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How to Transfer an Analog LP to Digital Format on a Laptop

Buying music and other audio presentations on vinyl records was still a popular trend as late as the 1970s. You may still have a stash of LPs tucked away somewhere in your house. The world has gone digital since the time LPs were popular. This doesn’t make your old vinyl records obsolete, however. With the aid of audio recording software, you can use your laptop to convert the analog recordings on your old LPs to digital format.

Things You'll Need

  • Turntable
  • Stereo amplifier
  • 3.5 millimeter stereo to RCA male Y cable
  • Audio recording software
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Instructions

  1. Connect the Turntable to Laptop

    • 1

      Plug one end of the RCA cable with the white plugs on the ends into the turntable’s white line output jack. Connect the other end of this cable to the amplifier’s white line input jack.

    • 2

      Use the RCA cable with the red plugs on the ends to connect the turntable’s red line output jack to the amplifier’s red line input jack.

    • 3

      Insert the white RCA plug, located on one end of the stereo Y cable, into the amplifier’s red line out jack. Plug the red RCA plug into the amplifier’s red line out jack.

    • 4

      Connect the stereo plug, located on the other end of the stereo Y cable, into the stereo line in jack on the computer.

    Convert Analog LP to Digital Format

    • 5

      Launch the computer’s audio recording software. Windows computers come with a very basic audio recording application called “Sound Recorder.” If you’re using a Mac, the GarageBand application is free. Audacity is another free audio recording and editing application designed to operate on Windows and Mac computers.

    • 6

      Set the audio recording software’s source input to the computer’s sound card. To accomplish this task with Sound Recorder for Windows 7, right-click the Speaker icon on the taskbar. Select “Recording Devices” from the shortcut menu. Select “Stereo Mix.” To accomplish this task in GarageBand, Select “Preferences” from the “GarageBand” menu. On the “Audio/MIDI” tab, select the computer’s sound card from the “Audio Input” menu. To accomplish this task in Audacity, select “Preferences” from the “Edit” menu. On the “Audio I/O” tab, select your sound card as the “Recording Device.”

    • 7

      Place the LP you want to convert to digital format on the turntable. Cue the record.

    • 8

      Open a new track in the audio recording application. Click the application’s designated record button. Begin playing the record. Click the "Stop" button in the audio recording application when the recording is complete.

    • 9

      Save the newly recorded audio file. The LP’s audio is now in digital format.

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