Digitize records - Here's how

Despite new digital editions, most records are not digitally available. We'll tell you how to digitize them to preserve your treasures and dispose of the bulky collection.

How to connect a turntable to the computer

Before dubbing the record, you must of course set up and connect the required devices.

1. A USB turntable is simply connected to the computer via a USB cable. The device should be recognized with the appropriate drivers. Make sure that the USB turntable not only draws its power from USB, but is also recognized by the computer as a recording device.
2. Turntables with a phono output should first be connected to an amplifier as usual. This can then be connected to the line input of your computer sound card via its cinch or line output. In a special practical tip, we explain the exact difference between RCA and jack.
3. Turntables with a cinch output can be connected directly to the sound card input using an adapter.

Digitize records with Audacity

When your recording system is in place, you can start recording. There are many programs for audio recording. Audacity is a clear but extensive freeware.

1. You can download Audacity for Windows and Audacity for MAC from us free of charge.
2. Install and start the program.
3. Next to the microphone symbol, select the correct recording source. This should be your USB turntable or the stereo input. If necessary, the stereo mix does too. Then you should mute a number of sound-generating software and the microphone from the headset or webcam.
4. Press the red button to start your recording. First play a loud part of your record. An envelope is created during the recording. At the loudest point, this should be as close as possible to the maximum recording level, but not touch it. If necessary, readjust your amplifier.
5. After leveling, you can close the audio track with a click on the small "x" and start your actual recording.
6. The recording can be stopped by clicking the stop button and the recording track can be saved as a WAV, MP3 or other audio file under »File« - »Export«.

• Note: The sound quality of the digitized records achieved in this way is usually not yet optimal. Therefore, you should improve the sound of dubbed records, set your equalizer correctly and remove mains hum.

In this way you can of course not only digitize your vinyls, but also old tapes or other tapes. Depending on the music collection, this takes quite a bit: records should only be recorded in real time. Playing the record faster and then calculating the tempo and pitch with software only leads to acceptable results with expensive professional software. On the next page you will find further tips for dealing with Audacity.