Thứ Ba, Tháng Hai 11, 2025
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How to digitize analog music with free software

People digitized their analog music to play on devices and as backups to protect their record collections from excessive wear and tear. Here's how to do it using one of two popular free software solutions: GarageBand and Audacity.

1. Set up analog audio

To digitize analog music, you will need to transfer the music to your computer via your computer's built-in sound card or external audio interface. Once the device is connected, open your favorite Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software and follow these steps:

Create a new project

Apple users may want to use the excellent GarageBand software available on all iOS and Mac machines – GarageBand is a great DAW for beginners. So for GarageBand, let's go New Project > Empty Project.

Windows and Linux users can choose to use Audacity. Although this software may seem outdated compared to GarageBand and limited to acoustic instruments, it is ideal for digitizing analog audio. A new project will automatically open on startup.

Select the audio input source

In GarageBand, select the audio track type for microphone or line input in the pop-up window. Next, choose Input 1 + 2 in the drop-down menu for the stereo audio track.

GarageBand - selects the audio input source.
GarageBand – selects the audio input source.

In Audacity, select the button Audio Setup on the toolbar, hover over Recording Device and select your audio input source.

Audacity - selects the audio input source.
Audacity – selects the audio input source.

Add stereo audio track

For GarageBand, click Create in the pop-up window and the stereo track will automatically be added to the arrangement window. For Audacity, right-click anywhere on the arrangement window and select Add Stereo Tracks.

2. Record music into your DAW

The recording process is the same whether you're digitizing school notes, a single track, or an entire cassette deck or recording. Remember to test every time you start a new project to increase your chances of getting it right the first time.

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Check the recording levels

Start playing your audio. In GarageBand, if your input source is configured properly, the meters in the top right panel will move according to the audio level. Keep the volume button in mid-zero and make sure the meter doesn't “clip”.

Clipping occurs when the sound distorts and the light turns orange as the meter approaches the right side. If this happens, reduce the recording level on the input device (recorder or audio interface) until the level is consistently green and yellow.

GarageBand - check recording levels.
GarageBand – check recording levels.

For Audacity, as your audio plays, the meter in the upper right of the window will change from green to yellow to red as the audio level increases. As audio plays, adjust the input device's volume until the meter is consistently green and yellow at 6dB.

Audacity - check recording level.
Audacity – check recording level.

Record audio

To record audio in Audacity or GarageBand, click the button Record red at the top of the window and start playing your audio. The recording will be visualized as two sound waves that represent the stereo signal as the audio plays. When the recording is complete, click the stop button and save your project.

If clipping occurs, delete the audio track, lower the input level, and start again.

3. Edit music before exporting

Before exporting audio, you must split it into separate tracks and arrange each track to remove unwanted gaps at the start and end points. You can also edit the audio to improve quality.

Split audio into tracks

In GarageBand, drag the cursor to the end of each song (soundwave narrows between songs), right-click, and select Split at Playhead.

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GarageBand - split an audio clip.
GarageBand – split an audio clip.

In Audacity, click on the track to place the cursor at the split point, then right-click and select Split Clip.

Audacity - split an audio clip.
Audacity – split an audio clip.

Arrange starting and ending points

In GarageBand, use the zoom slider in the upper right corner of the window to zoom in on the audio track between songs. You can then click and drag the start and end points to trim tracks, leaving no gaps, eliminating noise and hiss between songs.

For Audacity, enter View in the top menu and select Zoom > Zoom In (or click the magnifying glass icon). Then, click and drag the start and end points of each track to trim the parts without audio.

Add noise reduction to audio

In GarageBand, tap B to open Smart Controls. Setting Track located at the base of the arrangement window; Please check the box with the name Noise Gate and move the slider to the right to increase noise reduction.

GarageBand - adds pre-export noise reduction.
GarageBand – adds pre-export noise reduction.

In Audacity, select your track, click Effect in the top menu, then select Noise Removal and Repair > Noise Reduction. You can then experiment with the settings in the pop-up window, but use this effect sparingly.

Audacity - adds noise reduction before export.
Audacity – adds noise reduction before export.

4. Export digital audio files

Finally, you are ready to export your audio file. Be sure to name them during the export process to avoid confusion when searching for files and organizing them into playlists.

Normalize files to maximize volume

In GarageBand, select GarageBand > Settings in the top menu. In tab Advancedplease ensure the box Auto Normalize selected to export your projects at maximum volume.

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GarageBand - normalize a track.
GarageBand – normalize a track.

In Audacity, select your audio track, click Effect in the top menu, then select Volume and Compression > Normalize. Click Apply to enable this function.

Audacity - standardize a track.
Audacity – standardize a track.

Export audio

In the top menu in GarageBand, click Share > Export Song to Disk, Select your preferred digital format and audio quality in kBit/sec in the pop-up window. Then click Export to save to a folder of your choice.

GarageBand - export your audio.
GarageBand – export your audio.

In the top menu in Audacity, click File > Export Audio and choose Export to Computer. Here you can choose to trim the space before the first clip (if you haven't done so already), choose your preferred sample rate and digital format, as well as a destination folder. Finally, click Export to save your file.

Audacity - export your audio.
Audacity – export your audio.

There are many reasons why you should digitize your analog audio. You might have an old 4-track recording of a band from school, study notes you want to keep, rare recordings you want to back up, or tracks that can't be found on streaming services. GarageBand and Audacity are powerful free solutions that facilitate this while providing a valuable introduction to the world of digital recording, which can be both fun and informative.

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