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Digital Rights Management and iTunes


This topic has been mentioned in a few threads for various reasons.

It seems many of us are trying to better organize our digital music libraries on computers.

Although I like iTunes and the iPod interface, I do not like DRM complicating my life for files I have purchased and rightfully own.

Similarly, I am currently frustrated that the Apple "lossless" format is proprietary and therefore cannot be used on my new HiFiMan player as I try to migrate to that player for higher portable fidelity.

So for the first time last night thanks to a suggestion in another thread, I noticed that it is not so complicated to back up a purchased iTunes library by "ripping" to CD.

Then, if I take that ripped music, and RE rip my backup CD - presto - I get unencumbered WAV files on my hard drive?

I suppose that adds a step in the process, but otherwise pretty surprising that DRM is so easily defeated?

Again, I am only doing this with music and files I have purchased and paid for from iTunes.

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.
cwlondon
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
Many sure, but certainly not a majority or anything close to it. I doubt you get "most" of your CD's for $3 shipped as claimed by Cwlondon. If you do my hat is off to you. Perhaps there is a 1 cent search option I have not tried yet. My typical CD purchase used on Amazon is $7- $10. What would you guess is your average per CD total cost?

I am with you on purchasing through Amazon and then ripping them.
hotmailjbc
571 posts
 
my burned cds from itunes play on my marantz universal, my emotiva erc=1 and my sony universal player and in my car. i don;t think they are "low quality" downloads.
ckoffend
684 posts
 
srwooten, you are right, I just went back and checked my receipt from yesterday. Shipping/handling was $2.98 so my average price paid is $4 delivered. I think $4 is still a good price for a CD that I want. I no longer just go out and buy CDs that I am not familiar with. It's too easy to find them at the library or listen to them on-line to determine if I like them - knowing that the online listening does not provide much info. as to the recording quality. But truth be told, if I like the music sometimes I have to live with less than stellar recording quality.

In my area, I have really limited access to used CD stores and those that do exist are usually selling for the $3-$6 range and the selection obviously isn't as good as Amazon.

I have not found any CD's for $0.01 on Amazon, but I am sure a few exist.
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 

I don't mind everyone arguing about price, but as we are on AUDIOgon, can anyone please confirm or deny the following:

1) Backing up an iTunes library to CDs to "re rip" into uncompressed files does or does not circumvent DRM?

2) Back up CDs can or cannot be played back on any CD player?

3) Are backup CDs and/or re ripped WAV files genuine "CD quality" and same in resolution as physical media?

If I can only back up lower resolution files which remain encumbered by DRM, than Apple is the new Microsoft, and iTunes is over for me.
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