The best tools, software, gadgets, books, magazines, and websites.

1

2

 

^{The Perfectly Balanced 2 Turn Your Records} 1 ^{Kitchen Knife into MP3s} Wüsthof 10-Piece Classic Block Set ART Pro USB Phono Plus $99 $400 wusthof.com ^{artproaudio.com}

· Before discovering the awesome blade of the ·You have “Kung Fu Fighting” on vinyl, but how do
Wüsthof knife, I avoided recipes that called for cut- you get that into your computer to turn it into an
ting up fresh ingredients. Cutting things is more fun MP3? Well, Grasshopper, try this little USB audio
when you’re doing it with a high-carbon specialty interface. A phono cartridge needs a pre-amp with
knife that was crafted with a laser beam. special equalization. The USB Phono Plus has true
Now, armed with my Wüsthof Classic knife set, phono inputs — along with line-level and digital
I’ve been tossing freshly cut veggies into omelets, audio connections — in a solid metal enclosure.
creating my own fruit trays, and leaving precut It works with standard USB audio drivers on any
loaves of bread for the culinary patzers. recent Win or Mac system, and includes a wall wart
The knives come with a sharpening steel, and if so you can use it as a standalone phono pre-amp.
you use it correctly, they should last longer than you My favorite feature? It has a knob. The gain
will. I sharpen them every three or four uses, and it’s control lets you fine-tune the volume before digitiz-
working out fine. The entire set fits into a nice wood ing, to record the level as high as possible without
block for you to store away, and you get a lifetime clipping. But trust your recording software’s level
warranty that covers defects in craftsmanship. meters; my clip LED on the front panel flashed red
—Matthew Russell even when there was a bit of headroom to spare. No
complaints about the sound quality, though. I can’t
hear any difference between my original vinyl and
the digitized version. —Ross Orr