SS CopyRights and Less User Rights

[majorluv222]

Hello to anyone who may read this.

First a little information about my use of minidiscs. I have been using minidiscs since 2000. I was introduced to them during my time in Japan. I had bought a cheap player/recorder for about 4000 Yen. I Copied C.D.s from everyone I knew using a simple wire that connected to the earphones from any player. It recorded with no problems. When I came back to the U.S.A. I was treated to much laughter from those who thought I had made a mistake in choosing MD over the MP3 player formats. I Firmly supported my decision until I dropped my Japanese Player and bought the Sony Model. I use SonicStage because I can easily buy music on Connect.com. I hadn't had any problems with this until I started noting that selection was extremely limited. Later I copied my personal cd collection to Sonicstage as well. Almost 4 years later I am now at my wits end. Sonicstage no longer lets me copy any of my Music Files to MInidisc. I have transerred many tracks many times. Now its saying that I am unable to transfer certain tracks that seem to make it on almost every playlist. All I want is to keep certain songs and mix them with new songs. Apparantly it seems that the material even from my own cds are protected now since I have copied them to minidisc too many times. I am using SonicStage 3.4 and recently just bought a new PC to see if that helped. All to no avail.

Is there a way around this? Is there a software tool that can rip my tracks from SonicStage and convert them to a different downloader for creating minidiscs. I just want to get back to recording personal discs for my long boring work.

[pata2001]

Are you talking about the tracks you purchased from Connect? Some tracks from connect do have the classic check-in/out limitations on how many times you can transfer them. As for tracks ripped from your own CDs, there shouldn't be any restrictions. Maybe the tracks were ripped using an old SS where there was the check-in/out limitation? I don't know if that limitations will carry over to SS3.x or not. For now, whenever you rip a new CD, make sure you uncheck copy protection on the bitrate selection setting.

[majorluv222]

I'll try that right now. It's just frustrating because it doesn't seem to matter if its a disc I own and downloaded to my pc or a song I bought from the Connect store. If it does it again Ill take a screenie of it so you can see what its doing.

[majorluv222]

Ok well here is the screenie. It says this content is protected. I'm not sure why. I think it's because Ive copied them before. These are all tracks I've put on other MD but for some reason or another it wont let me put them on anymore discs.

Edit: Just found out the Problem. I am using SonicStage 3.4!!! The problem is Transfer Count is 0. Anyways around this? Ive had to make multiple mini discs for various reasons. I have 3 kids and they find them fun to play with of course and I use them at work all the time. It's not like Im trying to do anything Illegal. I just want to enjoy music I purchased for myself alone.

SonicStage_Error.doc

Edited May 18, 2006 by majorluv222

[Stuge]

Track that you bought from Connect may have transfer limit ..I don`t think you can do anything now ..

Edited May 18, 2006 by stuge

[A440]

If you still have them in your computer you could play them (with SonicStage) and record them in realtime with TotalRecorder, which captures the sound from your soundcard. Then you'd have unprotected copies to transfer at will.

You could also listen to them on Napster (free) and record them with TotalRecorder. Or go to a P2P site and download them. Unlesss you're sharing 500-1000 songs, the RIAA is unlikely to come after you.

I also recommend contacting the Connect Store and complaining. They probably won't help you, but venting could make you feel better, and they should be reminded how they're abusing their legal customers. And patronize companies like Emusic that let you download mp3s for unlimited transfer.

[KrazyIvan]

Won't "checking in" the tracks make the limit go up by one? I know this essentially deletes the track from any particular MD.

[majorluv222]

I contacted the Connect Store about the SonicStage format. They agreed to reset my Transfer Counters to 0. I now have reset counters for 3 more downloads. I will probably wind up trying to work around this. I think its unfair to the consumers that if I bought the tracks and are using them for personal use that they limit my downloads. Thank You everyone for the Information though! It was greatly needed.

[pata2001]

I contacted the Connect Store about the SonicStage format. They agreed to reset my Transfer Counters to 0. I now have reset counters for 3 more downloads. I will probably wind up trying to work around this. I think its unfair to the consumers that if I bought the tracks and are using them for personal use that they limit my downloads. Thank You everyone for the Information though! It was greatly needed.

I have the same problem with tracks purchased fron connect. The customer service tried resetting my count mupltiple times, but every time I downloaded the tracks, they still have 0 transfer count. I gave up (they were free using some codes anyway).

At least connect allows you to re-download the songs (if it actually works). iTunes doesn't even allow re-downloading. However, you can simply copy purchased tracks from iTMS to back them up, and they will be usable when you copy them back, since iTunes will just re-check whether you are the purchaser or not when you log-in. Much more user-friendly than Connect's DRM where you have to use the backup tool, and tracks may/may not work when you upgrade the software.

Another reason not to purchase DRMed music.