Playing downloaded music? Help!

ginlake · 03-24-2006, 05:29

Hi all

First time poster here. I've just got my A2, I've updated the firmware, and so far I'm pleased with my purchase - with one exception: I cannot play any music that I have bought online. All the player does is screech through any downloaded tracks at 10 times the speed.

I've searched this forum and elsewhere for any info on this problem but can't seem to find anything about it. Could anyone advise me on whether it's actually possible to play downloads? I'm finding it really hard to believe that such as sophisticated piece of kit can't play legally purchased music!

Mark

fa_pa · 03-24-2006, 05:57

You have to be more specific. Where did you download the music? What format is it in etc...

ginlake · 03-24-2006, 06:59

My tracks have mostly been downloaded from the Oxfam Music website (sib1.od2.com), and are in .wma format. They used to play perfectly well on my Creative Zen player.

I have also downloaded a new track that has never been played on any other mp3 player (just to any licensing issues) but it's still the same problem.

If I try to play tracks on the A2 using my PC (Windows Media Player), it acquires the license and then plays fine, but still refuses to play correctly using the A2's own player.

Is the A2 not compatible? Is there a license issue? Do I need to transfer songs in a specific way to ensure the license is on the player? I'm stumped.

Mark

Wuggles · 03-24-2006, 09:20

Your Creative Zen player was PlaysForSure compatible, the friendly name for Microsoft's DRM technologies. The A2 is NOT compatible with Microsoft (or anyone else's for that matter) DRM. There are of course tricks to remove the DRM from the files you download, but in most cases that would be illegal so do some searching on your own to figure that out.

fa_pa · 03-24-2006, 14:47

Cowon is working on the firmware to include DRM but that can take a while

Packgrog · 03-24-2006, 15:54

Do a search online to find a program that will allow you to convert DRM wma files into an open format, such as MP3. I would be surprised if such a program didn't exist. You can strip the DRM portion off of iTunes files (provided you haven't upgraded to the latest version of iTunes), so I'm sure there's a way to do it for M$-protected files. Google it.

But no, the A2 does not support DRM. All the professional magazines list that as a "Con". Personally, I don't care, as I buy the damn CDs for better audio quality and rip my own MP3s with LAME at high bitrate. Always going to beat that online purchased crud.

Wuggles · 03-24-2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Packgrog

I buy the damn CDs for better audio quality and rip my own MP3s with LAME at high bitrate. Always going to beat that online purchased crud.

Amen. Two of my favorite artists, Dave Matthews Band and They Might Be Giants offer their own music up for download in FLAC, which is even better than CD quality! Although I prefer to buy the CD rather than the FLAC because I like to have something to hold in my hand to say I bought it, and I can't notice the quality difference with my relatively low-end headphones.

03-24-2006, 05:29	#1
ginlake Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8	Playing downloaded music? Help! Hi all First time poster here. I've just got my A2, I've updated the firmware, and so far I'm pleased with my purchase - with one exception: I cannot play any music that I have bought online. All the player does is screech through any downloaded tracks at 10 times the speed. I've searched this forum and elsewhere for any info on this problem but can't seem to find anything about it. Could anyone advise me on whether it's actually possible to play downloads? I'm finding it really hard to believe that such as sophisticated piece of kit can't play legally purchased music! Mark

03-24-2006, 15:54	#6
Packgrog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 203	Do a search online to find a program that will allow you to convert DRM wma files into an open format, such as MP3. I would be surprised if such a program didn't exist. You can strip the DRM portion off of iTunes files (provided you haven't upgraded to the latest version of iTunes), so I'm sure there's a way to do it for M$-protected files. Google it. But no, the A2 does not support DRM. All the professional magazines list that as a "Con". Personally, I don't care, as I buy the damn CDs for better audio quality and rip my own MP3s with LAME at high bitrate. Always going to beat that online purchased crud. __________________ Cowon A2 30GB v1.91 w/ InvisibleShield \| Rockboxed iHP-120 (Bootloader v6, Build CVS-061020) \| Altoid Tin Monica 2 NOS DAC \| Future Sonics Atrio m5 \| Beyerdynamic DT250-80

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03-24-2006, 05:57	#2
fa_pa Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 200	You have to be more specific. Where did you download the music? What format is it in etc...

03-24-2006, 06:59	#3
ginlake Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8	My tracks have mostly been downloaded from the Oxfam Music website (sib1.od2.com), and are in .wma format. They used to play perfectly well on my Creative Zen player. I have also downloaded a new track that has never been played on any other mp3 player (just to any licensing issues) but it's still the same problem. If I try to play tracks on the A2 using my PC (Windows Media Player), it acquires the license and then plays fine, but still refuses to play correctly using the A2's own player. Is the A2 not compatible? Is there a license issue? Do I need to transfer songs in a specific way to ensure the license is on the player? I'm stumped. Mark

03-24-2006, 09:20	#4
Wuggles Would-be A2 owner Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 49	Your Creative Zen player was PlaysForSure compatible, the friendly name for Microsoft's DRM technologies. The A2 is NOT compatible with Microsoft (or anyone else's for that matter) DRM. There are of course tricks to remove the DRM from the files you download, but in most cases that would be illegal so do some searching on your own to figure that out.

03-24-2006, 14:47	#5
fa_pa Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 200	Cowon is working on the firmware to include DRM but that can take a while