How to convert "encrypted" .wma files to mp3?

[Ben E Lou]

My wife has freakin' PAID to download a bunch of songs from Napster, not realizing that they are in an "encrypted" .wma format, which I cannot convert, nor will her mp3 player read them, although it is advertised as being able to read .wma files. I'm guessing that the message I received when trying to convert her .wmas to .mp3s (something along the lines of "can't convert encrypted .wma files") is also why her mp3 player won't play the songs. Any help, or are we screwed?

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:

Two more things:

1. Yes, other wma files play fine on her mp3 player. :mad:
2. If we can't convert these files, what is a good pay site to download mp3s that can be played on an mp3 player?

Thanks in advance.

--Ben

[gstelmack]

Use Windows Media Player to burn them to CD, then rip the CD back on to your hard drive without selecting the "copy protect" button.

I've done this with several songs I've paid for. Heck, I just bought a couple from MSN with a license that allows unlimited burning, but heaven forbid I be allowed to use them as background music for a slideshow of family pictures I'm sending off to relatives...

[MikeVic]

I believe Napster has started a legitimate service (like iTunes)... but I have no idea about the .wma thing.

[sovereignstar]

I believe Napster has started a legitimate service (like iTunes)... but I have no idea about the .wma thing.

Perhaps like 50 years ago they did this?
:)

Edit: http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6970031.htm

[mckerney]

Use Windows Media Player to burn them to CD, then rip the CD back on to your hard drive without selecting the "copy protect" button.

I've done this with several songs I've paid for. Heck, I just bought a couple from MSN with a license that allows unlimited burning, but heaven forbid I be allowed to use them as background music for a slideshow of family pictures I'm sending off to relatives...

You can just burn them to a CD from napster. I usually use MusicMatch to rip them back to MP3 format because it came with my computer because Media Player rips them to .wma, and I haven't seen a free plugin to use to rip them to .mp3. It wouldn't really matter that much, as the .wma wouldn't be copy protected, but it's just personal preference of mine to use .mp3.

[Draft Dodger]

can you burn them? you'll lose a little quality, but if you can burn them to a CD, then you can rip them back to the computer to MP3.

[SirFozzie]

use allofmp3.com (gotta find the english button..) but you won't go back. Freedom in formats, and the price (.01 per MB downloaded) cannot be beat :)

[Ben E Lou]

use allofmp3.com (gotta find the english button..) but you won't go back. Freedom in formats, and the price (.01 per MB downloaded) cannot be beat :)A little help on where the English button is on that site? :eek:

[mckerney]

A little help on where the English button is on that site? :eek:

upper left hand corner

[Ben E Lou]

upper left hand cornerYou and SirFozzie are the wind beneath my wings.

[sovereignstar]

Uh-oh

What's the chances that there will be a "Is this site legal?" thread coming soon?
;)

[Ragone]

Itunes isn't bad if you actually wanna pay :)

[Pyser]

just google "wma to mp3" and free trial versions of software come up all over the place. they only work for 2 weeks or so, but you dont need them much more than that, i dont think.

[mckerney]

A couple sites about the is it legal question, thought neither one gives an absolute answer.

http://techlawadvisor.com/blog/2004/04/is-allofmp3com-legal.html

http://www.museekster.com/allofmp3faq.htm#Is%20using%20Allofmp3%20legal

[cthomer5000]

Itunes isn't bad if you actually wanna pay :) But unless you own an iPod MP3 player, you can't get them off the computer without jumping through the same hoops.

[Ragone]

Well, if you are gonna buy an mp3 player.. might as well get the ipod :)

[MikeVic]

Perhaps like 50 years ago they did this?
:)

Edit: http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6970031.htm

Haha. Oops. I had no idea they did, but have been hearing about it recently. Did they just upgrade or change something?

[cthomer5000]

Well, if you are gonna buy an mp3 player.. might as well get the ipod :)
Sure, if you don't mind spending 100-200 more dollars than you need to.

[VPI97]

Sure, if you don't mind spending 100-200 more dollars than you need to.http://www.fof-ihof.com/upload/VPI97/ipod1.jpg

[Ben E Lou]

just google "wma to mp3" and free trial versions of software come up all over the place. they only work for 2 weeks or so, but you dont need them much more than that, i dont think.I did this, and downloaded a converter. It works fine for other wma files, but not "encrypted" files--the ones that came from Napster.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Looks like the answer somebody else mentioned earlier is pretty much "the answer", this is pretty representative of a number of similar things I found Googling.

http://www.riverpast.com/en/support/faq/audio_converter.html#WMA

Why cannot I converter WMA files from online music stores?

WMA files from online music stores, like napster.com, musicmatch.com and buymusic.com, are DRM protected. DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management". The WMA files are encrypted so only the publisher's software can decode it. It is designed to protect the rights of the artists.

We cannot, and it is illegal to, decrypt DRM protected files.

However, you can convert the files to another format indirectly. Normally, the online store gives you the option to burn CD's. After the music is burned onto a CD, you can use River Past Audio CD Ripper to convert to another format.

[Zippo]

itunes is the way to go.

[Pyser]

I did this, and downloaded a converter. It works fine for other wma files, but not "encrypted" files--the ones that came from Napster.

ah, crap. i didnt really know what "encypted" meant, so...you know...i ignored it :)

burning to a cd and then ripping back to mp3 would be my vote, then, too.

[mckerney]

Another option would be using a program like streamripper, mostly used to record streaming audio, but it works by recording directly from the soundcard so it can also be used when playing songs you've downloaded in Napster.

[Daimyo]

You can crack the encryption easily enough with some help from google, but you're definately into gray areas legally. Didn't you once close a thread and delete posts for something similar re: xbox modding? *shurg*

[Daimyo]

DOLA, while there software to break the WMA licensing stuff (at least the first two versions), there is likely and easier, low-tech solution. If Napster is installed on your machine you *should* be able to play them with windows media player... if you can get that far you *should* be able to burn them to regular play anywhere audio CDs (or maybe napster can do this directly?) If you can get that far then just use your mp3 player's software (iTunes hopefully) to convert them to mp3 like any other audio CD and put them on the player. Its probably against the license agreement you agreed to when you purchased them to do this though...

[Easy Mac]

You can just burn them to a CD from napster. I usually use MusicMatch to rip them back to MP3 format because it came with my computer because Media Player rips them to .wma, and I haven't seen a free plugin to use to rip them to .mp3. It wouldn't really matter that much, as the .wma wouldn't be copy protected, but it's just personal preference of mine to use .mp3.
If you're using Media Player 10, there is an option to rip as a .wma or mp3 file. I think it defaults to .wma, but do the following:
Tools->Options->Rip Music.

Look where it says format, and change Windows Media Audio to MP3, and adjust the settings accordingly.

Buy a new MP3 player. I don't think all players that play wma's play encrypted ones though.

[Zippo]

nevermind allofmp3 is a better deal. Which quality should I pick for my music? Is there a huge difference?

[mckerney]

If you're using Media Player 10, there is an option to rip as a .wma or mp3 file. I think it defaults to .wma, but do the following:
Tools->Options->Rip Music.

Ah, gotcha. I'm still using Media Player 9 I believe.