RED SHIFT1 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 A few weeks ago I posted a question about using an external hard drive to use with Sonicstage 4.3 for importing CDS. I used the advice I got and it worked fine. Now, for another question: About every 2 weeks I run the backup tool since in that time I will have imported dozens of cds. Everynow and then I will run into one that the software will not import. So I use Windows Media Player and rip the cd and then use the "import music files" option to import them into the Sonicstage program. However, I have discovered two problems with this: (1) If I delete the files in Windows Media Player, then Sonicstage will tell me something like "can't find the file" or something like that. Why? (2) When I use the backup tool (which I do about every two weeks) I will get a list of hundreds of items that can't be backed up: a. Some have .jpg extensions which I guess are the artwork I scanned/downloaded. OK, I hate that but I can live with it. I have attached a screen capture of some of these. b. Some have .wma extensions; these are usually files from Windows Media Player. I guess the question here is why can't the backup tool...well...backup all this stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 The backup tool is not to be depended on. It's not backing up your files. It calls a Sony computer somewhere, tells it your files are actually your files, and stores some code. Then when you want to back them up it calls Sony again, asks nicely for permission and gets it. What are you going to do when Sony finally ditches SonicStage and turns off that remote computer? Luckily there is a far better alternative. It's the File Conversion Tool, under Tools in SonicStage. This changes .omg files, which are tied to your particular SonicStage in your computer, to .oma files, which will play in any SonicStage. No more begging Sony for permission to play them. You click on it, it shuts down SonicStage and scans the database. Then it gives you a giant length of time with "Add copy protection" checked by default. Uncheck "Add copy protection" and it scans again. The first time, you are still going to get a giant length of time, so run it overnight or something. You can allow it to delete the .omg files, since you are replacing them with scrumptious .oma files. Afterward the scan (with copy protection unchecked) will only count your unconverted files. At least, that's how it works with my own uploaded recordings from minidisc. I don't know whether it will un-copy-protect CD rips, but you should try it. Do it now and get your library out of Sony's clutches. I believe that's what's going on with your .wma files is that SonicStage is just pointing to the existing ones, not doing any kind of conversion. The .wma files may have their own copy protection, since the default in Windows Media Player is to add copy protection. (You can change it under Rip.) The backup tool is only for SonicStage's own ATRAC files, not for what's on your computer from other sources. (1) If I delete the files in Windows Media Player, then Sonicstage will tell me something like "can't find the file" or something like that. Why? (2) When I use the backup tool (which I do about every two weeks) I will get a list of hundreds of items that can't be backed up: b. Some have .wma extensions; these are usually files from Windows Media Player. I guess the question here is why can't the backup tool...well...backup all this stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avrin Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I don't know whether it will un-copy-protect CD rips, but you should try it. If the rips are made on the same computer, and are playable (the keys are not damaged), the tool will unprotect them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfbp Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 One more little thing (I have posted this comment many times but I am still not sure if anyone actually agrees with me yet), in my opinion, the CD ripping to PCM bitrate is so bad you should avoid it, and I routinely use Atrac Advanced Lossless before transferring to other media (well, not CD since CD's are uncompressed, and I might as well copy them CD to CD, which works fine). Quite apart from being about 1/2 size or less of PCM/WAV/1411 rips, these AAL files are NOT protected against moving from one computer to another - and do NOT need to be decrypted ("copy protection removed"). It seems to me, that by the time they introduced this format, Sony had already backed off from making everything super-secret. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avrin Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I still don't understand the problems you are having with ripping to PCM. All my PCM CD rips done in SonicStage are bit-perfect (with the exception of read offset compensation, which is only done by AccurateRip-aware programs, like EAC). Make sure the Microsoft PCM Converter is not disabled in your system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED SHIFT1 Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Ok. Well, after 3 years of importing cds, this is a lot of info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.