#1 Doubtful

#2 Virgin Digital

For those interested parties I have resorted to using MuvAudio. I wouldn't have considered using this product before, but I recently bought a new sound card which makes the re-encoding virtually un-noticeable.

I bought the Sound Blaster PCMCIA Audigy 2 ZS (for laptops). The Signal to Noise Ratio is 104dB so I’d challenge anyone to actually hear a difference between the re-encoded MP3 and the original WMA.

I suggest everyone take up this option of converting your DRM protected WMAs to unprotected MP3. MuvAudio uses WMP so it's virtually un-stoppable, and more importantly doesn't break your license agreement (so it isn't illegal).

I also recommend MuvAudio instead of Tunebite (I’ve used both products) for 3 reasons:
a) MuvAudio doesn't cut off tracks like Tunebite does
b) Tunebite's VBR encoding seems flakey, and you can't choose CBR
c) MuvAudio is free (by donation)

My only gripe is MuvAudio is still beta so it does crash when you do odd things. So just try and be gentle and it will convert all your music flawlessly.

Actually, copying any music in any format for which you do not possess a valid license is illegal. If you own the music in the original format (mp3, CD, whatever), then fair use allows you to legally make a copy in the analogue domain. HOWEVER, if you sell the music you copied (sell the original CD) or else lose license to the original (cancel your Napster/Virgin Digital subscription) then you also lose license to any copies.

So the guy who talks about copying his Virgin Digital files for use on an iPod while he maintains the VD subscription is probably legally within the domain of fair use. The guy who talks about downloading as much as possible with his free introductory trial to Napster, copying those files and cancelling the Napster subscription is breaking the law if he doesn't also completely delete all the copies when he cancels the Napster subscription. It doesn't matter what method he used to capture those files; fair use requires you to own a valid license to the original material.

You are absolutely correct when it comes to the audigy 2 zs card, somewhere in my earliest posts in this same forum i basically came to the same conclusion that reencoding to wma's is almost difficult to see a change between the protected wma and the reencoded wma
In fact just last night i compared an unprotected wma at 128 vs the protected wma in soundforge 8 and the bottom line is that there is no difference. Using some other sophisticated software i was actually able to overlap both files over each other with hardly any difference(they fit like a glove) so real time is no problem unless you are in a hurry.
Microsoft cannot patch this unless they don't want you to play the file on your computer, but then Virgin, napster and et al will close down.

Here's something interesting
Archos 500637 20 GB Audio Player with Color LCD Screen
http://www.x10.com/electronics/allca...rs/archos.html

**Play MP3, WMA (including protected files), and WAV music files**
$350
If you can d/l there must surely be a way to u/l to your computer.
But then again i know absolutely zero about this device

BTW, at work i have a windows98 machine and it must stay that way for other reasons but in any case acoustica was able to convert the protected wma's to unprotected wma's which i thought was kind of strange and i have no idea why this is the case. It of course didn't play the files thru windows media version 7 since there are no plugin's ,but conversion did take place and this machine hasn't been connected to the net for at least three years.

I have an old machine that I would take the trouble to dust off and install Win 98 on if someone else can verify this or I get the time to do it myself.

Correct I should have pointed that out.

Incorrectly using DRM licenses is an issue. Thus programs line Virtousa, Acoustica, etc. don't line up with "fair use." The idea of a consumer getting in trouble for this is unlikely (more likely Virtousa/Acoustica would have all their DRM rights revoked and possibly filed suit against).

However re-encoding music you hear while your retain the license is 100% legal. The minute you cancel your subscription and keep the mp3s you created you are breaking the license agreement.

However i'm not 100% sure if you are also breaking the law. Because if you look at the advent of systems such as Tivo, one could potentally record a program off DirecTV, cancel service and watch that programing later. Granted DirecTV is just a content provider, but i'm not sure how that'd relate here to music laws.

I have a question for you all.

I was using TuneBite to re-encode my music from Napster, and so far in two songs that I've re-encoded there is this weird pause that happens for like half a second and then the music continues. It's annoying...

I read this in the programs FAQ.

Would the problem I'm experiencing be a result of using the computer while re-encoding?

Most likely - unless you have a pretty fast processor, and LOTS of RAM, playback and recording will be affected.

But if it doesn't happen in every song then that would mean I meet the requirements for re-encoding, right?

Not really, access windows task manager (performance tab), and go about your normal computing "routine" - watch how the processor and ram usage fluctuates even when you're not doing "anything". You'll be surprised. You may want to shut down any unused processes like messenger, virus-scans, etc., while you're doing the recording. Anything that you can see running in your taskbar will rob varying amounts of system resources.

I can confirm this did not work on my Windows 98 machine that i dusted off, but I did have Windows Media Player 9 installed, which most likely makes a difference. I tried to convert and it said "File could have DRM or it could be corrupted." If I have some extra time i'm going to format and reinstall Windows without being connected to the internet, and then i'll check again to see if it works.

Interesting thought though... I bet there's some way to get it to work on another OS besides XP.

I can also confirm this did not work on a fresh install of Windows 98 SE that came with WMP 6.1 pre-installed. I then proceeded to install WMP 7.0 off of oldversion.com and then tried it, and it still did not work.

I am sorry to say it, but I call BS on this one until sspade100 supplies us with a little more detial about system configuration, etc.

MY APOLOGIES.

I was able to get two to convert out of 11, but then the machine LOCKED UP, tried the usual reboot and so on, but then got the msg that one needed to obtain necessary plug-ins.
But initially it did work and HAVE NO IDEA WHY and i assumed if 2 worked the rest would.

At 1400 UTC (10:00 A.M.), I am still able to convert WMA Protected to WMA Unprotected.
I am using the good twin of SlutAnalog along with a conversion program that is documented on this forum. IT IS NOT A REAL TIME CONVERSION!!! It is fast.
The conversion program worked even after Napster nuked Acoustica and required a re-format for Acoustica. (Acoustica doesn't work now, even with re-format).
This post is to let you know the solution is in this thread, so don't give up.
It is best not to publish it anymore and hopefully it will continue to work.
If it fails to work, I will make a post on this thread.
In the meantime, let's hope someone comes up with another solution that will do sub-folders as Acoustica and Virtuosa did.

Why don't you copy (not move) the files into another directory. The only issue you might have is hard drive space, and duplicate file names (same song/same artist normally in separate folders). You might overwrite a file or two, but still much quicker than working with multiple folders. Just a thought...

I thought SA was her sister, not her cousin???

I personally believe you're lieing. If you weren't, you would just give out the solution. Why make people beg for it?

Don't even bother... he's lieing.

it's there... just read and you will find it.

junior member...aka big recording studio??? you thin we are stupid? we are on to you. dont post any more solutions here. or toasters (music recording studio) will be on to us.!!!

Is that why so many other members in this section posted so called solutions and no mod deleted them?

If you would bother doing any research you would find that reencoding is not illegal.

You honestly think I work with the RIAA? Right... is that why I was asking questions?

What bitrate do you usually re-encode at?

re encoding isnt illegal? ha ha! whatever big brother. and i dont re encode (at least i wont admit it to you big brother)

i agree w/ u gardenweb, but i still think that re-encoding is not illlegal
plus 1 more thing, even if it was illegal, how would they find out???????
thats what puzzles me

Dude, get fucking real! I don't work for the RIAA. I'm a kid who wants to get his music but daddy won't let him download illegaly. Do you understand that or not? Don't try to act like the big hero and rescue us all from who you THINK I am. I DO NOT have anything to do with the RIAA. Get your facts straight and get a sufficient amount of proof before you make such extraordinary accusations.

Now, what bitrate do you all usually reencode at? I think 192 is too much, but I'm not sure.

dude, ur making us all a little suspicious w/ ur completly PERFECT post w/ no errors and such.....doesnt that sound just a bit awkward 2 any1 else? for all i no, im not trusting u

Your vocabulary sounds like a 13 year old...yeah right. creep. leave us alone, big brother. how many 8th garders you know that use words like sufficient and extraordinary, let alone spell them correctly? man if you are going undercover at least be reasonable about it.

Dude, you need to grow up. You're assuming that I work for the RIAA because of my vocabulary level? Wow... you are a bit shallow.

Perhaps some people who post here actually have an intelligence level higher than that of yours.

Excuse me for having a grasp of the concept of typing, spelling, and punctuation?

I honestly don't care whether or not you trust me for I have not asked you to do anything that would require us both to trust eachother.

If you don't believe me, that's cool. Both of you need to take time to do something else other than trying to be this forums hero because you're really only making yourself look like a paranoid ass.

Yes, and both of you need to watch out because I'm filing a subpoena request with both of your ISPs -rolls eyes-