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How to Eliminate Digital Rights Management From a Music File

If you download a music file with digital rights management coding, you can only access the song using the software for which it was intended. If, for example, you download a DRM-protected song from iTunes, you can only access it using Apple's iPod media player and iTunes software. DRM is intended to allow digital music providers to maintain increased control over their product and reduce piracy, but you can eliminate DRM protection from your music files using a very basic technique.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • CD-R/CD-RW
  • CD burning software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open your CD burning software. Your computer should come standard with either iTunes or Windows Media Player, and other popular burning programs include Toast and Nero.

    • 2

      Create a folder for your DRM-protected files. If you use a standard burning program like Windows Media Player or Toast, you can just create the folder on your desktop and add your copyright-protected files onto the folder. If you use a digital media program like iTunes, you can create your folder as a playlist directly on the iTunes browser. Just make sure to include all of the music files from which you want to remove DRM-protection.

    • 3

      Drag your folder directly onto the main window of your burning program, if you saved your files to your desktop. If you saved your files on a playlist, click it once to highlight it, enabling it for burning.

    • 4

      Insert a blank CD into your CD-ROM drive.

    • 5

      Select the "Audio CD" option on your burning software. If using a program such as Nero or Windows Media Player, the option should appear directly on your browser. If using a digital media program such as iTunes, you may need to enter your "Preferences" or "Options" and select the "Audio CD" option in your burning preferences.

    • 6

      Burn your songs onto the disc. In the lower right corner of your browser, you should see a button that reads "Burn," "Burn Disc" or "Copy." The button may also appear as a large red circle, similar to a "Record" button on a remote control.

    • 7

      Eject your disc when the CD finishes recording. Your program will alert you when the copying process has finished.

    • 8

      Reinsert your disc and use the same software to rip the songs back onto your hard drives. The ripping option should appear directly on your browser, indicated by the word "Rip" or "Import." The songs will copy to your computer as basic MP3s, completely free of DRM-protection.

Digital Music

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