chesspupil

It there a way to do this if the wma comes with no burn rights... or to tell the nero progam that the rights are there

ZeroSignal

If you follow the above method, and create WAV files, they will have no DRM and can burned with Nero.

caneaddict

So what's the final verdict from this thread. For Napsters "To Go" program I understand I can use the winamp method.

But does tunebite also work (I'd rather get the ID tags too)? Has anyone else had the problem of the first minute of the track disappearing as some poster mentioned?

And most importantly, does Virtuoso really work and allow me to switch from a protected format to a unprotected MP3 format faster than real-time?

ZeroSignal

The Winamp method will give you the ID3 tags.

Tunebite will be slower since it requires the tracks be played through in real-time.

Even though I'm using the Napster To Go trial, I think this would work for the standard service.

Anyone have a link which describes what Virtuoso does?

caneaddict

So winamp can work faster than real time? I thought it was also a real time speed method.

ZeroSignal

If you want MP3s and use out_lame it will be faster than real-time.

If you want WAVs and use Output Stacker with waveout+diskwriter, it will be real time, because waveout is involved. But I think the only reason the original hint requires waveout is because diskwriter can't be first in the stacker list for some reason - it needs something before it. You could probably use a visualisation plug-in. In that case, it should be faster than real-time.

caneaddict

So could you tell me specifically the fastest way?
Download WinAmp then the lame plugin, then in winamp click options-preferences-plugins-output-lame mp3 (I'm assuming this would show up there after I download it)? How and at what step would i use the visualisation plug in?

Thank you so much for the help and thanks to everyone who has worked to figure this out. I recently got divorced and lost my entire CD collection and now need to rebuild from scratch.

ZeroSignal

If you just want MP3s there's no need to use Output Stacker or any visualisation plug-in.

Install the lame plug-in, and configure it - I would recommend just choosing AP Standard but if you go to HydrogenAudio you can find out about the more advanced settings. Then load up the playlist and hit play. (It will save the MP3s to c:\ by default).

caneaddict

Thanks so much.

The resulting MP3's will all be unprotected and can be burned to CD or played forever correct?

ZeroSignal

Correct.

Pumblechook014

FYI...

I just tried the Virtuosa and Goldwave methods to convert downloaded Napster .wma files (full download subscription service... burning, converting, syncing, transferring prohibited) and I got the same thing from both... that the files were protected. Right now I have WMP 10 installed w/ XP and SP2. For those that have done this, are there any special steps to go through? I tried to convert the files regularly with both these programs, but to no avail. Maybe it doesn't work if you have WMP 10?

The winamp method is a last resort for me, seeing as how I want to convert around 4 gigs of music... which would probably monopolize my computer for a week in real time.

MEGAMANFRE

For songs DLed using Napsters unlimited DL and play but no burn subscription, the Winamp method is the only thing thats working, that doesnt cost extra money, and the other way I think you have to pay for the program to convert more than 30 sec of audio. Plus its still real time, and records everything going through your soundcard, so no other sounds can be playing during your music rip.

As it stands right now, theres no other way to get around the real time ripping.

ganryu

ZeroSignal: I've done almost exactly what you did, albeit slightly different:

Napster (not Napster To Go) in US
WinXP
Media Player 10 Installed
Winamp 5.08d
out_lame 1.6.3

Yet somehow, winamp kept crashing when I use out_lame without the output stacker (Winamp closes by itself when I click Play). If I use the output stacker with the directsound plugin, out_lame works, but not faster than real-time.

Any ideas? Much appreciated.

(Anyone else ran into the same problem? Or didn't run into the same problem with the exact config?)

homer6969

if u get a hold of the old virtuosa 5.0 setup file then u can get around the napster encryption AND real time conversion... hard to find though so good luck!

ganryu

Update: Seems like out_lame 1.6.2 would work as a plugin without the stacker, but 1.6.2 doesn't automatically import ID3 tags. Also, seems like 1.6.2 is still real-time.

Sigh.

MHouse

Fairly good results with v1.6.3 with a build of the lame 3.97 alpha 7 DLL dated Feb 9. However, I DO get the ID3 tags written with v1.6.3. Currently using Winamp 5.07. Only problem encountered is that MP3 output settings are not saved between sessions. Looking for the actual Alt-Preset-Standard specs, now...

If anyone has the stacker plugin and wouldn't mind hosting, it would be appreciated. Nullsoft seem to have pulled it from their plugin section...

MHouse

Might want to try a different build of LAME. I had trouble with a build dated Feb 11th, I believe. Went back to the 9th, and all was fine.

ganryu

Ah. Downloaded 3.97 alpha 7 to replace 3.96, works great now. Thanks!

By the way, this page seems to be hosting output stacker -> http://blog.kordix.com/marv/archives/000400.html

Not sure why you'd need it though

ZeroSignal

I may have been mistaken earlier when I said that out_lame is faster than real-time. I'm using a very slow PC (Duron 600) and it seemed to be slightly faster than real-time. But now that I check again, perhaps it is real-time.

However, I don't really understand how out_lame can be a real-time plug-in. If you had a slow PC, and used very high compression, then it wouldn't be able to keep up.

If you want to speed things up, then use multiple instances of Winamp. They don't interfere with each other.

ZeroSignal

Hmm... this is strange. Since about 30 minutes ago, I've not been able to play any of my downloads, even within Napster. I just says 'Opening media' which I think means it's checking that the license is valid.

Could just be a temporary glitch with their service. Or maybe the servers are overloaded because everyone is using this trick (it's on the major sites like News.com now). Or maybe they've stopped all authorisations until they try to fix it!

Edit - seems to be working again

ZeroSignal

I was getting License Server Error for every track so I called Tech Support.

They directed me to this page:
http://supportresource.info/
Looks like there could be a few goodies there.

On the technician's instructions, I exited Napster, downloaded DRM Reset, ran it (it's a command-line app), and then opened WRM_Upgrade.wma from C:\Program Files\Napster.

My downloads now work fine, but I'm not sure what broke it.

ZeroSignal

Update: DRM Reset just a batch file in a Winzip Executable. Here are it's contents:

Pumblechook014

So the virtuosa method only works with the full version? I downloaded the trial version of 5.0, added a track and clicked convert... what am I doing wrong? Winamp does seem to be the only way to convert the fully protected napster downloads.

I read on another message board that there are hacked versions of WMP that have had DRM removed from the program so that it plays .wma files but doesn't recognize DRM licenses... which means its possible to convert and burn inside these hacked WMP versions. It sounded pretty dubious to me, partly because I couldn't get my hands on one of these versions and partly because it doesn't actually alter the file, it would seem that any program without DRM on it wouldn't recognize protected files. Anyone had experience with this?

ganryu

I tried downloading a new song just now, and winamp just freezes at "Acquiring License" before giving up.

Seems like the new licenses no longer allow winamp to play the songs.. bummer

I also noticed some songs that were previously downloadable are now "buy only". Anyone else noticed that?

ZeroSignal

Try playing the track in Media Player and Napster itself. That will help to narrow down the problem.

What song changed from downloadable to 'buy only'?

So far I've not seen any tracks which are marked 'buy only'.