Amplifying the turntable signal

A turntable signal is too weak for a PC soundcard line-in unless its preamplified. Most modern turntables have preamplifiers built in - this will certainly be the case with USB turntables intended specifically for vinyl rips, like the ion pictured below.



If you have an older turntable you'll either need to buy a separate pre-amp or else route the sound through an hifi amplifier. You can do this by connecting as follows;

• Connect the turntable to the amplifier 'phono' sockets.

• Connect the 'tape out' or 'record' sockets to the PC line in, which is the blue 3.5mm jack socket on the back of your computer - of even on the front of some models. To do this you'll need a phono to 3.5mm jack adaptor (radio shack / maplin) like this;

    


 The 'tape out sockets should look something like those on the amplifiers pictured below.