Turn LPs and cassettes into digital media files

The analog-to-digital transfer of an album or cassette tape takes more effort than a routine digital-to-digital transfer. After all, you can't view the source content in Windows Explorer, and you can't drag and drop files, because so far you don't have any files. All you have are grooves cut into a vinyl platter, or magnetized iron oxide coated on acetate.

That's where software comes in. Products such as Roxio's Easy Media Creator and the Nero 6.0 Ultra Edition handle all aspects of the analog-to-digital transfer. Our GLI preamp came bundled with DAK's Wave MP3 Editor Pro, a $19.95 package if bought separately. Whichever you choose, the software lets you select the input source--presumably the Line In fader within the Volume Control applet window--and the file's destination.