What you need to digitise vinyl or tape
- USB turntable
- All-in-one solution. Connects directly to PC via USB. Built-in preamp and ADC. Easiest option.
- Standard turntable + phono preamp + USB interface
- Best quality. Turntable connects to phono preamp, then to a USB audio interface into PC.
- Cassette tape player
- USB cassette adapter or a cassette deck connected to a USB audio interface.
- RCA to USB adapter
- Budget option. Direct RCA to USB, no separate interface. Lower quality than a proper interface.
Record vinyl or tape in Audacity
- 1
Connect hardware
Connect your USB turntable or audio interface to the PC. Windows should detect it as an audio input device.
- 2
Set up Audacity
Edit → Preferences → Devices → Host: Windows WASAPI → Recording: select your USB turntable or interface → Channels: 2 (Stereo).
- 3
Set sample rate to 44100 Hz
Bottom-left of Audacity window: set Project Rate to 44100 Hz for CD quality.
- 4
Start recording and play the record
Press Record in Audacity, then start the turntable. Record the full side. Stop when done.
- 5
Clean up the audio
Apply Noise Reduction to remove hiss. Use Effect → Amplify to normalise volume. See noise reduction guide.
- 6
Export to MP3
File → Export Audio → MP3 Files. Use 256 or 320 kbps for music. See MP3 export guide.
Vinyl to MP3 questions
Best sample rate for recording vinyl in Audacity
44100 Hz (CD quality) is sufficient for vinyl and tape. Some audiophiles use 96000 Hz, but the difference is imperceptible for most vinyl recordings and creates much larger files. 44100 Hz at 32-bit float (Audacity default) captures everything a vinyl record can reproduce.
Recording sounds quiet — vinyl too low
Check the input level in Audacity — it should peak around −12 to −6 dB. If it's very low: (1) increase the turntable output level if it has a volume control, (2) increase input gain in Windows Sound settings, (3) apply Effect → Amplify after recording to bring it to a good level.