copy protected cds

[commando]

I just got the new Norah Jones CD, and it's copy protected. On my PC I have to listen to it with a little player app that comes on the CD.

I don't know if it's my imagination, the recording method, or the player application, but to me the sound quality isn't as good as the original norah jones cd. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?

I'm going to follow the instructions listen in another thread to try to copy the CD to a format that I can play properly. I own the right to listen to the CD, so I should be able to listen to it where I choose.

 

[Stephonovich]

I don't have the CD, but I've found that most any can be bypassed by using EAC and just extracting the audio tracks. Also, if you have a Plextor or Lite-On drive, they're usually able to rip any CD (game or music) without problems.

Oh, and as for the reduced sound quality, it's due to the deliberate errors they're introducing. A computer sees them and deems it unreadable, whereas a CDP (in theory) manages to read them, albeit with some clicks, pops, and other nasties happening sometimes.

Although I think the best was BMG (I think it was BMG...), with their special CD's that when loaded into a computer, let you only play 64KBPS MP3's they had burned onto the CD.

(-:Stephonovich

 

[commando]

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephonovich Oh, and a for the reduced sound quality, it's due to the deliberate errors they're introducing. A computer sees them and deems it unreadable, whereas a CDP (in theory) manages to read them, albeit with some clicks, pops, and other nasties happening sometimes.

So they knowingly degrade the sound quality? Are they mad? If I can't get the sound quality up to scratch using ripping/copying i'll be returning the "CD".

 

[Oddball]

Quote:

Originally posted by commando So they knowingly degrade the sound quality? Are they mad? If I can't get the sound quality up to scratch using ripping/copying i'll be returning the "CD".

I've heard that they include two versions of the music on the CD, one that's the CD for CDPs and one for listening to digitally. They're encoded differently. If you want to bypass the copyright protection and listen with a different music app, just hold down the shift key after you insert the CD. It'll keep the copyright protection software from loading. Works every time for me.

I believe in the freedom to convert the music I OWN to anything I want.

 

[Stephonovich]

Yes, they are mad. These are the same people who tell us that 128KBPS MP3's are "CD quality", remember.

Oh, and as for reduced sound quality, I was slightly mistaken; it *can* happen.

Quote:

...to dodge around the noise requires the reading laser extra movement to find the music. This can cause "flutter" on a cheaper machine when it has trouble chasing the music.

Also of note is that their methods of adding in deliberate errors also reduces the scratch resistance of the CD's (or rather, the player's ability to play scratched CD's), as those bits are no longer available for error reduction.

I would recommend returning the CD, and tell them why you're doing so. Granted, the average store clerk won't know jack about it, but if enough people start doing this, they'll take notice.

Oh, and in response to Oddball, who posted while I was writing my reply... Sony's copy protection was the one that was defeated with the Shift key. When the CD was loaded, if Autorun was enabled (as is usual on Windows machines), it loaded a file that made copying the CD impossible, filling it with errors. Similar measures have been made with game CD's; the other night I discovered MechWarrior 4 was loading an executable that made copying impossible. Had to close it first. Mind you, I BOUGHT the game. I only copy them because I don't like scratches on originals.

(-:Stephonovich

 

[commando]

Holding shift down definitely doesn't work.

Oddly, track 1 can't be played with normal PC cd players, but most (or all) of the other tracks can be. The sound quality is definitely better thru a normal CD playing application than thru their little player application.

 

[lindrone]

Crap, I was going to get the new Norah Jones CD.. but now looks like that wouldn't be much of an option.. since the whole point is to get it and then rip it into my iPod..

I hate it when record company does this..

Edit: Oh, just noticed you're in New Zealand.. the last Norah Jones CD release had copy protection in New Zealand as well... Maybe the US version wouldn't?..

 

[commando]

Quote:

Originally posted by lindrone Edit: Oh, just noticed you're in New Zealand.. the last Norah Jones CD release had copy protection in New Zealand as well... Maybe the US version wouldn't?..

My girlfriend purchased the last CD in Ireland, where they apparently didn't do the copy protection.

I'll do a few experiments tonight and report back.

 

[commando]

It turns out that you can rip the CD to a WAV file using EAC, then write it out to an unprotected audio CD using whichever CD writing program you like.

I don't think it's technically possible to make proper copy protection for CDs. I support artists getting paid for their work, but I also demand reasonable use of the material i've paid for.

 

[davei]

There are so many ways to get around this, I don't know why the record companies bother. I have yet to come across a copy controlled CD I couldn't rip using one program or another. Hell, even my soundcard has an optical out that works with any kind of audio - I realize it's going through the Windows mixer and being resampled and whatnot, but I can copy it right back into my computer with no tape hiss.

 

[commando]

Quote:

Originally posted by davei There are so many ways to get around this, I don't know why the record companies bother. I have yet to come across a copy controlled CD I couldn't rip using one program or another. Hell, even my soundcard has an optical out that works with any kind of audio - I realize it's going through the Windows mixer and being resampled and whatnot, but I can copy it right back into my computer with no tape hiss.

Unfortunately the sound quality that you get thru the player they include on the CD is crap. The CD sounds a LOT better when you manage to break the copy protection.

 

[Jasper994]

Glad to hear EAC worked it's magic yet again...

So now that you have a clean copy, do you like the new album?

 

[commando]

Yes, it's a very nice album

 

[Stephonovich]

Props for getting it to work.

Now that the thread has gone a bit off-topic, I'll ask... why do you have two 280 Pros? Are you The One who has come to reign victorious over Mike Scarpitti's constant ramblings?

BTW, 3rd one's a real whopper if you want to be occupied for hours. I was lucky enough to get in on that one early on, and was heatedly debating it for days...

Oh, and finally, if you haven't read much of Mike's "Team Burn In Is Fake!" posts, then you're really missing out on a great part of Head-Fi. Anyway, he consistently has asked for someone to purchase two identical headphones (280 Pro's being the most usually recommended one, due to their vast IMPROVEMENT IN SOUND, MIKE... But I digress. He wants someone to get two pairs of cans, burn one in (anywhere from 48-1000 hours, depending who you talk to; for the 280 Pro's. 200 is usually agreed to be where you stop noticing any improvements), and leave the other bone stock. Then, do a blind A\B test. I suggested having a non-audiophile do the test, for even better results. Just have them tell you which sounds better.

(-:Stephonovich

 

[Mr.PD]

What trick do I use to get EAC to rip a protected CD?
After reading this thread I stuck in my one and only protected CD. Nothing happens. EAC says there is no audio CD in the drive. I tried both drives. I tried the shift key also. My computer does not recognise this CD in any way.