Converting DRM protected files!

drm protection

[georgeLA]

I have a problem on my hands and I hope I'm in the right place to ask.
A few months ago I made an account at Napster. So far I got tons of music downloaded from them, but I can't listen to this music everywhere I want, only on my computer because of some DRM protection. I would like to know if I there is a tool or a posibility to bypass this license legally in order to be able to do what i want with that music.

[vincevincevince]

I believe that you may be asking for information about illegal acts which would be against the TOS of this board.

[rogerd]

The problem may be your playback devices. You'll need to use something that handles protected WMFs. Most new MP3 players will work, and Windows Media Player 10 can manage the transfer.

[georgeLA]

I'm not asking for an ilegal solution. I just want to be able to convert the WMA files I've downloaded from Napster into mp3's, burn them on a CD and listen to it in my car. But the dreaded DRM protection won't allow it. That's why I asked if any of you guys knows a tool or a procedure to achieve my "goal" :)

[rogerd]

George, conventional music CDs don't support DRM, which includes expiration information. With your Napster subscription you aren't buying the music, just the right to listen to it for a period of time.

There are lots of CD players that will play MP3 CDs; I haven't seen WMF-compatible CD players, but if they don't exist I'm sure they are on the way.

Unless you can find a compatible CD unit (I heard Alpine has one, but I couldn't find it), your best bet for car audio is probably to use a protected-WMF compatible MP3 player in conjunction with an adapter to play through your car audio system. Some car systems have an "ipod port" - that's the cleanest hookup. If not, you can use an inexpensive cassette adapter. You can also us an FM transmitter, but I've heard mixed reviews on their sound quality.

Note that to get files transferable to a portable device you need Napster To Go. From what I can tell, the base Napster subscription only gives you files playable on your PC. And if you want permanent use of a song, you need to buy it as an individual download.

[georgeLA]

So I guess the only way is either to pay the fee for each song to be able to burn it on a cd, or pay fot ht e napster portable device :(

[vincevincevince]

Unlike video, audio can always be recorded through an analogue connection onto your choice of cassette, CD, minidisk, etc. Sure you'll lose some of the quality, but I very much doubt you'd hear the difference if done well.