Ripping CDs -- copy protection?

[FireGarden]

This normally happens with Warner Brothers CDs:
http://www.windows7update.com/warner-brothers-cd-distortion-and-windows-7.html

All of my WB CDs have failed to play or rip properly on the new computer. I just shrugged it off, since I have an older computer that can rip those CDs. The files then work when I copy them over to the new computer.

I do wonder how much WB have invested in making their CDs worth less. Or maybe it's an accident rather than intentional.... Cause I've just had this happen with an EMI CD -- but only disc 2 of the David Bowie best of, disc 1 worked fine. Disc 2 played and ripped on the old computer, except for the last track. I don't know what to make of the latter.

Whatever policy EMI had regarding copy protection, I would expect they applied it equally to both discs of "the best of Bowie". So is this problem not down to copy protection?

Just to be clear, the problems I had with the EMI disc has the exact same symptoms as the WB CDs -- ie:distortion, as if the audio was recorded with too much gain. It's not about skipping or clicks you might get on a scratched CD.

 

[Policenaut]

If WB is doing this on purpose it sounds like just another scorched earth DRM policy. Great idea geniuses. Drive the already dwindling amount of people away from your overpriced cds and funnel then into either illegally downloading them or spending much less money and just buying the mp3s.

 

[jhunter1163]

Just FYI, we don't permit discussions of illegal activities here. If you want to discuss possible technical solutions to the problem in the OP, that's fine; or if you want to rail about greedy record companies, that's fine too; but any discussion of how to defeat copy protection, how/where to download illegal software, etc. will get this thread tossed forthwith. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: jhunter1163

 

[rjh01]

Or it could just mean that something is faulty. Or maybe some software needs updating. Ask your friends or people you work with if the CDs work on their computer. Then work from there.

 

[FireGarden]

According to the link in the OP, it seems to be a combination of Warner Brothers (and a few other labels), the CD drive and windows 7. I used to think it was copy protection, but now I'm not so sure. I haven't been able to find a statement by Warner Brothers along those lines. And, surprisingly, they seem under-represented on this page:
http://www.boycott-riaa.com/corrupt_cds

In fact Sony has 61 albums listed on that page vs 11 by WB. But I've not had problems with Sony on my machine. I found an album by Joe Satriani listed. It worked on my new computer.

So, if it is copy protection, it seems to work at random. Different CDs seem to need a different combination of CD player/driver/OS for the effect to kick in. My computer seems to have a weak spot for CDs made by WB. The Satriani disc is by Sony Epic, works on my machine but not other people's. So I'm beginning to wonder if it is copy protection. It could be unintended. Or just badly implimented.

 

[Salerio]

This normally happens with Warner Brothers CDs:
http://www.windows7update.com/warner-brothers-cd-distortion-and-windows-7.html

All of my WB CDs have failed to play or rip properly on the new computer. I just shrugged it off, since I have an older computer that can rip those CDs. The files then work when I copy them over to the new computer.

I do wonder how much WB have invested in making their CDs worth less. Or maybe it's an accident rather than intentional.... Cause I've just had this happen with an EMI CD -- but only disc 2 of the David Bowie best of, disc 1 worked fine. Disc 2 played and ripped on the old computer, except for the last track. I don't know what to make of the latter.

Whatever policy EMI had regarding copy protection, I would expect they applied it equally to both discs of "the best of Bowie". So is this problem not down to copy protection?

Just to be clear, the problems I had with the EMI disc has the exact same symptoms as the WB CDs -- ie:distortion, as if the audio was recorded with too much gain. It's not about skipping or clicks you might get on a scratched CD.

Does it actually say CD with the CD logo on the disk?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CD_logo.png
If it does then it shouldn't be copy protected at all. Back in 2002 Philips withdrew the right of record companies to use the name CD audio logo unless it complied fully with the Red Book specification, which copy protected content doesn't.

If it plays ion your computer then it should be rippable on your computer

 

[FireGarden]

Does it actually say CD with the CD logo on the disk?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CD_logo.png
If it does then it shouldn't be copy protected at all. Back in 2002 Philips withdrew the right of record companies to use the name CD audio logo unless it complied fully with the Red Book specification, which copy protected content doesn't.

Thanks. That seems to work out, with a small sample anyway. I've checked two of the WB CDs which failed to work. They don't have the logo. The best of Bowie CDs don't have the logo, either. Disc 1 did work on the new computer, but the tracks seem to be in chronological order with disc 1 going up to Station to Station. So I'm wondering if it was previously released on its own. If Sony didn't bother to redo the whole thing with copy-protection that might explain why one disc works but one doesn't.

If it plays ion your computer then it should be rippable on your computer

That's always been the case.

 

[TheDaver]

Oh no, now you’ve got me worried. I’ve been using Windows 7 on my new desktop machine for about a month and a half now. Pretty much the only thing I really use it for is my music collection. It would really stink if I find myself unable to rip certain CDs soon.

So – what software are you using to rip your CDs?

 

[FireGarden]

Oh no, now you’ve got me worried. I’ve been using Windows 7 on my new desktop machine for about a month and a half now. Pretty much the only thing I really use it for is my music collection. It would really stink if I find myself unable to rip certain CDs soon.

According to the link in the OP, the CD/DVD player in the machine makes a difference too. If it is copy-protection, it's been implemented in a less than rigorous fashion.

So – what software are you using to rip your CDs?

Most of them work fine on the new machine. When they don't, I use an older computer. Windows media player both times.

Since it's not entirely down to software, I reckon an external drive might solve the problem. Might be a little slower, via USB. But something to bear in mind.

You might not even have a problem, at all. It doesn't seem like everyone does.

 

[geni]

According to the link in the OP, the CD/DVD player in the machine makes a difference too. If it is copy-protection, it's been implemented in a less than rigorous fashion.



Most of them work fine on the new machine. When they don't, I use an older computer. Windows media player both times.

Since it's not entirely down to software, I reckon an external drive might solve the problem. Might be a little slower, via USB. But something to bear in mind.

You might not even have a problem, at all. It doesn't seem like everyone does.

Looks like it's the Toshiba disc drive rather than windows 7. Install a new drive or use an external USB drive.

 

[Babbylonian]

Looks like it's the Toshiba disc drive rather than windows 7. Install a new drive or use an external USB drive.

It's been a while since I ripped a CD but I recall that, depending on how the drive is hooked up, you can rip in analog instead of digital (you should be able to find out if this option is available in the settings of the software you're using) which I assume would ignore any silly copy protection contained on the [non-]CD. Since the analog connection (if it exists) is direct to the motherboard/sound card, the quality reduction should be minimal, if any.

Disclaimer: The above would be in no way illegal.

 

[rjh01]

I often rip music CDs. Never had any problems. The only software I use is iTunes as issued by apple. It converts the music to MP3s, but the loss of quality is not enough to notice.

 

[W.D.Clinger]

I often rip music CDs. Never had any problems. The only software I use is iTunes as issued by apple. It converts the music to MP3s, but the loss of quality is not enough to notice.

iTunes also gives you a choice of 3 lossless encodings, which you can select by going to the Preferences/General panel and clicking on "Import Settings..."

The disadvantage of the lossless encodings is that they take occupy approximately 10 times as much space as an mp3 (with default parameters).

 

[TheDaver]

It's been a while since I ripped a CD but I recall that, depending on how the drive is hooked up, you can rip in analog instead of digital (you should be able to find out if this option is available in the settings of the software you're using) which I assume would ignore any silly copy protection contained on the [non-]CD. Since the analog connection (if it exists) is direct to the motherboard/sound card, the quality reduction should be minimal, if any.

I think analog connections on CD/DVD drives are pretty uncommon these days. And analog should be an absolute last resort anyway. You’re going from digital to analog and back to digital. A lot of quality can be lost if the DAC on the CD-ROM or the ADC on the soundcard is lousy (if you’re using the motherboard’s built-in sound, it often is).

Anyway, Exact Audio Copy is a really good ripper. Worth a try.