Converting "protected" iTunes songs.

[line6man]

I had a $15 iTunes gift card...
I bought some songs, and some of them can be converted into MP3, but others give me BS about being protected.
I cant even begin to describe the rage that that message gives me.

If i have to playback the songs and re-record them in sonar and save them as MP3, i guess i can do that, but is there any other way that i can get these "protected" files converted?

[tplyons]

Burn them to a CD and then rip them as MP3's. Easiest way to do it.

The reason some can be converted to MP3 and other's can't is DRM. Some are DRM free, such as songs available on iTunes Plus, because some artists wish to allow you to do as you please with the music once you purchase it.

I personally have no problems with the DRM, unless you're using it on an MP3 player that doesn't support the AAC encoding.

[line6man]

Nope...
They are apparently like qucktime movies.
They are in .m4p format, and i cant get them converted.

[tplyons]

Then you're going to need software that costs more than the music did.

www.noteburner.com

[line6man]

I might as well just record the playback into Sonar and render that as an MP3 then...

FWIW, i usually order my music from Amazon because they dont screw you with copyrights and whatnot.

Amazon is IMO the best place for music.

[evan_phi]

there are some freeware DRM-killers out there.

DoubleTwist (Win): http://www.doubletwist.eu/dt/Home/Index.dt
DRM Dumpster (Mac): http://www.burningthumb.com/drmdumpster.html

Both are FREE!!!

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by line6man

I might as well just record the playback into Sonar and render that as an MP3 then...

FWIW, i usually order my music from Amazon because they dont screw you with copyrights and whatnot.

Amazon is IMO the best place for music.

I agree. I've picked up brand new CDs for $6 shipped to my door.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by line6man

I had a $15 iTunes gift card...
I bought some songs, and some of them can be converted into MP3, but others give me BS about being protected.
I cant even begin to describe the rage that that message gives me.

If i have to playback the songs and re-record them in sonar and save them as MP3, i guess i can do that, but is there any other way that i can get these "protected" files converted?

Create a playlist with the songs in iTunes, burn the list as an audio-cd, import the cd.

Done.

D.Don

[Bad Brains]

ITunes is the worst thing ever. I refuse to get an Ipod just for that reason.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

ITunes is the worst thing ever. I refuse to get an Ipod just for that reason.

If I may ask, why is iTunes the worst thing ever?

I can get almost any song I ever wanted within seconds, and can be recommended other songs I like, both in my library and outside my library with a single click based on other people with similar tastes' libraries. I've found several good bands due to this, as well as other things.

The iTunes/iPod/iPhone interface is flawless, not once a problem in two years of using Apple products. Why do you dislike iTunes so much?

[MJ5150]

Is this thread leaning towards a discussion that may be frowned upon here at TB? I'm not pointing any fingers or suggesting any actual wrongdoing, just asking out loud so no one gets in trouble. I would think Apple keeps an eye for people asking questions like this.

-Mike

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by tplyons

I can get almost any song I ever wanted within seconds....

Two reasons right there in your one comment.

It should be any song, and it should be in milliseconds. Sheesh, dontcha know anything?

-Mike

[Ericman197]

The controversy is really because many of us believe that if we pay for music, we should be able to do whatever we want with it.

To give an example of why I don't like iTunes, I bought a bunch of videos that I wanted to play for a party. However, I soon realized that there was no way I could burn them to a DVD without paying a lot of money for a questionably legal program. The music videos that I paid for were stuck on my computer, and could not be burned.

It's a constant struggle because it is perhaps impossible to make something that is both usable, and impossible to pirate. iTunes tries to compromise with the DRM stuff. We ordinary consumers are caught in the middle. Whereas anyone who is good at computers can figure out how to rip off, burn, or copy any song or movie, I can't. So I'm stuck with some files I legitimately paid for, that aren't of very much use to me.

Converting the 'protected' iTunes songs may in some instances be illegal, but as far as I know, it is legal for personal use. I don't know the true intentions of the OP, but I can attest to the fact that there are many times when iTunes DRM stuff makes it difficult/impossible to actually use what you paid for. It really gets to the point where, after downloading something legally, you really want to get the illegal version too so you can actually burn it.

[selfblessed]

Originally Posted by WashburnBasser

I agree. I've picked up brand new CDs for $6 shipped to my door.

I think they were talking about the Amazon MP3 music store. I have found albums there that I would pay 2 to 3 times as imports. They also have some albums that iTunes does not have.

peace

[line6man]

I am usually not a fan of MP3 downloads, as i prefer to have actual CD's on hand, mostly because i will always have the CD's even if my computer crashes.
However, i download individual songs from amazon all the time, when i am looking for just a certain song, and not the whole album.

Amazon is excellent regarding their protection (or lack there-of) of songs, and MP3 formatting.
Like i said, i had an iTunes gift card, so thats why i used iTunes rather than amazon.

FWIW, for any "higher ups" that may be watching the thread, i just want to get the music into MP3 form so that i am free to put it on my cell phone and back it up on an audio CD that will play on any CD player. I have no intention of selling the songs or whatnot, i just want to listen to them.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by selfblessed

I think they were talking about the Amazon MP3 music store. I have found albums there that I would pay 2 to 3 times as imports. They also have some albums that iTunes does not have.

peace

Yeah, i meant the MP3 store, but FWIW, Amazon is excellent regarding real CD's as well...

I got some SRV CD's for under $2!
I can find old VHS tapes for a penny (except they are $3 to ship)

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by Ericman197

The controversy is really because many of us believe that if we pay for music, we should be able to do whatever we want with it.

To give an example of why I don't like iTunes, I bought a bunch of videos that I wanted to play for a party. However, I soon realized that there was no way I could burn them to a DVD without paying a lot of money for a questionably legal program. The music videos that I paid for were stuck on my computer, and could not be burned.

It's a constant struggle because it is perhaps impossible to make something that is both usable, and impossible to pirate. iTunes tries to compromise with the DRM stuff. We ordinary consumers are caught in the middle. Whereas anyone who is good at computers can figure out how to rip off, burn, or copy any song or movie, I can't. So I'm stuck with some files I legitimately paid for, that aren't of very much use to me.

Converting the 'protected' iTunes songs may in some instances be illegal, but as far as I know, it is legal for personal use. I don't know the true intentions of the OP, but I can attest to the fact that there are many times when iTunes DRM stuff makes it difficult/impossible to actually use what you paid for. It really gets to the point where, after downloading something legally, you really want to get the illegal version too so you can actually burn it.

We are in the beginning of a new paradigm when it comes to media, and the big media giants are really scared and have no clue how to handle it. Wait a cpl of years and you'll see that these things will solve themselves anyway, meanwhile, do what everyone else does, steal... In the end the media giants will benefit from that as well when they finally one day see what excellent marketing channels they could have access to if they just stopped being so stubborn, in the end, if you don't like it, you don't buy it anyway, but if you like it, you most probably want to have the full monty in your library.

When it comes to music, I am totally adapting to deezer and spotify now, and there's the way to go, can't wait to see how these services will evolve in the near future. Still, when running spotify, I often look for that "purchase" button, some of the music I'd love to have not only as downloaded files, but as physical products as well, let's hope someone understands this and offer a service that can provide this soon, I mean, listen to the albums you find interesting, as much as you want, and when you finally find something you REALLY like CLICK and buy it so you can listen to it offline as well.


D.Don

[Psychbass]

Originally Posted by line6man

I am usually not a fan of MP3 downloads, as i prefer to have actual CD's on hand, mostly because i will always have the CD's even if my computer crashes.
However, i download individual songs from amazon all the time, when i am looking for just a certain song, and not the whole album.

Amazon is excellent regarding their protection (or lack there-of) of songs, and MP3 formatting.
Like i said, i had an iTunes gift card, so thats why i used iTunes rather than amazon.

FWIW, for any "higher ups" that may be watching the thread, i just want to get the music into MP3 form so that i am free to put it on my cell phone and back it up on an audio CD that will play on any CD player. I have no intention of selling the songs or whatnot, i just want to listen to them.

Line6 man,

You've already been told how to get the DRM off of the music files. Simply burn the playlist onto a blank CD. Then reimport that playist as unprotected Mp3s or (more preferrably AAC). It works with EVERY protected music file from apple. Yes it's a pain if you want it off of there, but more and more songs on the apple store are becoming DRM free every day.

If you use itunes, as it's meant to be used (with an ipod, AppleTV, and/or an airport express to your stereo), it's amazing. Yes it locks you into apple products and, no, I don't care because they all work great. Works better than streaming video/music/photos to the Xbox 360 or PS3.

Psychbass

[3506string]

+1 to burning to a cd just get a CD-RW you can repeat the process without buying a bulk of blank cd's. Change the upload settings in itunes to mp3 and you will have names mp3 copies of all your songs.

[WillPlay4Food]

Just buy music from Amazon.com . It's all MP3 files and their download program will automagically stick it into your iTunes database if you prefer. Apple really needs to negotiate DRM-free music for all their files on iTunes, IMO.