How to convert a library of DRM'd iTunes AAC songs to unprotected mp3s for free?

How to convert a library of DRM'd iTunes ACC songs to unprotected mp3s for free?

burnt1ce

Posted 2009-10-04T01:43:28.267

Reputation: 1 057

2think you mean "AAC" instead of "ACC" – quack quixote – 2009-10-04T01:49:32.517

or maybe you did mean "ACC", but really, is "Rah Rah Carolina" worth it? – quack quixote – 2009-10-04T02:16:10.963

Answers

I don't know of any program that does this (I don't buy iTunes tracks). But here's the basic steps, and the absolute-last-resort method to accomplish what you want to do.

Generic method:

Crack the encryption.
Decode the AAC data to PCM/WAV.
Encode the PCM/WAV data to MP3.

Absolute worst-case I'm-not-kidding-find-another-way method:

Burn the tracks to CDR using iTunes (you may want to use a CDRW, especially if you have a lot of tracks).
Rip the tracks from the burned disc to MP3, using whatever ripping software you prefer. If you use iTunes for the ripping, set the encoding options to MP3.
(optional) wipe the CDRW disc and burn the next batch of tracks.

(Note this probably won't work if you can't play the AAC tracks in your iTunes.)

quack quixote

Posted 2009-10-04T01:43:28.267

Reputation: 37 382

If you can install a virtual CDR drive to burn an image on the hard-drive which you can virtually mount to rip from, the worst method becomes a little better. – dlamblin – 2012-05-21T19:34:25.217

2Correct, if you can't play them, you can't burn them as audio cd. – emgee – 2009-10-05T01:46:45.193

Google for a program called Requiem. Last I heard it could decrypt iTunes music.

Annath

Posted 2009-10-04T01:43:28.267

Reputation: 429

See Wikipedia. It can now work with newer versions of iTunes, but you will need to get it via bittorrent

– Casebash – 2010-07-10T03:54:26.710

1It depends on what version of iTunes is in use. So far as I know (and it's been a few weeks since I looked) there isn't a version of Requiem that works with the latest iTunes, unless you backed up your encryption keys. – emgee – 2009-10-05T01:45:57.597

I'm trying http://www.tuneclone.com - it fools iTunes into thinking that you're burning to a CD when actually you're ripping an MP3 copy. It means that you're not hacking the DRM (which would be piracy) but making a copy to play on any device that you own, which is your right.

Keith

Posted 2009-10-04T01:43:28.267

Reputation: 153