Downloading tracks from Internet music sites [Archive]

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gillysteve

07-04-2006, 04:34

I use Virgin and Napster and the downloaded tracks are wma files. When I burn these onto a CD will I then be able to rip them back onto the Jet Audio or Windows Media Player software to go onto the A2 as wma's or do they need to be converted into MP3 files and can they be converted to mp3 files from wma files?

I am thoroughly confused as when I bought the A2 I didn't realise I couldn't download music from the internet straight onto the player because the wma files are protected if I understand it right.

Any assistance please?

Ath

07-04-2006, 07:48

If those files are protected music files then no. A2 doesnt support protected music. If you can burn to audio cd(or cd image, then mount it using daemon tools or alcohol 120%) then you can convert them to wma or mp3. It's up to you wma or mp3 but if it's wma, make sure the protect music option is not selected. After that just drag n drop into your A2 and enjoy.

gillysteve

07-04-2006, 10:42

Youv'e lost me now. Never heard of either of those things Daemon tools or Alcohol!!

I was planning to rip them back on the computer using Windows Media Player 10. There is an option to convert to MP3 in that. Will that be ok instead of the software you mention? There is also a box to tick to copy protect music. I assume that I leave the box unticked??

Thanks for your help. Very grateful. I would really be in trouble without this forum.[thumbsup]

jontupper

07-04-2006, 12:52

[QUOTE=gillysteve]I am thoroughly confused as when I bought the A2 I didn't realise I couldn't download music from the internet straight onto the player because the wma files are protected if I understand it right.[QUOTE]

Thats the case. If they will allow you, burn the music onto a cd. Then rip the cd into mp3s. If there isn't some stupid music protection crap that stops you from doing it, it should work.

Its also going to destroy the quality of your already-crappy wma's.

MCSmarties

07-06-2006, 11:44

Bottom line: don't download DRM protected "legal" crap from the internet.
More and more people are finally realizing how much they are getting screwed, yet the big companies are still touting DRM as the best thing since sliced bread! them!

Rip your songs from CD instead. Only use P2P software if you know what you're doing!!

Remember the following:
DRM (Digital Rights Management) = CRAP! (Content, Restriction, Annulment, and Protection)

eric3a

07-06-2006, 12:46

Well said.
Let's ll repeat together now:

I will not buy DRM protected or CRAP as we now know it.

Eric

MCSmarties

07-07-2006, 08:50

I solemnly swear that I will never buy, download or otherwise acquire in any way or fashion DRM-infested media files.
I furthermore swear that I will never encourage others to buy, download or otherwise acquire in any way or fashion DRM-infested media files.
I take this oath on this Friday, July 7 of the year 2006, under the pains and penalties of perjury and so help me God.

hobo

07-08-2006, 16:18

hobos with u guys!

eric3a

07-08-2006, 23:12

Nightwing

07-09-2006, 00:52

Rather still buy the CD. This way I have a backup incase of problems.

Did buy some from Walmart about a year ago. After two or three weeks they stoped playing. Got them renewed for free. A few weeks later same thing. Got them renews again and quickly burn them to a CD. Then riped that CD back and had no problems ever since with those copies!

Locks only keep honest people out!

Aikiwoce

07-09-2006, 02:08

Locks only keep honest people out!

I'd argue that your statement is not entirely accurate. I'd say, "Locks tend to only keep honest people out," as locks do deter some crimes.

Although relying completely on a lock for protection is foolhardy at best. No matter how sophisticated the lock, anyone with enough time, desire, and knowledge can bypass them. The trick is to eliminate the reason for breaking the lock, and therefore the need for the lock.

I'm not saying that artists, and the studios that represent them, don't deserve compensation. What I am saying is that DRM punishes people who legally obtain music.

People want to buy music legally. I mean who wouldn't? The movie studios have shown the most effective way to combat piracy is to compete with it on a more level playing field. In an era where bandwidth is cheap, CDs are expensive, people are accustomed to convenience, and legal costs are enormous, who wouldn't feel the urge to download?

A choice between DRM'd downloads, overpriced CDs, and morally/legally ambiguous free downloads is not choice at all.

Nightwing

07-10-2006, 22:22

Both the record companies and the movie companies need to realize a lesson that is relearnd over times by other industry and companies. Price it right. Offer it without driving the consumer nuts. Will get you more money in the long run.

eric3a

07-10-2006, 23:20

Me, I'm just fed up being expected to pay for the same thing over and over again.
Used to be that a movie was a movie, and couldn't be experienced on your TV back home. Gee, my TV when I grew up was probably a 15" so seeing a movie on a HUGE screen made the difference.
So we paid to see the movie once, and then we'd get it free on our National TV broadcast.

Then one day, some clever dude had this great idea of dividing my local HUGE theater into 13 (count them 13!!) small theathers. No joke, some of them were no bigger than the large modern home theaters.

Now, they expect me to pay for:
The (very poor) theater experience,
The DVD
The Special Edition DVD or director's cut
The pay per view version
The cable airing on TV
The portable version for my PMP by internet download
The PSP version
Even the airplane version on some flights

but to me, this is only one product: Seeing a movie. I don't see the difference between waching a movie on a PSP or my computer, yet I'd have to pay twice to achieve that.

I'll be buggered if I'm going to pay over and over for the same thing. I pay once for cable, and that's it. The other viewings I get from recording or downloading.
I'll never pay for DRM, and I've never bought a DVD. If one day the only way to get movies is via DRM, it'll mean no more movies for me and I'm not going to die from that. There are plenty of other things I can do with my time, like 3 hours windsurfing session like today (woohoo!).

There is such a thing as killing the goose that lays the golden egg, and for me an all DRM approach would do just that.
I will not buy DRM CRAP.

As for music, I can't wait until Microsoft or someone else comes out with the true "iPod killer" (someone will eventually) and iPod fans start wanting to move and realize all those iTunes songs are CRAP protected. I think that's what it will take for Joe Public to realize the true loss of choice CRAP means, and hopefully a backlash towards DRM in general.

Eric

Nightwing

07-11-2006, 09:38

Sorry the "iPod" killer will proabbly be using Microsoft DRM scheme instead of Apples DRM scheme.

eric3a

07-11-2006, 10:55

Of course it will and that's exactly my point. There'll be some people who'll want to switch and will find out that the 2 DRM formats are not compatible.

The more DRM formats try and co-exist the more the whole concept of DRM becomes confusing and annoying for the consumer and the greater the chance of a backlash.
Eric

doniago

07-11-2006, 13:29

^Interesting theory. Being a non-DRM'er myself, I'd be curious to see how it pans out.

The DRM civil war starts here. :)

Since this thread's all DRM'y I'm relocating it. Yay for my first non-X5 thread move.

MCSmarties

08-10-2006, 11:34

eric3a: Lost track of this thread for a while, but it shouldn't be a surprise that I agree 100% with you!

Actually... no, make that 95%.

See, I DO buy DVDs occasionally if and when I feel I'm getting a good value:
- I only extremely rarely pay more than $10 for a DVD
- I only get DVDs of movies that actually *deserve* it (won't pay for the latest crapola) and that I will watch several times.
- I only get DVDs including special features.

This means that I either buy new from deeply discounted online sellers or 2nd hand.
I have no trouble with buying a "pre-viewed" DVD as long as it plays correctly and the box is in reasonable shape.
After all, once you watch a new DVD once it's "pre-viewed" too!

Other movies come from the public library or P2P... and I NEVER rent or pay-per-view movies. Waste of money.