Music Information

How to Remove DRM from WMA - Is It Legal and Worth the Effort?


Technically, it's illegal to remove DRM from WMA protected music. Digital Rights Management (DRM) is part of the music industry's effort to curb piracy. There are legitimate reasons for removing it, but first understand DRM can not be removed from file sharing network downloads. Most tracks can be legally copied 3 to 5 times, and this has been exceeded long before they appear on a peer-to-peer network. You must have either purchased the music or have unrestricted free music downloads.

There is no easy way to remove DRM, but it can be removed with some effort and know-how. The best advice is to only download music in the format you need, and that you have the right to copy to an mp3 player, CD or other device. It's also important to determine that the player will recognize and play the DRM protected WMA track.

What if I Really Like the songs and Want to convert them?

Let's say you've already downloaded music and need to convert to another audio codec. The common conversion method is to burn the tracks on a CD, then rip them in the desired codec's format. Even this requires special ripping software and numerous steps because the DRM is still embedded in the tracks. And because codecs like WMA, mp3, OGG, AAC, etc. are lossy formats, the sound quality will be degraded.

Lossy formats selectively discard sounds the human can't hear to make the file smaller. But each format removes slightly different sounds. For example, converting a track using a WMA to mp3 converter is now missing the sounds that both codecs have deleted.

There are other ways to remove DRM and convert WMA to mp3, but they require numerous steps and more software - and they're not for the technically challenged. Free WMA to mp3 conversion software and detailed instructions are available on the Internet.

MP3 players information from A to Z: player types & features, how they work, accessories,comparisons and more - plus free music download tips and info at A-Z MP3 Players.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for MP3 Players, Accessories and Information.

This article may be re-printed in its entirety, with no changes and this resource box included. © 2005 http://www.a-z-mp3-players.com All rights reserved


MORE RESOURCES:

Earthtimes (press release)

Music Choice Gives Its Viewers a Chance to Be On TV with the ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Viewers tuning in to Music Choice's Hit List, Alternative, Today's Country, Musica Urbana, and Hip-Hop and R&B music channels on Monday thru Friday between ...
Why, Music Choice, Why? Idolator
Music Choice Taps Atrinsic for New Interactive Feature Business Wire (press release)
Music Choice Taps Atrinsic for New Interactive Feature Digital Facility
all 18 news articles


Fran Healy defends music downloads
The Press Association - 1 hour ago
Fran Healy has claimed he doesn't care about fans pirating his music because they are still promoting it for him. The Travis frontman - who attended the Q ...


Wilkinsburg School District gets $90K grant for music program
Bizjournals.com, NC - 1 hour ago
Wilkinsburg School District has received a $90000 grant to purchase musical instruments for more than 100 students, as part of the VH1 Save the Music ...


North Houston woman slain in fight over loud music
Houston Chronicle, United States - 1 hour ago
Detectives said the women had argued earlier over accusations that the victim had been playing music too loud. She left, but later returned and again ...
HPD: Loud Music Leads To Fatal Shooting Click 2 Houston.com
all 3 news articles


Listen up! Music is everywhere on the Web
MSNBC - 38 minutes ago
The problem is that for music buffs, terrestrial radio usually doesn’t offer much, unless you happen to be lucky enough to live near cool stations like ...


Music festival to support youth groups
Bizjournals.com, NC - 2 hours ago
The festival will feature a mixture of food, music and art, including musicians Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Patti LaBelle, Boz Skaggs, Smokey Robinson and ...


Sydney Morning Herald

Disgraced banker faces the music
The Age, Australia - 5 hours ago
THE disgraced chief executive of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, Richard Fuld, has told a US congressional committee that he takes responsibility for ...
Video: Lehman Brothers Probed CBS
all 1,488 news articles


Music Review Beethoven Moving on, Challenging Tradition
New York Times, United States - 13 hours ago
On Wednesday at Mannes College the New School for Music, the Orion Quartet — the brothers Daniel and Todd Phillips, the cellist Timothy Eddy and the violist ...


MLive.com

Taj Mahal celebrates 40 years in music with 'Maestro'
MLive.com, MI - 19 hours ago
But, it was a portly, old grandpa with just his guitar and his foot-a-stomping that stole the show at the 2008 ROTHBURY music festival held this past summer ...
With 40 years behind him, Taj Mahal has 'tons more stuff to do' Malaysia Star
Mahal's 'Maestro' worth the wait Salt Lake Tribune
all 3 news articles


Calgary Herald

Coldplay and Duffy are Q music award winners
guardian.co.uk, UK - 19 hours ago
In an uncharacteristic bout of chest-beating, Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, declared his band "the best in the world" while picking up the two main ...
Coldplay win two top Q music awards Reuters India
Coldplay celebrate Q Awards double The Press Association
Coldplay Heats Up Q Awards E! Online
Times Online - Telegraph.co.uk
all 206 news articles

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006