USB Recording and CD Ripping: We all wish for music editing software that provides us a solution to all roadblocks that can come due to either media, platform, or device. However, Audacity is an application that includes support for editing and recording media from all devices.
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During the editing of music files or audio files, we often use the files or data available on our computer hard drives only. But there are cases when audio files are available only on USB devices such as flash drives, tape deck, or turntables.
Firstly, make sure your devices’ USB slots are in working condition. Secondly, make sure you have a USB cable that supports your PC USB slot as well as the device’s slot. From here, there are two ways to go.
- The first way is to connect the USB cable to your PC and launch the Audacity application. Upon choosing this way, Audacity will automatically scan the presence of the device with the media present on it.
- Another way is first to start Audacity and then connect the device via USB. When Audacity is already running while connecting USB, you will have to go to the Transport menu in the Menu bar and choose the ‘Rescan Audio Devices’ option.
Device Settings
Once your device is detected, you’ll have to play your luck with the ‘Device Toolbar.’ Here, you will have input and output device selection options. Usually, the output device will be built-in or connected speakers. It will be shown as Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) with a Black Volume button. Realtek is the manufacturer of the inbuilt Audio PCI set and drivers of PCs. It can vary as per your computer configuration.
Also, there’s an input menu with the black microphone symbol. It will show the connected device to have input from and input channel as Stereo.
Project Rate
There is a selection toolbar at the bottom left corner of the Audacity window. Select the option to set the frequency i.e., the Project Rate. Could you set it to 44100 Hz? You can also choose the specific time position of audio, start and end time of Audio in this option.
Monitor and Mixer
You shall click on the microphone icon to enable the monitoring bar (in recording meter). Mixer option from Mixer Toolbar will help you control access over the loudness of any recording. However, this option may not work with all turntable devices.
Now, all you need to do is to go to ‘Transport Toolbar’ and press the record 
button.
Once you record the Audio, you can play with different options of editing, mixing, and adding effects. All the effects and mixing options that are in-built can be applied easily, like any other audio project (from your PC).
After recording and editing the audio, you will want to export the audio project. You can do this by choosing export options available in the Menu bar. Save the export file to your PC.
After saving the project, open the Windows Media Play to rip it and burn it to CD via burn options available in Windows Media Player.
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