How to Record Vinyl Records to Digital Audio (MP3/WAV) Without A USB Turntable
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- My neighbor asked me to record some vinyl records to digital and then stopped himself and said "Wouldn't you need a USB turntable?" The answer is no!! This video will show you a simple way to record your vinyl records to digital with the turntable you have at home for under $10.
Also, this video includes a tutorial on how to edit and export tracks using Audacity for use on your portable devices and iTunes.
In order to do this you will need the following:
1. Download Audacity Audio Recording Program (FREE!!)
www.audacityte...
2. Purchase a 3.5mm male to Stereo RCA Audio Adapter (Less than $10!)
www.amazon.com...
3. A Turntable and Vinyl Records
4. Watch this video and you'll be enjoying your digital vinyl in no time!
Check out my other videos & find me on social media!
/ stillspinning3
stillspinning3
stillspinning3
very generous of you to provide this tutorial, especially to a guy who just turned 70 . thanks!
Thank you! 70? Where’d you get that from?
@@StillSpinning3 he meant he’s 70
Nice video! As an added tip, before you export the audio, you can put your curser at the beginning of each track and use the Edit --> Labels --> "Add label at selection" option to add the song titles. Then on the Export screen, select to number the songs. That way when you export the audio, it will also split them up into the individual numbered tracks and song titles, instead of having one large file for Side One and another for Side Two.
I just bought my first turntable at 31 years old. I've had albums I have never heard because I havent found them online and have never owned a turntable. I bought a Sony lx47p with the amp, CD player and some solid speakers, all in great condition and for $100. First time I've listened to my Blue Note live at the Roxy 1976 record. It was awesome! I immediately looked into how to archive these records because I know I'll be listening to them constantly with this mediocre needle, so thank you for the straight forward explanation.
Honestly, this is why this channel exists! I want to provide some guidance to folks who are new to the vinyl community. Plus to show off how cool vinyl and physical media is compared to digital downloads.
Thank you for sharing your story. I have other videos that may help you along the way (even changing the needle!).
And your tutorial here will definitely help people get their vinyl into their cars, phones, and everywhere. It's like having a turntable in your car lol. Thank you!
To make the opening of a live album less abrupt, I highlight the start of the track to the point just before the actual music starts and apply a "fade in" filter.
Thank you so much. Back in the 60s my papaw was a country singer and we found his old vinyls and I was trying to make a digital version
You gotta upload them to RUclips :)
If you are an audiophile, you need to record to a raw WAV.file, which retains the dynamics of the recording. MP3s have none, they’re clean, loud & flat, think 2 dimensional vs 3 dimensional, it’s that simple. MP3 compresses a recording to a 10th of it’s original size, nuances & proportions are either lost or masked. Only great if you need to go portable or if wanting/needing more room. If you want to hear the recording as originally done, avoid converting it to a MP3 file, you won’t miss anything.
Thanks for adding some color. I think with the increase in hard drive / storage size over the years, the need to compress music isn’t really necessary. I record all of my digital files in WAV format but I do know that can present some challenges with certain digital media players.
On my daw I should be able to export the uploaded file as WAV, right??
Wow, thanks man. I feel like an idiot I didn't think of just using line in. I appreciate it.
You're welcome. It's one of those things that is easy to overlook. Glad it helped.
Thanks. I used to know how to do this, but I forgot so I needed a refresher.
You’re welcome
Without watching the video I would have connected the RCA outputs to an line level amplifier, fed the output from that over to my PC via 3.5mm male-to-male stereo plugs into its mic jack. Then used some software such as Audacity to record highest quality .WAV files. Once the recording was done I'd go back to label each track.
Then convert everything to highest quality .MP3s where I can add additional track information such as name of band, album, genre, year/date, notes, etc.
So true on todays turntable unless you fork out $$$. Recently ordered a tt and it is garbage and had to return it. Broke out my tt from the 80's which still worked and sounds a lot better.
I use to broadcast live spinning records on a Public radio station but moved away. I still want to and by doing this I can pre-record my shows and send them to the station to upload.
That would be great. Probably save you time!
I have video capture equipment.Could I use this to capture LP vinyl.
Didn't know I could do this. Seems so simple how you explain it. Where did you get that adapter? I'd like to order one. Can it work for tapes the same way? I have a lot of rare vinyl. Found some rare stuff that never made it to big time in the dollar bins over the years that are really great music. Some are album gems of artists that later became big stars. Anxious to digitize and be able to listen to them again after all these years.. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for watching! Below is a link for an adapter similar to the one in this video. You should be able to use this method with any audio device that can connect via a RCA (red/white) connection.
www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-6-stereo-audio-rca-cable-black/6348664.p?skuId=6348664
@@StillSpinning3 you are showing two males red/white, while you may have wanted two female?
Very helpul! I have a bunch of vinyl to export to mp3's, but this made it look simple! Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback. Glad I could help!
(Sept 2020) how about without a computer too...CD recorders for a modest price to add to component stereo systems. used to be a few choices, now only a Teac and a Tascam model and those are unchanged designs of a few years back. If interested go for one before these disappear. Yes, I rip those CDs for the files for my PC and portable hi res player.
I may have to look into this. Thanks for the heads up.
Hello great video I was asking where did you get the adapter and what is the name of it I would like to sample records for producing
This helped me so much! Thanks!
You’re welcome!
You can use a digi voice recorder. Mine is stereo and it will auto split files. When all done just transfer files and rename them.
Fine. I’ll be able to transfer my first 16 F.Z. vinyls begining with Freak-Out with my old 1981 SL-Q2.
Anything else but audacity as everytime i have used it it always makes a long humming electronic glitch noise .I 've tried to work out why and i think it's coming from being plugged into the deck to amp , amp to computer..No settings i have played with has eliminated any of this
Is your turntable hooked up to a receiver or are you going straight from your pre-amp to the computer?
Straight in…
I'd like to digitizing my vinyl records through my budget turntable system; Music hall mmf mark1, pro-ject phonobox preamp. Should I get 2nd gen or 3rd gen Focusrite ? and is there a difference in sound quality between solo, 2i2 ? My only reason to get audio interface card is record my vinyl and upload youtube without much loss of sound quality.
I always thought I would’ve needed a Behringer UFO202 or something.
So basically all I do is, get the male phono cables coming out of the turntable, plug them into the splitter (in description), and then into a line-in input in the computer.
Have I got the setup right?
Pretty much! As long as your computer has an audio input, that’s all you need. The computer/software will simply record what it hears. An audio interface will work as well and add more options like additional inputs as well as the ability to make adjustments to the recording device (volume, reverb, etc) but a simply line-in like this is all it takes.
@@StillSpinning3 - then what were you saying about plugging into amp in vid? My amp is in my tuner, but from what I just read one is connecting directly from the turntable into the splitter and then into the computer.
After looking through spaghetti of wires, my speakers are connected with four brush ended speaker wires and not the plugs. I guess I will have to find a different kind of connector.
I believe I was referring to the phono preamp.
I subbed when I noticed the Hopesfall record. You in NC?
Negative. Texas. Big fan of theirs!!
@@StillSpinning3 I also see the Spaceman. You understand the value of a delay pedal in music...I have a feeling
Very observant.
what preamp are you using? are you going from turntable to preamp to computer?
Thank you for this tutorial - it is much appreciated.
You are welcome!!
Thank you for this video!
Thank you - it's working!!
I spelled aucacity wrong in the video :( FAIL!
Thank you for this. Can you also record a vinyl to a usb drive?
You’re welcome! I would think if you have a usb drive connected to the computer as the destination, you should be able to. As long as you don’t disrupt the connection while recording.
Will the sound be recorded in stereo (as the lp was originally recorded) or i'll have a mono mp3 file?
Thanks
You can customize it to whatever you want. I do stereo WAVs.
Can I do that with tascam 8 track because I'm trying to record my tracks but its like to hi or no sound to bad I can't send u a video or pictures
I’m not 100% sure if an 8-track requires a preamp?
You need phono preamp, you cant plug directly to computer. Another solution is to connect to your amp on the phone input and use your tape out or line out from your amp to your computer
There is a phono preamp on this demo.
Can you tell me, why my computer didn't have line in ( Realtek audio)?
Desktop or laptop?
Thanks so much for this tutorial!!!!
You're welcome!
Say you wanted to experiment with quality and maybe save 2 versions one in wav and one in mp3 does audacity save the original file or do you have to record it again or save 2 versions ? Thanks
I can’t remember if Audacity allows you to convert on the spot but I would recommend saving to WAV and if Audacity can’t, another software could easily convert. WAV would provide a great source to compress from.
I sorta just wanted to use Audacity to play my vinyls, not necessarily record them... I wonder if this software is for me or not. Seems like I have to record it first in order to play a song
You can hear what is being recorded.
There's a program called sound editor that will let you do that.
My computer does not have a line in, only mic and headphone sockets. Do I need to buy a new computer? If so it would be cheaper for me to buy a USB turntable.
Your mic socket should work. Try that. Otherwise, you can buy a usb interface that will allow you to directly connect your current turntable to it. That would likely be less expensive than buying a new turntable. But the mic input should work.
Any one know if the desktop computer has a SHARED blue/pink input, and not a separate blue input, if this method will stay work?
I've got a question, will these turntables show up in windows as a recording device (inbetween the microphones) or in playback devices? (headset/speakers)
im wanting to stream the audio by using the turntable as a recording device aka microphone.
i hope someone can understand what im getting at, this is the best way i can explain it.
Great question! It will likely show up as a recording device.
@@StillSpinning3 oh nicee so if i for example on discord or skype swap the microhpone setting to the turntable this will work? cause it should show up there right?
I’ve never tried this but if the computer is recognizing the device as such, then yes.
I personally use a stereo mixer for preamp, you can actually equalize the sound to you're taste if recording to old vinyls, hope it csn help, greetings!!
Thanks for the heads up.
Cool... just found this now... downloaded Version 2.3.3 - all works well as per your instructions. However, while recording I now record three noise/ sound sources the turntable, my laptop and it even picked up my voice while discussing this wondrous new discovery! Any ideas? I'm a bit of a technophobe so setting suggestions will be appreciated... I have a vinyl library to transfer!! 👍👍
It sounds like Audacity is grabbing your microphone while it’s recording your album. You will want to make sure the only input sourcethat is active while recording is the one for your turntable.
@@StillSpinning3 I'm trying... seems I can't select different inputs - thanks for your advice... I'll keep searching - that's part of the fun! 😁😁
Is there a way to hear the music while it's recording? I use Audacity too, but can't seem to do that, I have to listen back to it after to see if there's any scratches etc.
At the top center to the right of the microphone symbol, there should be an option that says “click to start Monitoring” it should play through your speakers as you are recording I believe.
what is the song you are playing at the end of this tutorial!!!!!!!
The outro?
did you say USB record players don't put out as good as sound quality as an old traditional one?
Only because the usb turntables typically have the lowest quality cartridge. Old traditional turntables usually have the ability to upgrade the cartridge which essentially upgrades the sound quality.
Being disabled, I was trying to expound on my lifelong hobby of collecting vinyl. I thought maybe I could put each album from my collection on RUclips. Do you think I can use this Audacity program, to do as you teach with your video, that I can easily transfer what I record onto my laptop, and process it into a RUclips video? I am not real good with computers, just know enough to get into trouble :) - Any help would be helpful, thank you - D
Yes you should be able to accomplish this.
@@StillSpinning3 - one last question ----- I have the jacks and leads to do this, can I go from the headphone jack of my stereo, into the headphone jack of my computer, and record my vinyl to the computer that way, then upload too RUclips? ------------ thanks for your help :)
@@danielpete5243 it has to be the "microphone" or "line-in" jack as that is the one that receives a signal, instead of sending it out like the "headphone" jack does
I had sound coming through mine while recording but yours didn't, any reason???
What kind of sound!
Hi any ideas where i plug my rca ground cable from my Technics 1200 this method is using no preamp yeah? Will this not be a bad recording as deck has no preamp or has windows got some special recording filter for this? thanks
I use a preamp here.
@@StillSpinning3 cheers for that what sort of preamp? any recommendations? Cheers in advance....
I would recommend a Pyle Pro phono preamp from Amazon. They are inexpensive and work well. You can always upgrade at a later time.
I don't understand, aren't you using any phono preamp?
I am.
I can not get it to work turntable into line in and I downloaded audacity new version can not get it to play in audacity
Make sure your computer is recognizing the input. You can make these changes in the control panel and sound. Once you confirm Windows is detecting the input, make sure Audacity has that input selected and then you should be good.
now, another question
how do you record audio TO a vinyl?
Very carefully…
With a vinyl cutting machine?
Tales From The Crate just subbed to you... and he has good taste.. so I needed to sub also...glad I did! I Took a look at your channel and it looks like there is a LOT of good stuff to watch! Hopefully you get a chance to watch the Vinyl related shenanigans on my channel!
I use the same technique... I got that plug with a female end with my LP60... but use a male-male 3.5 mm cable to go to the laptop I use the Windows 10 built in audio recorder and I just watch the record and stop after each each and name it... mainly because I can not hear the song playing.or have any visual representation to go off of. I think your way will probably be better in many ways!
Thanks for the sub! I'll definitely check it out!
After plugging in, audacity captures sound from microphone instead of turntable
There should be an option to choose which audio input audacity is grabbing from.
Will this work with an Apple iMac as well?
It will be slightly different but yeah you should be able to record them using GarageBand or Audacity for Mac.
@@StillSpinning3 thanks!
I can't ever get mine to record at the same sound level as yours, even with the recording set all the way up. I'm using a Teac P-A400
You probably need a phono preamp.
It says it has a built in phono equalizer amplifier on it but it just cant get nowhere near that volume for the records I used it with. I did get this record player from a friend so the needle might be worn out. I bought one of those preamp things off eBay, it's one of the cheaper ones but hopefully that's all I need. Thanks for the quick reply
You’re welcome!
Thanks very useful as "Ion turntables" are rubbish
Glad it helped!!
What if my computer doesn’t have a microphone jack?
You will have to buy some sort of usb audio input or interface.
@@StillSpinning3 are bluetooth pairing with laptop can be done it?
Can i send u some to transfer
Recording one track at a time is not complicated. That's what I prefer to do and it's not complicated at all.
my recoding is oddly quiet, any help?
Are you using a phono preamp?
@@StillSpinning3 Yes, I do
I have my turntable hooked up to my audio interface, which is then connected to my laptop via USB, and even though I have Audacity set to Stereo only the right channel is actually recording, can somebody help me with this?
All I'm getting is white noise
man your technique is gooooood. But that is not going to work well. There will be some sound problems. But it great Here is a thumbs up🖒