Record vynil music from a turntable to a MACBOOK AIR

How can I record vynil music from:


- a turntable (KENWOOD Stereo Automatic return Turntable System P-38)

- connected to a JVC Stereo Receiver (Model XT-MXG78K) equipped with an external record jack


to a MacBook Air M1

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Oct 5, 2025 11:24 AM

Reply
4 replies

Oct 6, 2025 3:45 PM in response to PIRAEU

What you will need depends on the outputs available on your turntable and your stereo receiver.


Line-level output


If you have line-level output, you could record that with the aid of a USB "sound card" and an application to record sound input. I'm guessing that this is what your receiver provides on its external recording jack.


Phono-level output


Many higher-end turntables produce phono-level output instead of line-level output. This needs to be run through a pre-amplifier to adjust the level and to re-adjust the relative volumes of various frequencies according to the RIAA equalization curve. Receivers with phono inputs typically have built-in pre-amplifiers – and it is also possible to buy separate pre-amplifiers that just convert phono-level output to-line level output.


Once you've converted this to an analog line-level signal, see above.


USB or USB-C output


Some turntables can digitize audio themselves for the benefit of a computer. You can think of these turntables as having built-in USB "sound cards". You may still need an application on the computer to capture the digital audio.

Record vynil music from a turntable to a MACBOOK AIR

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