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 ion audio usb preamp did the trick.