Recording to laptop using usb with preamp input

[bedavid2]

I have a HP laptop. I used the microphone input on my laptop to record mp3 from turntable. I am getting background noise.
I would like to use the usb port and Audacity. Will this software recognize the usb connection.

[steve]

Please state if you are using Windows, Mac or Linux and which version of Audacity so that I can move this post to the correct message board.

[bedavid2]

I'm using Windows XP and Audacity 1.3.7

[steve]

I have a HP laptop. I used the microphone input on my laptop to record mp3 from turntable. I am getting background noise.

That's not unusual, most PC laptops have very poor quality microphone inputs.

I would like to use the usb port and Audacity.

You can use an external audio device with Audacity, as long as it is correctly installed and working in Windows. Some USB turntables have proved to be bothersome for many users, causing drop-outs and other failures with audio capture. External sound cards on the other hand are generally quite reliable.

I presume we are talking "vinyl" here? If your turntable does not have a built in phono pre-amp, it would be best to use an external sound card that has a built in pre-amp, for example: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/a ... noplus.htm

[bedavid2]

I'm looking for a external sound card for my hp laptop, windows xp, to record vinyl to mp3

[steve]

If your turntable does not have a built in phono pre-amp, it would be best to use an external sound card that has a built in pre-amp, for example: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/a ... noplus.htm