DRM wma to mp3

Honk'n_down-low · #1 01-04-2009, 10:10 PM

Not sure if this is the right place. But how are you converting wma's with DRM in place to mp3. I have purchased the music - it is just not allowing the conversion and for my current needs - the format has to be mp3. I know I can rip from CD - but these are downloads from Zune that I need to convert - really pisses me off - cause If I rip it I can use it - I should be able to make the same conversion from wma to mp3. I did search and the thread was from 2005 so I figured I would see what other folks are doing now?

Thanks!

seamonkey · #2 01-04-2009, 11:00 PM

I haven't run into this myself, but:
http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=...+mp3+converter

Honk'n_down-low · #3 01-17-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

I haven't run into this myself, but:
http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=...+mp3+converter

I searched here and googled before posting - was looking for people that were actually using a converter preferably a free one.

Irritating that I can't use music that I downloaded and paid for in the format that suits my needs.

Honk'n_down-low · #4 01-17-2009, 03:58 PM

Anyone?

DWBass · #5 01-17-2009, 04:09 PM

I've used the record while playing method using Audacity. Just set it to record from the internal mixer. Save the file as an mp3 (You'll have to download and add the lame dll file to the Audacity folder). Audacity is freeware.

John Wentzien · #6 01-17-2009, 04:12 PM

There is a free program called "Switch" that is easy to use..

Honk'n_down-low · #7 01-17-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I've used the record while playing method using Audacity. Just set it to record from the internal mixer. Save the file as an mp3 (You'll have to download and add the lame dll file to the Audacity folder). Audacity is freeware.

Good idea - I have done that in the past - just forgot - already have the dll loaded - thanks man.

John Wentzien · #8 01-17-2009, 04:19 PM

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

Honk'n_down-low · #9 01-17-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

There is a free program called "Switch" that is easy to use..

I'll see if I can find it - thanks! Does it remove DRM crap?

kevinmoore73 · #10 01-17-2009, 04:31 PM

I avoid this problem by not purchasing DRM-laden tracks.

The other issue you'll face is that you'll go through another generation of loss when you convert your tracks to mp3. It's like copying a copy of a tape cassette.

LuvMusic · #11 01-17-2009, 04:45 PM

Checkout this link, it may be able to help!

http://www.downloadatoz.com/drm-remo...ows-media.html

DWBass · #12 01-18-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

I avoid this problem by not purchasing DRM-laden tracks.

The other issue you'll face is that you'll go through another generation of loss when you convert your tracks to mp3. It's like copying a copy of a tape cassette.

Not true. This can only happen if your new file is encoded at a lower bitrate than the original. In addition, the original file is already in compressed audio format (wma).

kevinmoore73 · #13 01-18-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Not true. This can only happen if your new file is encoded at a lower bitrate than the original. In addition, the original file is already in compressed audio format (wma).

It is *absolutely* true. Using an mp3 encoder to re-encode an audio file will result in the mp3 encoder tossing out the bits it deems necessary to remove, regardless of original bit rate. It doesn't matter if the file is already compressed or not, there's still going to be a generation of loss in the resulting file. No mp3 encoder observes the algorithms used by another format's encoder.

As I said before, doing this is exactly like making a copy of a copy of a tape cassette. Whether this loss is perceptible or not is a separate discussion, but it definitely exists. Whether you chose to believe it is up to you. Lossy encoders are called that for a reason!

Lowtonejoe · #14 01-18-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Not true. This can only happen if your new file is encoded at a lower bitrate than the original. In addition, the original file is already in compressed audio format (wma).

For all practical purposes, definitely +1!

Joe.

kevinmoore73 · #15 01-18-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowtonejoe

For all practical purposes, definitely +1!

I continue to be appalled by the computer advice I see on this forum. I realize it's a musician's forum and not a computer science forum, but still. Misinformation and ignorance as truth helps no one.

What you two are talking about is the same thing as saying this:

"Here is a a copy of this new cassette I just bought. Any copies you make of this cassette will sound just as good as the copy I'm handing you since it's already a copy."

It also the same as claiming that a photocopy of a photocopied document will look just as good since it has already been photocopied once before.

Any time a lossy encoding scheme is applied to an audio file there will be loss of information. This is the very definition of lossy encoding. This is even more apparent when transcoding from one encoding scheme to another. Don't believe me? There's a wealth of information about this topic on the Internet.

Thangfish · #16 01-18-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Not true. This can only happen if your new file is encoded at a lower bitrate than the original. In addition, the original file is already in compressed audio format (wma).

It IS true.
WMA is lossy compression. This means quality is LOST... forever.
It can't be recovered.
Mp3 is lossy compression. This means MORE quality is lost.
Bitrate of either format does not make the format lossless compression. Higher bitrate simply retains MORE quality than a lower bitrate.

To the OP,
There are tons of programs that can convert wma to mp3... even Winamp can do it fine. DRM files are limited by the license. You can't remove it. Switch (mentioned earlier) can't either.

Some people burn to cd (the DRM sometimes allows that) and then rip and compress to mp3. You lose quality.
You can use something like Audacity as was mentioned, to record the audio from the wma file and then compress to mp3. You loose quality.

Definitely not the best solution, but enough quality is retained to learn the song, for example.

edit:
Kevin beat me to it!

Honk'n_down-low · #17 01-18-2009, 01:39 PM

Just want everyone to know the easiest cost free solution was to capture the original DRM track with Audacity and convert to mp3 - the quality is good enough to play along with the song or learn it which was my purpose - wanted to convert the songs to mp3 to play on my mp3 player.

I did hear that if you burn the tracks to disc and then rip them to mp3 works as well - not sure of the resulting quality and this is a two step process (I am going to try it) but hopefully gets around the DRM issue.

I can tell you this - I appreciate the DRM for what it alleges to protect - but it only makes me want to just snag free mp3's or not bother with downloading crap that has it in the first place because of the pain in the rear of having the files be portable for what I need. If you purchase the same restriction are not there - so I think music retailers need to rethink the DRM restrictions - it will not drive sales for me going forward.

Edit: Thanks to all for the suggestions - for the record Switch does not work on DRM Files - there are programs you can buy that will do this - Tunebite seems to have gotten the best press for this -but I did not want to pay again to use music I already paid for in the format I needed it in.

Thangfish · #18 01-18-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

so I think music retailers need to rethink the DRM restrictions

They have.
Even Itunes is giving it up.

kevinmoore73 · #19 01-18-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

I appreciate the DRM for what it alleges to protect - but it only makes me want to just snag free mp3's or not bother with downloading crap that has it in the first place

The DRM sure isn't there to protect you, the consumer. Not even one tiny bit.

Check out amazonmp3.com. They sell DRM-free mp3 tracks there. Apple is also in the process of switching the iTunes store to DRM-free tracks.

Lowtonejoe · #20 01-18-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

I continue to be appalled by the computer advice I see on this forum. I realize it's a musician's forum and not a computer science forum, but still. Misinformation and ignorance as truth helps no one.

What you two are talking about is the same thing as saying this:

"Here is a a copy of this new cassette I just bought. Any copies you make of this cassette will sound just as good as the copy I'm handing you since it's already a copy."

It also the same as claiming that a photocopy of a photocopied document will look just as good since it has already been photocopied once before.

Any time a lossy encoding scheme is applied to an audio file there will be loss of information. This is the very definition of lossy encoding. This is even more apparent when transcoding from one encoding scheme to another. Don't believe me? There's a wealth of information about this topic on the Internet.

Nah, you are wrong.

Converting from wma to mp3 at a higher bitrate will result in no perceptable loss in file quality.

Unless of course you are using a $7,500 all tube stereo amplifier and those $500 speaker cables into $2000 home stereo speakers in an acoustically neutral room with the proper mood lighting.

So I guess 132 people in the world probably will be able to tell a difference.

Joe.