MODS - please don't move this to the NPGMC forum, it will totally DIE there (& may die here, actually)


QUESTION: I still have some files/downloads from NPGMC that have DRM protection. The only one I've successfully renewed the license for was Silver Tongue (was that even NPGMC?? or 3121??) I'm trying to figure out if it's even possible to burn these to disc so I can reimport them into ITunes. OR can I convert them somehow w/ another program?

If they're just locked in my computer as is I might as well delete them, they're taking up way too much space & are useless to me now (most of them won't even play b/c of the licensing issue).

Has anyone else dealt w/ this? I should have done crap w/ them when I first got them but dammit I'm busy!

Any info helps, thanks!

Would a program like Audacity work? Could you make in to a new mp3 file with that?

ToraToraDreams said:

No clue, never heard of Audacity - is it free?

The only software that I have used to convert DRM protected files is wma-converter, it works ok, you might try it and see if t works for you

www.wma-convert.com

Yelsiap said:

THANK YA!

CalhounSq said:

Yeah, its free. Just check Download.com

But it looks like the wma-converter might work better.

ToraToraDreams said:

Yea but that shit costs $

Well damn, I may have to pay up - Audacity won't even play the files correctly They sound like a screech that lasts less than 1 second & it acts like it's exporting them but it's the same screechy sound. HELL

CalhounSq said:

That's what I used if I remember correctly.

herb4 said:

Well damn, I hope these files are good since I'll be paying $20 to keep them! Thanks y'all

Please post your results!

I am eager to see if it works, because I too have all the Musicology Store downloads just taking up room. 2 of which are the complete Slaughterhouse and Chocolate Invasion albums (someone was nice enough to burn me a CD copy, but parts are clipped and the sound is a bit muffled).

I am a bit skeptical about the converter though, because it says:

Converts any song that can be played with Media Player to MP3, AAC, WAV etc for use with iPod, any other MP3 player, CD player, mobile phone or PC.

Meaning, you might have to be able to play them NOW in order to unlock/un-DRM them.

We'll see!

Se7en said:

Will do - I'll download the $ one either tonight or tomorrow

Alright, I only had 6 files - the wma converter worked on 3 of them. I'm not sure why the others failed & had errors, but you can't do it w/ the free version - it condenses it to 60 seconds of content. So if you want the full song you gotta pay the $20.

Dunno if it was worth it, but I'll keep trying to get the last 3 converted. Thanks for all the suggestions guys

Calhoun, don't know what type of computer you're on, but if you're on a Mac and are able to play the files, you can use Audio Hijack to record the sound from any app into an mp3 or wav ---

http://www.rogueamoeba.co...hijackpro/

Perhaps there's a similar app for Windows if you search a bit. Audio Hijack is not free, but the demo will work for songs <10 minutes long, and that would do it for all the NPGMC tracks with DRM.

I was fortunate enough to just burn the tracks to a CD when I made the initial purchase and just used the CD to reimport into iTunes as DRM-free tracks.

Doozer said:

Thanks, I'm pc though

CalhounSq said:

Did any of the ones that wouldn't play convert? How do the converted songs sound?

And to the other post about Audio Hijack: I tried that when I downloaded the songs many years ago, and it did work ... but the sound was "slightly" different.

Oh, 1 more thing about Audio Hijack: you MUST be able to play them NOW for the program to work. That's how it works, by recording the sound from any audio source you select.

Se7en said:

Interesting, I'm glad you asked - the ones that wouldn't convert WILL NOT play the original files in the wma converter.

The converted ones sound fine to me, but I didn't really listen for a difference in sound & compare. Already killed the originals so I can't check now...