Getting round DRM with AUXinput but no STEREO input

[RussellRay]

Hello all

I downloaded a few DRM-protected WMA files
from e-compil (a French equivalent of Napster etc).

I don't think I'll be doing that again in a hurry !

Now of course I want to convert them - to anything !

I've read the AuxInput method but get stuck at
DMC options - Recording control
because I've no stereo input or stereo mix available.
My sound card is a Creative Audio, fairly old.

Am I completely stuck ?

Best regards and thanks in advance for any tips
from Ray

[xoas]

Maybe you have alreaady tried this, if so please disregard. The control can be a bit hard to find if you don't know juust where to find it.

Open dB Auxilary Input.
Click on Options.
Click on the Select button next to Input Source.
On the new window (which will read Recording Control or some such), click on the Options menu (top left on the menu bar). On the drop down menu, click Properties.
There should be a list of possible volume controls which just might include stereo input or stereo mix. Check that box and you should get a volume control for your source.

If you follow this procedure and the last window deos NOT show stereo input or stereo mix, can you tell us the options you do see there?

Best wishes,
Bill mikkelsen

[ChristinaS]

It could be called What U Hear or something like that.

Make sure you check all the options there for inclusion on the main panel, they will come in handy at some point or other.

[RussellRay]

Hello Bill, Christiana, et al

Bill, I have already tried exactly what you suggest :
AuxInput - Options
DMCoptions - Inputsource - Select
RecControl - Options - Properties.

If at "Adjust vol for" I select Playback
the list available is
- volume control
- wave
- SW synth
- phone line
- aux
- TV tuner audio
- mic volume
- line in
- CD audio

If at "Adjust vol for" I select Record
the first three are missing
but the list is the same from "phone line" on
plus "sum" at the end..

Any ideas ?
Best regards from Ray

[xoas]

I believe you want Wave.
In the Properties window click on the box to display the volume control for wave.
Then in the Recording Properties click on the box at the bottom of the column for the wave volume control that says "select". Adjust the volume to about 2/3 of maximum.

Have you tried this?
Best wishes,
Bill

[LtData]

If it helps, helpful Aux. Input instructions are linked below.

[RussellRay]

Thanks to everyone who answered.

The combination I needed was
RecControl - Options - Properties - Record - SUM.

I was under the mistaken impression that this "sum"
meant selecting all the list at one fell swoop.
What does it mean, I wonder ?

Anyway main thing is it works.

Thanks again !
from Ray

[ChristinaS]

What soundcard do you have? And is the interface in English or another language?

[RussellRay]

Hello again Christiana

I have a Creative Audio PCI. I bought the computer from Dell-France but I think the sound card is not tied to any one particular language.
Best regards from Ray

[ChristinaS]

Sure beats me, then. No idea what SUM may mean, haven't seen it elsewhere, but I certainly haven't seen all the cards out there. I do have a Creative card right now, and it doesn't have that label though, it's called "What U Hear". My other cards all have "Stereo Mix" .

[Ender]

Maybe I didn't understand something, but if you try to convert a DRM protected file, why don't you use a tool that does this ?

[xoas]

In Russell's case, his files were encrypted wma files. As far as I know there is no legal (at least not in the US, I don't know about France) tool for unencrypting encrypted wma files. In other cases, there seems to be such an ongoing back and forth between, for example, Apple and the makers of programs to remove DRM measures for m4p programs (for just one example) that sometimes the easier course is just to record off of the sound card.

Best wishes,
Bill

[Ender]

Yes there is a legal way to get around DRM, is US too.
As long as the FairUse policy exists and as long the analog-hole principle exists and works then there is a way to convert DRM protected wma's.
There is a tool that is based exactly on this facts, which actually records the output of the sound card, without needing any external cables or devices. And so, the quality of the resulting file is as good as of the original. There exist a very small quality loss due to the digital-analog-digital process, but unless you measure it with special tools, you can't hear it.
So there IS a legal way, but many people are afraid to speak about it on forums, cause they panic the forum will suffer legal consequences :(
But it is not the case with such a tool.
I use this tool and am very pleased with it and the RIAA or any other authority can do anything about it as long as I use it for personal use.
Here's the link if you are interested:
www.tunebite.com

[xoas]

Sorry. I'd forgotten all about Tunebite.
Thanks for the reminder.

Best wishes,
Bill