# USB Recording

From Audacity Development Manual
This is a very basic guide to recording with USB devices. More detailed information (and Mac instructions) can be found at Recording with USB turntables or USB cassette decks.

| If you have just made a recording it is strongly recommended that you immediately export your audio using File > Export > Export Audio... to WAV or AIFF (ideally to an external drive) as a safety copy before you start editing the project.

- Connect the USB cable of the turntable, or tapedeck, to the computer, then launch Audacity. If Audacity was already running when you connected the cable, restart Audacity or choose Transport > Rescan Audio Devices.

- Use the Device Toolbar to set the recording and playback devices and set the channels to "2(stereo) Recording Channels":

  In this example on Windows, the output is set to the named speakers of the built-in computer sound device, the input is set to the USB turntable (usually called or including the phrase "USB Audio CODEC") and recording channels are set to stereo. Windows 10/8/7 calls most USB external devices "microphones". Some higher-end USB recording interfaces may appear as their explicit manufacturer's name.

- From the Transport Menu check "Software Playthrough" to be "on" to hear the turntable through the computer speakers. This setting can be toggled on/off easily using Transport > Transport Options.

- Then, ignoring any instructions in the manufacturer's guide to select "stereo mix", simply press the Record button on Transport Toolbar.

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