S.O.S. on Windows 7 Media Player 12


I am a complete Novice at trying to build a Music Serving System between my Computer and my Stereo System. It appears that I really blew it by purchasing Windows 7 with
Media Player 12. Everytime I play, Burn, Sync., Rip, or Burn a CD or DVD; Windows Media Player links up with WindowsMedia.com. All of my actions are monitored, observed, recorded, and controlled by WindowsMedia.com. WindowsMedia.com polices the use of my Media thru Digital Rights Management, and controls any Copyright access I have to my Media. It is like having a Policeman in my room, standing over my shoulder everytime I put a CD in my
DVD-Rom. I had no idea that trying to create a Music Server
with PC would mean someone eyeballing everything I do just as I listen to my Music. Can't believe that Bill Gates, and Microsoft, would support this invasion into my Privacy. Might have to abandon Music Serving all together, never had this problem with CD Player. Have no way of knowing who is watching everytime you Play, Burn, Sync., Rip, or Download a CD/DVD/MUSIC FILE. Don't need Microsoft, or anyone else in my bedroom with me based on utilizing their Media Player either. Can they also monitor everything I do? This would have been a real helpful piece of information prior to everyone trying to shove the whole Music Serving mess down everyones throat. With a CD Optical Disk, I at least knew that my Privacy was Protected. With a PC Music Server, my Privacy is up to the highest bidder. It gains a Man nothing to win Music, but at the same time lose it's Soul!
pettyofficer
I would still like to lisen to a 24/96 Music File off of a Hard Drive feeding my favorite DAC. With Digital Rights
Management/Media Usage Rights/Protected Files for DVD-Audio Disks, and Downloaded Music Files-N-E-V-E-R--G-O-N-N-A--H-A-P-P-E-N! Doesn't matter if it is for my own personnal use, I am not a damn Pirate. I have heard the improvement with Ripped CD Music Files. Certainly not going to find my favorite Music. What does this make PC Music Servers if nothing more than a suped-up Adding Machine! Maybe you were able to Rip your favorite Music, before someone decided to close the Barn Door. Now with the Barn Door closed (DRM, Media Usage Rights, Protected Files), PC Music Servers are no better, or useful than CD Players! It has become useless and meaningless to pursue this Format! If you got away by Ripping a few 24/96 Disks
prior to Protected Files-lucky you! The rest of us are just screwed with our PC Music Serving suped-up expensive
Adding Machines!
Pettyofficer- you haven't responded to the suggestions that you use a Mac as a music server..your thoughts?
Protected Files are Protected Files. You can't Rip them on
Mac or PC Music Servers. You can't Rip, Burn, Sync, Transfer Music Files, Upsample, Downsample, or Download if
Media Usage Rights are denied due to Protected Files. Is it your contention that Macs can illegally bypass Digital
Rights Management? My point is that Digital Rights Management, Media Usage Rights, and Protected Files pretty
much makes any Media Player/Music Server about as useful as
a CD Player. It changes the whole Equation alltogether in the whole Music Server vs. CD Player arguement. People need to know what it is that they are buying into with a PC Music Server. It is not all Music to the ears, like most PC Music Server Advocates would have you believe.
We have all heard about having Music in every room in the House, no more fumbling with rows of CD Jewel Boxes, the
convenience of having your entire Music Library at your fingertips. These are all Deceptive Promotions in an Extreme. There is NO GUARANTEE that you will be able to Rip ALL of your CDs to your Music Library-certainly NOT when there are Protected Files on those CDs! Do you remember anyone warning about this, or was it completely Glossed over with about a hundred coats of all of the
convenient advantages of PC Music Servers. All you ended up buying was a suped up CD Player! The illusion was that you were buying a whole new Format. Digital Rights Management, Media Usage Rights, and Protected Files turns any PC Music Server into nothing more than just another CD
Player. It is just like selling your CD Player, and then buying it right back at a higher price! Some improvement!
Petty,
I've got Diana Krall 'The Look Of Love' CD on my Mac. Both as a ALAC and later as a MP3/ 160 for my 'pod.
CD Magfan? I am talking about Advanced Resolution Surround
Sound (96kHz/24-bit) DVD-Audio Disk. I am still trying to
figure out how my Pioneer DV-58AV Downmixes this to 2-Channels. I mean if it is Meridian Lossless Processing that
compresses the multi-channel signal, what 42/96 DAC can decode and downmix this Digital Signal. How would you even
store it on a Hard Drive? There are two Menus on this Disk,
one Advanced Resolution Stereo, one Advanced Resolution
Surround Sound. Both 24/96. You can clearly hear the difference, even on a 2-Channel System. The Surround Sound
(Downmixed?) version has about twice the Soundstage width and depth, and it sounds crystal clear. I don't hear ANY
Surround Sound Processing at all. It sounds about as close
to a Record as I have ever heard from an Optical Disk. Don't know why more Disks don't utilize this, HD Disks are
dissappearing. I guess everyone is just anticipating Blue-Ray Audio. Get this Version on a Hard Drive? No telling how good it will sound! It will be complicated, there might be some DVD Extractor Media Programs that can do this.