The most common reason for needing to switch a line signal to USB is to transfer vinyl albums (33's, 45's, or 78's) into a digital medium. Switching a line signal is relatively simple if you understand the process, and there are several ways to go about it. Below are a few ideas to get you started.
Understanding the Process
USB stands for "universal serial bus," and is a cable and connector that is able to both send and receive information to and from a computer. A line signal is an audio signal from a device like a record player, compact disc player or instrument.
Using a Digital Mixer
Purchase a digital mixer with a USB output. Plug the audio line-in from your turntable or analog player to the mixer. The mixer will convert the signal into a digital format. Then, plug one end of a USB cable into the mixer, and the other into your computer or hard drive.
Some basic mixers with digital outputs can be purchased with recording software as part of the package. This option can be expensive, but may be suitable if you want to take advantage of other options a mixer offers, such as digital effects enhancements.
Using a Line-to-USB Converter
Purchase a line-to-USB converter. In this case, all you need to do is plug your audio line-in into the USB converter, and plug the other end into your computer or hard drive. Line-to-USB converters are fairly inexpensive at around $40, but are excellent tools for transferring albums to a hard drive.
Using a USB-Enabled Turntable
Purchase a newer turntable model that comes equipped with USB digital outputs. This is ideal if the transfer of vinyl albums is the sole objective. Most Stanton new models have USB outputs and can plug directly into the USB port on a computer. You will also need to have some sort of recording software that you are comfortable with.
Consult the manual of any hardware for specific instructions, as mixers and adapters are all different. For example, some mixers have built-in phono preamps to amplify the signal, and others do not, in which case you would need to plug the line into an external amplifier.
Monitoring the Recording Process
Monitor what is being recorded once all the connections have been correctly prepared, and the desired material is cued to be recorded onto the hard drive. You can monitor the process by plugging headphones into the headphone output of the mixer, amplifier or USB converter box. Note: when using digital gear there can be latency issues, meaning there will be a delay between the signal being played and the signal being monitored.
Tags: hard drive, line signal, audio line-in, computer hard, computer hard drive, digital outputs, into digital
