3. Connecting your devices
In order to record, you need to connect your turntable, preamp, receiver, or tape deck to your computer's sound card or USB audio device.
Blaze Audio sells the ultra-compact LKG PRE600 phono preamplifier which accepts RCA plugs from your phonograph, and the equally compact USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter which has a 1/8" stereo input jack, 1/8" microphone input, and 1/8' headphone output, and connects via an included cable directly into your computer's USB port. We also have cables for connecting the units together.
How to record an audio cassette to CD
CONNECTING TO TURNTABLES
Turntables may have RCA jacks or a cable with RCA plugs at the end. If you have something else check with a qualified service professional. The output from your turntable may be sufficient to drive a sound card, but most turntables require a stereo receiver or a phono preamp to provide sufficient amplification and proper equalization.
Copy cassette to CD
How can you tell if you need a receiver or preamp with your turntable? Connect the turntable directly to the line input of your sound card and try recording. If the sound you record is very weak and somewhat distorted, you definitely need to connect through either a stereo receiver or a good phono preamp such as the LKG PRE600 phono preamplifier.
CONNECTING TO TAPE DECKS AND RECEIVERS
If your tape deck or receiver has a headphone jack use a cable with a stereo 1/8" plug on each end between the headphone jack and the Line Input on your computer's sound card or USB audio device. If your tape deck has RCA jacks, connect a cable with two RCA plugs on one end and a stereo 1/8" plug on the other end between the tape deck's RCA jacks and the Line input on your USB audio device. Tape decks and receivers do not need a preamp.
CONNECTING TO THE LKG PRE600 PHONO PREAMPLIFIER
Attach the RCA plugs coming from your turntable to the RCA jacks on the INPUT side of the LKG PRE600 phono preamplifier. Connect a cable with two RCA plugs on one end and a 1/8" plug on the other from the RCA jacks on the OUTPUT side of the LKG PRE600 phono preamplifier directly into your computer's sound card or USB audio device.
CONNECTING TO THE USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter
Connect a cable with a 1/8" stereo plug on one end and the appropriate connectors on the other end from your turntable, receiver, tape deck, or preamp to the Line-In jack on the USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter or other USB sound card. Plug the USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter's USB connector into your computer's USB port.
PLUGGING INTO AN INTERNAL SOUND CARD
If you use the built in sound card instead of a USB audio device like the USB 5.1 Channel Audio Adapter you will need to connect directly to your computer. Most computers' sound cards have four 1/8" jacks: two outputs and two inputs Always connect to the line or aux input , never to the mic input.
Check the markings on the back of your sound card to determine the correct input. There are usually either symbols or text labels back there to help you out. If the labels are not clear, refer to your manual. Make sure that the plug you use going into your sound card is a 1/8" stereo connector (see photo).
Convert Cassette Tapes to CD
| Image 1: You can tell from the labels on this set of soundcard jacks that leftmost one (blue) is Line-In. |
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| Image 2: This soundcard has symbols instead of text labels. If you can't tell by the symbol which jack is Line-In, consult your manual. In this case, the leftmost jack is Line-In.
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