You can connect virtually any turntable to a computer, although for a standard record player, you must pre-amplify the signal. Some modern turntables have a Universal Serial Bus connector that eliminates the need for a separate preamp, allowing you to plug the turntable directly into the computer.
Standard Turntable
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Step 1
Plug the connectors at one end of a RCA stereo cable into the turntable's output jacks.
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Step 2
Plug the connectors at other end of the stereo cable into the preamp's input jacks.
Step 3
Plug the RCA connectors at one end of the adapter cable into the preamp's output jacks.
Step 4
Connect the mini stereo phone plug into the computer's line-level input jack; the jack's color is light blue.
USB Turntable
A USB turntable, unlike the conventional type, is designed to work with computers; for this reason, most USB models include programs for recording or transferring vinyl to data files. Software packages offered include Audacity, a free, open-source recording and editing program, Cakewalk's pyro Audio Creator LE, the OEM version of the pyro Audio Creator, and MixMeister's EZ Vinyl/Audio Converter. Audacity is used below as an example because it works equally well on Windows and Mac computers and is bundled or recommended for use with several turntable makes and models.
Step 1
Install the manufacturer-provided software for your USB turntable onto your computer.
Step 2
Turn on the power to your USB turntable.
Step 3
Plug the turntable's USB connector into a USB socket on your computer.
Step 4
Start the Audacity software. Click the Edit menu and select Preferences.
Step 5
Click Devices to see a list of options for recording and playback devices. Click the Device pulldown list in the Recording group. Select Microsoft Sound Mapper or the USB driver provided by the turntable maker. Click the OK button to close the screen.