Recording Vinyl (Mac OS)

Software

GarageBand (Mac only)

Recording

• Create a new project
• Choose "Record using a microphone or line input"
• I want to hear my instrument as I play and record: checked
• Click the arrow to the right of My instrument is connected with:
  • Output Device: Built-in Output
  • Input Device: USB Audio CODEC
  • (These settings can also be accessed from the GB preferences.)
• Make sure the metronome is turned off by clicking the metronome button to the right of the transom in the Tracks window.
• Clean the record
• Start playing the record
• Hit the Record button in the transom in the Tracks window.

Audacity

Recording

• Connect the turntable to the Mac via USB.
• Launch Audacity after the turntable is connected in order to have USB available as an input.
  • In the Device Toolbar
    • Audio Host: Core Audio
    • Recording Device (Input): USB Audio CODEC
    • Recording Channels: 2 (stereo) Recording Channels
    • Playback Device: Built-In Output
  • Main Menu > Transport > Transport Options > Software Playthrough > checked
• Clean the record.
• Cue and play the record.
• To record in Audacity simply click the Record button in the Transom toolbar.
  • To create a new audio recording in Audacity, Main Menu > File > New ( ⌘+N )

It looks like maybe Audacity handles the levels in software. If so, there's no need to check the levels prior to recording, but this would need to be confirmed.

Appending to a track

By default Audacity assumes that you're recording voice tracks, and recording after a pause in recording, it will start recording on a new track.

This comes into play if recording is paused while flipping a record over.

In order to resume recording on the same track Main Menu > Transport > Append Record ( ⇧+R ).

Exporting/saving audio tracks

Define tracks

• Mark a spot in the waveform using the Selection Tool
• Main Menu > Tracks > Add Label at Selection ( ⌘+B ).
• In the Label Track under the waveform, pull out the track out point to the appropriate place.
• Name the track in the Label Track that appears below the audio.
• Zoom out and select from the in point to the out point (the selection will snap to the existing in and out point markers)
• ⌘+B and enter a name for the track.
• Right click on the in and out point markers and Delete marker (or track, I don't remember which)
• Repeat for all tracks in the audio.

Maximize volume

• Select all: ⌘+A
• Effect > Normalize...

Set album metadata

• Edit > Metadata...
• Enter Artist, Album, Album Artist, Year, Genre, etc.

Export audio tracks

• Main Menu > File > Export Multiple...
• Set save location, format and bitrate options in the following dialog (MP3 format requires an additional install).
• After clicking Export another dialog will prompt for artist, track name, track number, and album details.

See also

• Recording Vinyl With SoundForge