Ipod, DRM, and onboard HDD

[Maeztro]

I've been pretty much sticking with my iPod in the CTS due to the large number of songs I had purchased in the past from iTunes (now I use only amazon mp3). I came up with a solution to get this music on to the HDD in the CTS.

As I posted in another thread there is a program called Noteburner that will (legally) remove the DRM on iTunes tracks. You can then move these new MP3's off your PC and on to a USB stick or portable HDD. Then from there move it to the CTS.

I know similar posts have appeared before but the sticking point was always been the DRM. I figured I would post my method in case anyone is in the same boat as me.

M

[Zymurgy]

Apple announced yesterday that they will be dropping DRM from all their songs:

Apple Inc. (AAPL) (AAPL) is cutting the price of some songs in its market-leading iTunes online store to as little as 69 cents and plans to make every track available without copy protection.

In Apple's final appearance at the Macworld trade show, Apple's top marketing executive, Philip Schiller, said Tuesday that iTunes song prices will come in three tiers: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29. Record companies will choose the prices, which marks a significant change, since Apple previously made all songs sell for 99 cents.

Apple gave the record labels that flexibility on pricing as it got them to agree to sell all songs free of "digital rights management," or DRM, technology that limits people's ability to copy songs or move them to multiple computers. Apple had been offering a limited selection of songs without DRM, but by the end of this quarter, the company said, all 10 million songs in its library will be available that way.

[ultimate_ed]

Yes, but you'll have to pay to get any of your currently DRM'd tracks replaced with the shiny new DRM free versions from Itunes.

I've been buying from Amazon since they launched their MP3 store and haven't looked at Itunes for music buying since.

[Southern]

I don't have any idea how many of my songs were covered by DRM.....or for that matter had "reduced" fidelity............But I just had Apple upgrade my entire library of 2012 songs.......this means removing DRM where it existed and upping the "fidelity" to 192kb or 256Kb (If available), to songs I had previously bought at 128.........
Cost me $78. Those that were changed should beupgraded the next time I sync the iPod.

[Maeztro]

Originally Posted by Southern

I don't have any idea how many of my songs were covered by DRM.....or for that matter had "reduced" fidelity............But I just had Apple upgrade my entire library of 2012 songs.......this means removing DRM where it existed and upping the "fidelity" to 192kb or 256Kb (If available), to songs I had previously bought at 128.........
Cost me $78. Those that were changed should beupgraded the next time I sync the iPod.

Southern,

I got a solution for you. Load up iTunes and create a SMART PLAYLIST (file->create smart playlist). Then have the playlist filter for KIND that CONTAINS PROTECTED. You will then have a playlist of all songs purchased. You can also make a list for KIND that DOES NOT CONTAIN MPEG and you will get a list of everything non-mp3. Either way, take that playlist and burn those using noteburner.

If you already paid for the upgrade then of course never mind! If you are only paying 78 bucks for 2012 songs I think there are some that are not being freed from DRM. Apple is changing most of their library but I dont think all of it.

[Southern]

Yep, you are right. There are still some 400 songs that are 128Kbps and DRM protected. Rats.