10-21-2007, 02:51 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
|
|
Sync Media Player with Zune?
Have I totally screwed up buying a Zune or am I missing something? I have tons of music that I have downloaded into Windows Media Player and now have this new Zune that I would like to sync with. I keep getting the "protected error". All of my music is from my own CD's. Is there a way? Thanks, Alice 
|
| |
|
|
|
10-21-2007, 10:00 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
First off, welcome to Zune Thoughts. I wish I had better news for you on your first post... 
I think I know what the problem is: in Windows Media Player 10 and 11, in the Rip Music settings there's an option called "Copy Protect Music". On Windows Media Player 11 on Vista, it's not checked off by default...I'm not sure whether or not it's checked off on Windows XP or Windows Media Player 10. But in essence, when that box is checked off, it applies Digital Rights Management (DRM) to your WMA files - even through the music is your own off your own CDs. So while Windows Media Player can play your files because it has the licenses for it, the Zune desktop software uses a slightly different type of DRM. I don't know of any way to get the Zune software to work with the Windows Media Player DRM.
I don't know if there's a way around this...but it's a good example of how problematic DRM is. All I can think of us that you re-rip your music without having that option turned on, ideally in MP3 format.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-22-2007, 04:00 AM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
|
|
Jason,
Your the best. Thank you so much for the response. I just knew this would be the answer to my problem. I feel stupid that I did not explore this before spending so much money; but I never dreamed Microsoft would not work with Microsoft. Hope I can return it and make a better choice in choosing a different MP3; if not I hope I can reburn correctly.  Thanks, Alice
|
| |
|
|
|
10-23-2007, 04:34 AM
|
|
Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
|
|
If you did have protection turned on when you ripped, which it sounds like, you are looking for Plays-For-Sure compatible players. These are the ones that comply with the WMP form of DRM. While there are a lot of them, and good ones too, it appears the MS has kind of abandoned that direction.
While it is a PITA, Iwould say bite the bullet, blow away your collection and re-rip with the protect check turned off. You can keep the Zune, which is due for a significant upgrade shortly, and you won't have any issues with any other player you may buy in the future.
The bad news is you still need to use the Zune software to sync the Zune, but it will just absorb your Media Player Library, and use it, assuming the DRM was turned off when you ripped it.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-24-2007, 05:01 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 86
|
|
I haven't paid attention to DRM news, has Microsoft totally dropped PlaysForSure or have they only dropped it on the Zunes?
|
| |
|
|
|
10-24-2007, 10:32 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Talyn
I haven't paid attention to DRM news, has Microsoft totally dropped PlaysForSure or have they only dropped it on the Zunes?
|
It's still fully supported, and new players are being released, but the music services are fading away...MSN Music goes away, Urge being rolled into Rhapsody, etc.
Investing in ANY music tainted with DRM is a bad investment.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-24-2007, 10:30 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by shelby756
Hope I can return it and make a better choice in choosing a different MP3; if not I hope I can reburn correctly
|
It's indeed completely and totally ridiculous that the WMAs you ripped with Windows Media Player won't work on the Zune. But rather than returning your Zune, I'd like you to think of your ripped music collection as being "tainted". Every file has DRM, and I guarantee that it will be continue to be a huge headache for you, even if you get a PlaysForSure player that it will work on today - what about a couple of years from now?
It would be a huge pain, but if you re-rip your music into nice, high-quality MP3s (256 kbps is good), you'll have music that will work on ANY player in the future.
I think the short-term pain of re-ripping would be offset by the long-term gain...
|
| |
|
|
|
10-25-2007, 12:24 AM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 853
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
I think the short-term pain of re-ripping would be offset by the long-term gain...
|
I agree, although I ripped everything to lossless (I use WMA Lossless, but you could use FLAC, as well). The benefit is that if you buy a Zune, you can batch convert everything to WMA one time, then if you get an iPod, you can batch convert everything to AAC one time. Disk space is cheap, conversion is simply clicking a button and waiting. The benefit is that you never have to convert from lossy to lossy format.
***long quote trimmed by mod JD***
|
| |
|
|
|
10-25-2007, 01:07 AM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
|
|
Thanks to all of you, especially Jason, for the great info., of course much of it I don't understand but that's okay I don't need to. I may take the advise and re-rip...........gosh I hate to. Do I understand that an I-Pod will infact work okay with Windows Media, if so isn't that funny. What is another great MP3 that is avalable today? Thanks again.
|
| |
|
|
|
10-26-2007, 03:32 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
All I can think of is that you re-rip your music without having that option turned on, ideally in MP3 format.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Hybrid Mode
