The problem then becomes converting your existing investment in often-rare vinyl into a quality-sounding digital audio file. One solution is to purchase a high-quality computer audio card, recording software, and a phono-to-line preamp that can bridge between the antiquated phono outputs of your existing turntable and the modern line inputs of your computer audio card. However, USB-compatible turntables like the Stanton T.90 ($435 list, $399 street) offer a much tidier solution by combining a turntable, computer audio card, phono-to-line preamp, and bundled recording software all in one product.

Using Pyro 5 to record vinyl was a snap. You can record an entire side of an LP in one pass, then later go though and clean up the recording, separate tracks, and export them to WAV, MP3, or WMA files.

USB Turntable