WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas?

As I’ve mentioned on my blog before, I recently got a new car. One of my favorite features is the MP3 player capability. I’ve really enjoyed being able to burn CD-R’s and throw them into the changer and listen to 100+ songs on a single disc, or very often a ton of personal development material.

So, here’s my dilemma. I used to (in a past life years ago, I swear!) “borrow” music and other files from various sources. It started with the original Napster, then migrated to Kazaa Lite, then on to TorrentSpy. However, I’m doing my best to be a good citizen and purchase music now. I tried the RealNetworks Rhapsody service. Not a bad service, but they provided no way to download music I liked (except for paying outrageous fees for it). I despise (and think it’s a rip-off) to use Apple’s i-Tunes service. Which led me to find the new Napster. I like most everything about it. I can listen to as much music (from their 1 million tunes) for my low monthly fee. I can download most of the music I like. They use DRM-protected WMA file format for delivery of downloaded music. It’s Microsoft stuff, so I’m again inclined to be in favor of it.

However, here enters the dilemma for me. My new Mustang supports MP3 format on CD-R, but doesn’t support WMA, and especially DRM-protected WMA (after all, without being able to check my Napster subscription status online, they can’t ensure I’m really a subscriber – such as when in my car.) So, I’ve come to what I think is a “relatively legal” solution. I know, relatively and legal probably shouldn’t be included in the same sentence, but oh well. The main reason I’m blogging about this is because I really want to do the right thing, but I also want to be able to listen to the tunes from the service I’m paying for. After all, I drive a lot (40k miles a year or so) and my car is really the primary place I listen to music. So, until I finally get my own Car.NET system, I’ve worked out the following…

I pay for WMA downloads that are DRM-protected from Napster. Then, I use a program called WMA MP3 Recorder Pro to record my downloaded WMA files into MP3 format. Then, I burn those to a CD-R and play them in my car. Now, I’m guessing this isn’t “perfectly legal” (yeah, another odd use of terms together) but it’s as close as I can figure out without out-right stealing music through the other options I mentioned I have tried in the past.

Any ideas?

posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 5:57 AM

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# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 5/11/2005 6:59 AM Jeramey Jannene

What you're doing seems like the easiest way possible, I haven't found any other easy way to do it.

I wouldn't worry about stealing the music in any way as long as you don't share those CDs, you are paying for it.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 5/11/2005 7:30 AM Scott Isaacs

Are there any devices (e.g., iPod, etc.) that support WMA with DRM? Those devices can probably check the legality while you are connected at home. Then you can play it through your car stereo with an FM transmitter, or (I've heard these are better) the old headphone-to-tape-deck adapters.

Of course, this presents two new "problems": 1) you're not using the MP3 playability you already have in th car, and 2) you have to buy a new device.

Personally, I don't have any issues with your own idea, but then, I'm not RIAA, am I? :)

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 5/11/2005 9:36 AM Jannik Anker

AFAIK, you can do whatever you want with a WMA or MP3 that you purchased, as long as it's for your own use. The method you describe is simply an easier version of the classic download WMA -> burn to audio CD -> rip to MP3, which is legal as long as you don't share the MP3s with anybody.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 5/19/2005 6:49 PM Joel

i definetly dont think you could get in any trouble for anything youre doing. But, i personally cant get anything to work in terms of converting napster files to regualr mp3s. nothing has worked. if anyone has an idea, lemme know.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 5/20/2005 12:05 AM Brian Desmond

Yahoo's new music.yahoo.com thing for 60 bucks a year is DRM WMA protected unlimited music downloads/streaming like napster. Much better deal though IMHO. It's in beta technically, all I do is dwonload all my songs in their client and then play in WMP10.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 8/15/2005 5:06 PM Nicholas

AAAAHHH!!! I am in the EXACT same situation. I have rhapsody and I even went out and bought the dell mp3 player. My problem is, I accidently got the 20gb instead of the 30gb. You can only transfer the wmas to the 30gb for free. Stupid as hell? Yes. Yes, it is. Im debating on mp3 conversion of them. Moral or not? You decide.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 9/9/2005 12:05 PM OMG!

The fact is your only renting it from Napster, they could argue you have two options.
1. buy the file - only then can you do what you like with it.
2. Get napster to go - you need a compatable MP3 player to hook up to your car but it would eliminate the problem :p

Otherwise I understand your problem though, I just can justify, what quite frankly, were all doing :)

# DRM reset etc 9/18/2005 8:13 AM Jacqui

Hi,

I recently brought an MP3 player made by Iriver. It can download MP3's but not WMA. Now most of my WMA's are purchased tracks from Napster. They sent me a DRM rest link which they said will solve the problem and I should then be able to save tracks from Napster Light to my MP3 player. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. Since 'renewing' the licenses which I feel has happened, none the the tracks I purchased will play!! Displayed on the screen now is something about License acquisition upgrade to preminum. I am so mad I don't know what to do now.

Can anyone help.

Jacqu

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 10/6/2005 11:57 AM Mitty

I think what you're already doing is fine.
You paid for the music and you should have the right to listen to it wherever and whenever you want to. If you go to the store and buy a CD, they're not going to tell you that you can only listen to it at home or on the computer or something like that; you can listen to it where and when you want. I feel that this should be the same concept for downloaded music, of course, only if it's legal downloaded music (for example: not off p2p networks).

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 10/31/2005 7:40 PM Kris

What is an opinion worth in the midst of a moral dilemma? I find myself struggling with the same one. I know my own ability to rationalize nearly anything is highly developed and must therefore be kept in check. I don’t merely seek to avoid prosecution, but I desire to obey God. To avoid prosecution is a very simple task, don’t share your music files with anyone and your chances of flying below the radar are great. But to be obedient to God I must do more than that, for He does not use fallible radar, but He is omnipotent. What my understanding of the “fair use” statute is that a person may copy a work for personal entertainment without permission from the copyright holder. I believe that this has a prerequisite that you must have obtained the work in a legal way. Let’s look at this another way… What if we had a book that we obtained legally and made copies of some or all of the pages because it was easier to read since it was not bound in a hard cover. Is this wrong? Not in my opinion, but again what is that worth?

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 11/15/2005 6:17 AM mythreeboysz@aol.com

I THINK I figured a resolution to this for me. I open Windows Media Player 10 and SYNCH them to the drive (my iaudio is seen as a drive). Then they play in the mp3 device (flash player). I have had issues with skiping...and that frustrates me...sometimes I get warning that I do not have a license and I do....and I cannot find a function to find it (such as an auto search I can activate)...it is frustrating, it's like it is easier to steal the music than to buy it and that is a real dilemma. I just want to buy the music and play it...can't anyone make it that easy!

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 11/24/2005 5:03 PM brownmj

I have the same issue and have downloaded the free trial of the software you use. I don't understand how you are recording the WMAs to MP3. Whenever I try to open the file through the software I get a divide by zero message and the software crashes. Would you mind telling me how your doing what you do?

# A site that gives away FREE music CDs! 2/23/2006 11:02 AM MusicLuvver

Take a look!

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 2/23/2007 2:49 PM anastasia

i was hurting to copy my napster wma files and being seriously broke (the joys of student life), I found this guy, kinda of a stupid site, but he only charged five bucks to tell me where a freeware converter was. it's little funky but works!

peace.

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 3/24/2007 10:39 PM ALEJANDRO

it is a good program

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 10/12/2007 7:03 AM J peterman

Well well well, what have we here, the "MORAL" majority? Give me a freakin' break, would you? How many sleepless nights do you think the executives of the corrupt and ruthless MUSIC INDUSTRY, (and their lawsuit-crazy right arm, the RIAA) spends after suing 11 year old girls, working moms, and even DEAD people? The recording industry has been EXTORTING billions of dollars of YOUR money for DECADES, by FORCING you to purchase 'ALBUMS' for about 15 dollars each, just to be able to 'LISTEN' (you don't 'OWN' what you purchase, remember) to 1, perhaps 2 (MAX) songs...I wonder how many 'MORAL DEBATES' goes on in the board rooms of those money crazy corporations and organizations? NONE! Are any of you old enough to recall the late 'SINGLE' record? More specifically, the 45 RPM (vinyl) record? Do you remember when the recording industry decided to eliminate the production of these LONG before they ceased producing the 'ALBUMS', or 'LPs'? Why do you suppose they did that? Was it to help YOU, the music -buying public? NOT LIKELY! It was a move driven by GREED to FORCE you buy garbage songs that NO ONE would EVER buy as singles, just to 'HEAR' 'your song', get it? It is nothing short of EXTORTION, but like I said, there are no 'MORAL' issues discussed in their meetings, only profit by ANY means they can get by with...So you go ahead and struggle with the 'RIGHT and WRONG' of making copies of 'YOUR' music, but just remember that the music industry calls PURCHASED music 'INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY' that CANNOT BE BOUGHT, therefore even if you BUY it, 'it' isn't REALLY yours...BULLSCHIDT! I'll do anything I dam# well please with what I pay for, and, I, like the recording industry, will NEVER give a single thought to any MORAL implication of it...That is absolute BS!

# re: WMA, MP3 and my struggle to do the right thing...any ideas? 11/24/2007 11:32 PM gptmusic

I certainly am no copyright lawyer, but with that said, it has always been my understanding that copying intellectual property for private use isn't even against the law, and is certainly not unethical. When you cross the line is only when you start sharing your music with others, and retain the music in another place.

gptmusic

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