Frustrated: Converted Files Showing 0:00

[xfileluv]

I have been hunting around the 'net and this site for 2 days, trying to figure out exactly what I need to do, but I am just getting more frustrated. So I decided to register and post my problem. I think I have a general idea of what I need to do, but here goes.

I used Hymn to convert my files to m4a. When I try to play them on anything, they won't play. I am, however, able to play my original m4p files just fine on iTunes.

When I run my m4a files through DMC, they seem to convert. However, when I go to play/burn them, there is nothing there. The info (yellow box) shows them as mp3 files, but it shows the time as 0:00, which is leading me to believe that there is nothing there (even though it looks like there is).

I've tried different settings (128, 160, .wav, and the program crashes when I do a test write), to no avail. I did dl the codec with the program (both into my Programs folder), so I'm just not sure what is going wrong.

At this point, should I just try the DMC aux. input route? I'm so confused. I have other files that are MP3s, so I wanted to burn them all together w/the ones from iTunes onto a CD for a friend who is moving away, and I'm having no luck. I suppose as a last resort, I'll just dl the songs I already have in MP3 from iTunes and burn them from there. Any insight will be appreciated!

[xoas]

Re: Frustrated: Converted Files Showing 0:00

Yours is the third such report we have had recently and a visit to the Hymn site yesterday confirmed that they have run across this problem as well. The suspicion is that this might be caused by counter measures by Apple to frustrate efforts by Hymn and others to get around digital rights management measures built into their m4p file protocol.

You might be able to use one of the other two m4p conversion programs to convert your m4p files to see if you get the same results. These programs are:
iOpener (available from the Hymn website here: http://www.hymn-project.org/ ); or
iFreesoft (available for download from here: www.iFreesoft.com ).

If you wait long enough Hymn will probably come up with a counter-countermeasure so if you have an older version of Hymn, you might try updating Hymn.

One user on the Hymn website reported some success in installing an older verion of iTunes (I believe version 4.6 was used to replace 4.7-this presumably had the effect of removing the more recent built-in counter measures from Apple)

Or there is trying the Auxilary Input route, which very much should work (whereas I am not sure the other approaches will work), but would not be as automated. There is also a program that one user has recommended called Tunebite which is set up to help you convert protected files by playing them on your sound card. This is available here:

http://www.tunebite.com/

There may be other similar programs as well. I have not used Tunebite so I can't tell you if this is any simpler or better than dMC Auxilary Input.

So these would appear to be your options at this time.
Let us know what you decide to try and how it works out.
Best wishes,
Bill Mikkelsen