connecting audio cables.
