Chuck reti

April 21, 2011 at 9:02am

Most turntables' audio outputs are low level, and also require RIAA EQ. Simply jacking phono-level, unequalized TT audio into a Mac's audio IN jack will provide unsatisfactory results. Some recording applications will offer software-based RIAA EQ, and can boost the input level, but at the possible expense of added noise, or hum. Better solution, with existing TTs, is connect TT to phono inputs of a receiver or preamplifier, and take it's line level outputs (properly EQ'd) into either the Mac's (so-so) analog line level audio input, or, better, through an analog-USB converter. While the cable-only hint is simple, and will do in a pinch, it's not for serious digital archiving of a valued vinyl collection.

DavidFell

April 21, 2011 at 7:31am

This is quite a disservice. Most turntables can NOT be hooked up to your mac with a $5 cable. Some newer ones have a line level output that would work, but by far most only have phono output (also using RCA connectors) that must be hooked up to a preamp.

Report what you know about. Keep silent about what you don't.

jeffgamble5

April 21, 2011 at 6:51am

That was pretty useless actually. Only newer turntables have RCA output. Most turntables out there have phono only.

LDMartin1959

April 20, 2011 at 11:19pm

Could you provide just a bit more information about how to use Garage Band for this?