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How do you "ground" a turntable (record player) ?

December 28th, 2009 by admin

I own two record players (one has a speaker built in and the other doesn’t). I’m trying to convert some of my records to digital format, but whenever I try record them using audacity, I always end up with an annoying background hum. How can I eliminate this without purchasing a USB-turntable? I’m told I have to "ground" the turntable. But what do I attach the ground wire to? The screws on the bottom of the laptop?
I suspect I am hooking it up wrong. The turntable has two audio jacks in the back (a red and a white one) i am using a y-shaped cable (one end is plugged directly into the laptop’s microphone jack, the other two (RCA) ends are plugged into the turntable. Somebody once told me I needed a "pre-amp," but I don’t know why I would need that. THe sound is at the right level, I just can’t get rid of that annoying humming noise!
Thanks for your help everyone! A $50 ion audio usb preamp did the trick.

You need to use the line in, not mic in.

If the record player/turntable is a raw magnetic out, you need a preamp.

Posted by admin in record player turntable |
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3 Responses to “How do you "ground" a turntable (record player) ?”

  1. #1
    gilloz
    December 28th, 2009 5:10 pm

    My turntable has an audio cable with RCA plugs, Red & White and a ground lug for the turn table side and a 3.5mm stereo plug for the audio card Line In receptacle. The ground lug is attach to the metal frame that the RCA connectors are mounted on the turn table. It is connected to the shield of the two audio plugs(Red & White).
    References :

  2. #2
    Ramjet09
    December 28th, 2009 5:57 pm

    If you are using sheilded cables you should not hae this problem.It is automatic grounding thru the sheilding of the cable.
    References :

  3. #3
    classicsat
    December 28th, 2009 6:29 pm

    You need to use the line in, not mic in.

    If the record player/turntable is a raw magnetic out, you need a preamp.
    References :

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