Tags: Music, nano, Apple, iPhone, ipod, Downloads

Are you annoyed by iTunes DRM? Do you want to strip it off because you want to play the iTunes music on other mobile devices other than iPod and iPhone, use it as background music in a home video, or anything else that DRM limits it to do? Many people know you can strip off the DRM off iTunes music by simply burning the song to a CD, and ripping it back over, losing very little quality(if settings are correct):

1. Insert a CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-ROM drive. You’d better use CD-RW disc as it can be used for more than once.

2. Burn your playlist to make an audio CD. You cannot select the MP3 CD option since it requires the encrypted iTunes music files be converted to unprotected MP3 files.

3. After the audio CD is successfully burned, insert the disc into your CD-ROM drive again. Then you can use iTunes to import the music tracks on the burned disc to MP3 files.

And the method I am going to introduce does the same exact thing but you will not need a CD-RW disc, a CD ROM drive, or even need to burn anything! It’s that simple. Let’s show you how to perform this.

We are going to be using a program called TuneClone. TuneClone is basically a program that acts as a virtual CD drive that allows you “burn” MP3 from iTunes and “rip” it. TuneClone “lies” to your computer saying that you have a CD-RW drive that it will burn to (like Alchohol 120%). You can use this to move your library of M4P DRM protected music to the MP3 format that you can use on any player out there worth its salt. This is a useful tool for anyone looking to break their relationship with the iPod. The best part is that it maintains all of the music file’s metadata. Below is the step by step tutorial that shows how it works:

1. Download TuneClone from http://www.tuneclone.com and install it.

TuneClone is fully compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista. A virtual CD Burner will be installed. This virtual CD-RW will be used to convert music files.

2. Make settings at TuneClone



Click the Settings button at TuneClone. In the pop-up window, you can specify the output folder, output filenames, output format, etc. for the output files.

Note: Apart from MP3, TuneClone also allows you to convert iTunes M4P to WAV and unprotected WMA.

Tip: You can get the output protection removed music folder by clicking the Folder button after the whole process.

3. Make settings at iTunes(iTunes Create a playlist, and then add the files you want to convert into the playlist.



After you have created the playlist ready to be burnt, click the Burn Disc in the bottom right of iTunes. In the pop up window of Burn Settings, make the settings as highlighted below:



4. Start to burn Click the Burn button to start burning. After the burning gets started, TuneClone will automatically convert the music file to MP3, WMA or WAV. You can open the manager screen to show all the converted music files.



The most important step is to choose the CD burner. Then the software can convert the music files automatically. It is exceedingly easy when you want to batch convert lots of files.



By: likeachamp

About the Author:

1. Insert a CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-ROM drive. You’d better use CD-RW disc as it can be used for more than once.

2. Burn your playlist to make an audio CD. You cannot select the MP3 CD option since it requires the protected music files be converted to unprotected MP3 files.

3. After the audio CD is successfully burned, insert the disc into your CD-ROM drive again. Then you can use iTunes to import the music tracks on the burned disc to MP3 files.

4. Copy the MP3 files to media players such as cell phone, Zune, BlackBerry, PSP, Creative Zen, etc. and enjoy them.

These four steps seem very simple, however, it is a time consuming process if you have a library of music files ready to be converted. Moreover, the information of the music files like title, artist and album will be lost after burning and ripping back to MP3 files.

TuneClone is the software you are looking for if you have a big collection of iTunes music files to be converted. It automatically generates a virtual CD burner and simulates the burning and ripping process. All you need to do is install TuneClone and then burn your playlist to TuneClone virtual CD burner. And TuneClone will directly convert the music files to MP3 for you. It is very fast and all the artist, album and title information will be preserved perfectly.

1. Download TuneClone from http://www.tuneclone.com and install it.

It is fully compatible with Windows XP and Vista. A virtual CD Burner will be installed. This virtual CD-RW will be used to convert music files.

2. Set the default CD Burner to TuneClon CD-RW at iTunes.

Click menu Edit, select menu item Preferences…, and then select Advanced Tab. In order to keep the artist and title information of the music, the Include CD Text option should be checked.



3. Create a playlist, and then add the files you want to convert into the playlist.

4. Click Burn Disc button at the bottom right of the main screen of iTunes.



While the burning gets started, TuneClone will automatically convert the music file to MP3, WMA or WAV. You can open the manager screen to show all the converted music files.



The most important step is to choose the cd burner. Then the software can convert the music files automatically. It is exceedingly easy when you want to batch convert lots of files.



By: terry007

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Steps on how to import MP3 audiobooks into iTunes.

Do you remember the time when people listened to vinyl records? Probably not. Well, the vinyl record is the grandfather of the compact disc. The basic audio CD format most people know has been everywhere for over two decades now.

For this reason, when it comes to audiobooks, CDs are the most popular digital format.

Over time, additional formats came about which worked to the benefit of the audiobook industry. MP3 CDs were developed in the past five years. This format is so compatible for audiobooks because the audiodata is stored in the MP3 format that is compressed. Usually it is the audio that is fit within the disk space, therefore the low quality format.

Of course, music lovers do not want low quality music. The same goes out to the lovers of listening to audiobooks. Low resolution MP3 CDs do not sound great at all. Audiobooks may fit on one MP3 CD but the purchaser must make sure that it is of good quality.

But there are those who can just import their MP3 audiobooks into iTunes. When this is done, it is easier to organize your library.

1. Insert the iTunes CD and let it lead you to the Desktop or the option with the My Computer icon.

2. Open the CD using Windows Explorer or Finder. Locate ???playlist.m3u??? file.

3. Click twice (double-click) so that you can open it with your iTunes. If iTunes does not pop up automatically, you can bring it out manually.

4. The CD will automatically play simultaneously as iTunes start importing the selected files that have been obtained from your playlist.

5. Press the Play button twice so that the playback will end.

6. Let iTunes finish importing the MP3 files from the MP3 CDs. This may take quite a long time (depends on how fast your optical drive is) but when it does finish the importing process, iTunes analyzes the sound volume of each track. Take some time to finish that one too.

7. Your main goal is to have a window showing all of your imported tracks.

8. Choose all the tracks to create the audiobook. From the Advanced menu, select the Convert Selection and change it to AAC. This will eventually convert the tracks of your audiobook from the large MP3s to a smaller AAC file.

9. Converting your MP3 files to AAC or any audio format is said to be a bad idea because there is a possibility that the quality of the audio might be degraded. The whole purpose of importing MP3 files to AAC is to throw out the unnecessary audio information in order to make the files smaller.

10. It may take much of your time but patience is the key. As soon as it finishes importing, make sure that you duplicate each track on your library.

11. Click on the Kind column so you can begin sorting out the files. Making it easier for you to choose all the MP3 files, you can press the Delete key so that you can throw out all the items from your iTunes Library. Afterwards, press the Move to Trash icon that is located in the dialog appearing on the page. This is for you to be able to recover some disk space.

12. Again, this will take some time. From the File option, select Get Info. For short cut, you can press Command (Control Key) and letter I. This will open the Multiple Song Information window.

13. You can edit all the information by inputting the chapter to chapter, author, book title and genre of the Audiobook on your library. You can edit it in the exact same way you put the information such as track to track, Artist, Album and Genre for your music files.

You can always switch to the Options panel in order for you to check the Skip when shuffling as well as the Remember playback position.

For the Remember playback position, the iPod and the iTunes allow the file to be bookmarked. This is very convenient for iPod audiobook listeners because it can serve like a bookmark to a novel they are reading. Only this time, when you press play, it will automatically start where you left it.

Transferring your MP3 CDs to iTunes may be difficult but if you are investing on audiobooks, you might as well have patience and go through the entire process once for a lifetime of listening enjoyment.



By: Bill Urell

About the Author:

Since iTunes store tops the music retailer in the world, the following tutorial focuses on how to convert purchased iTunes M4P music to MP3, WAV or unprotected WMA so as to import it to Windows Movie Maker project as background music. The tutorial is composed of the following three parts:

Part 1. Something about Windows Movie Maker

Windows Movie Maker is a totally free program that comes with Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista. Below are the audio/video formats accepted by Windows Movie Maker:

Video files: .asf, .avi, .wmv

Movie files: MPEG1, .mpeg, .mpg, .mlv, .mp2

Audio files: .wav, .snd, .au, .aif, .aifc, .aiff

Windows media files: .asf, .wm, .wma, .wmv

MP3 format audio: .mp3



Part 2. Remove DRM from iTunes M4P music

The songs you purchased from iTunes store are under DRM protection. You cannot directly import them to your Windows Movie Maker project. However you can burn the protected music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make an audio CD and then use some CD ripper software to convert the audio CD track back to MP3, WAV, WMA, etc. And iTunes allows you to burn the protected music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make a standard audio CD:

1. Insert a CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-ROM drive. You’d better use CD-RW disc as it can be used for more than once.

2. Burn your playlist to make an audio CD. You cannot select the MP3 CD option since it requires the protected music files be converted to unprotected MP3 files.

3. After the audio CD is successfully burned, insert the disc into your CD-ROM drive again. Then you can use iTunes to import the music tracks on the burned disc to MP3 files.

The steps are very simple indeed. Yet, I’d like to introduce a practical application called TuneClone M4P to MP3 Converter. It applies the virtual CD burning technology so that there is no need to use real disc. You can use it to move your library of M4P DRM protected music to the MP3 format that you can use on any player out there worth its salt. This is a useful tool for anyone looking to break their relationship with the iPod. The best part is that it maintains all of the music file’s metadata. You can learn how to remove DRM from iTunes M4P music with TuneClone M4P to MP3 Converter from this guide.



Part 3. Add the output DRM-free music to Windows Movie Maker

After you get the output DRM-free music by adopting either the disc burning/ripping method or virtual CD burning method discussed in Part 2, now you can begin to import it into your Windows Movie Maker project.

Click on File. Then click on Import. A window will appear. In the window, navigate to the sound or music file you want to add to your movie. Then double click on the file. You’ll see the icon for the file in your Windows Movie Maker “collections”. Click on the icon and drag it on to the timeline to the part of the video you want the sound or music to play.





By: terry007

About the Author:

DRM stands for Digital Rights Management, or as some people call it, Digital Restrictions Management. Put simply, DRM consists of various restrictions applied in music or video files, so their use (such as playback) can be controlled by a third party, usually the company holding the copyright for a song or movie. DRM is not just a copyright protection technique but a whole set of technologies that aim to implement the DRM strategy each distributor of digital content specifies. As an example, DRM can verify that the user that bought an audio file is actually the same user playing the file. DRM technology can also be used to limit the number of PCs a file can be played on. The major disadvantage of DRM is that these restrictions are not always clear when a user buys a digital product.

Which Multimedia Formats Support DRM?

If you’re expecting to see MP3 in this list, guess again. Due to it’s open nature, the MP3 standard is unable to support DRM. Furthermore, there is no centralized coordination in the development and evolution of the MP3 format so don’t expect digital music stores to offer songs in the MP3 format.

Advanced Audio Coding: The AAC format, used by iTunes and iPod, is based on Apple’s QuickTime. It was originally designed as a replacement of the MP3, and can actually compress files better than the MP3 format can.

Windows Media Audio: WMA is a closed-source standard of digital music. It was designed to compete with the MP3 but in reality, it’s actually AAC’s main competitor, especially with regards to DRM support and buying music online. The latest version of WMA offers similar quality to that of AAC and better than that of MP3 files. This means that much smaller files can have CD quality. WMA is based on the ADvanced System Format (ASF) which can integrate different streams of audio and video as long as they belong to the Windows Media family.

RealNetworks & Sony: Both of these companies offer music download services. Real mostly uses the AAC format with the Helix DRM system, while Sony uses the OpenMG DRM system on ATRAC3 files. It is expected that Sony will support other music formats in the future.

Limitations of iTunes and iPod

Finally, here are certain things that you should know about iTunes DRM:

1. Music you buy from iTunes can only be played on an iPod.

2. Files from iTunes can be played on an unlimited number of iPods.

3. iTunes allows you to download each song you buy only once and of course, you’re not allowed to re-sell that song.

4. An iPod can also store and play non-DRM music files.

5. Any certified .m4p files can only be copied/played on 5 authorized computers.

6. Music you buy from iTunes can be copied to a CD without any DRM limitations.

7. A playlist consisting of songs you bought from iTunes can only be turned into a CD 7 times (you can make 7 CD copies of the list).

8. You are not allowed to convert a song to a different music format.



By: John Roberts

About the Author:

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple’s music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

® Apple hosts the world’s largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called “earbuds”)

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

Instruction manual

That is all.

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the “Dumb-O-Meter.” Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled “iPod to PC”, or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

IPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.



By: Paul McCormick

About the Author:

An IPod is a kind of MP4 player and is different from a MP3 player. As Apple products such as IPods and “quick time” recognize only MP4 format, even for music to play in an IPod, the iTunes which is the official music download site of Apple, offers music only in MP4 format. In an IPod, there is the iTunes software that converts MP3 files to MP4 format to play on the IPod, since an IPod will not play MP 3 files. There is video IPod that can play video files.

Generally, IPods come with accessories like battery, ear phones- which are otherwise known as ear buds along with a generic pouch, a docking station to transfer files and charge the IPod ,CD of iTunes software, and of course, an instruction manual. To use an IPod, every user will need a case and a screen protector, where the latter is very important because the IPod is more susceptible to scratching. The black units are more visible to scratches than the white units, which give a blemished look to the IPod. If a case and screen protector are used, this can be avoided.

IPods can be used in the car, home or along with the personal computer. IPod is a marvel for the music lovers who like to hear music through their car stereo. IPods helps us avoid the use of tapes and CDs and can hold many folds the number of CDs. The entire album can be taken in the palm of the hand with an IPod.

To make this feasible, the cables in the car stereo should be plugged into the IPod and the other end of the cable into a port on the back of the stereo and it is needed to remove the stereo to accomplish this. Thus, the IPod runs on its internal battery and a car charger can also be used to run the IPod. Another way of using an IPod in a car is to use an FM transmitter to transmit signals from the IPod to the FM radio and play it like a radio station. A unit with a dock is better than a plug-in unit since plug- in units consume power from the IPod’s battery and give a poor audio quality.

IPod can also be easily played through the home stereo by using an adaptive cable and using the battery power. Some units offer remote controls for IPod but the range is very limited. The music files for the IPod can be used along with a PC and there are software that allow copying the contents of the IPod into a PC or from one IPod to another. This is a safer option than having the music files in the PC in the iTunes programs because, if the PC happens to crash down and have to be reformatted, then, all the files in the iTunes folder will be lost. With all these facilities that make a music lover take the entire music collection in the pocket and carry it around to listen to it anywhere, it is no wonder that IPods are the hottest favorite for those who have an ear for music.



By: David Hensley

About the Author: