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General discussion

Scure Real Audio files to MP3

Apr 20, 2006 8:47PM PDT

Hi you clever guys out there!

I have a 9 year old Sony Vaio. In 1997 I placed 104 of my own CD music tracks on it using Real Audio. Real Audio kindly placed them on the machine in secure format, not MP3! I want to download them off the Vaio (without having to record them all over again) onto a memory stick and an MP3 player, so that I can carry them around. Real Audio tell me that I can burn the tracks onto a CD and then convert them to MP3. However my Vaio (operating system Windows 98 (not SE!))only has a CD player not a writer. Does anyone know if I can obtain a program which I can put onto the Vaio to convert from Real Audio Secure to MP3?

Grateful thanks guys!
Steven (UK)

Discussion is locked

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Link, comment.
Apr 20, 2006 9:55PM PDT

1. http://www.real.com

2. This is your wakeup call about DRM. While I feel for you, the forum policied FORBID such a discussion. Next time, get those in plain non-secure, non-DRM tracks.

Bob

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Digital music
Apr 20, 2006 10:14PM PDT

Sorry Bob,
Didn't understand your reply.

Steven

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Sorry, the forums are a bit farkled.
Apr 20, 2006 10:49PM PDT
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Digital Music
Apr 20, 2006 11:03PM PDT

Bob,
Many thanks for your input (although it doesn't help!!). I've been in contact with Real for the past fortnight and they have tried to help. However, as I said in my original posting, they suggest I burn the tracks into a CD and then convert to MP3 format. Can't do that with my 9 year old Vaio - it only has a CD player. Thanks again. Being new to CNET forums I'll learn what can and can't be discussed! Be assured, I wasn't trying to do anything illegal. They are my CD's after all. I was just trying to save the hassle of having to re-record all 104 tracks again!

Steven

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That is one option.
Apr 20, 2006 11:20PM PDT

A CD recorder, in fact one that does DVD as well is well under 50 bucks around here. If that was all that was needed, then you could fit the needed drive to make the CDs and then use something like CDEX (google.com) to get the MP3s proper.

Don't fret too much about asking, just know that with my little red "M" that I am bound by da'rules more than others.

Sorry that I can't hand you an easy solution but "secure" and DRM is supposed to keep you from doing exactly what you want to do here. But at least you are seeing some roads out.

What would I do? I'd install CDEX and toss the 10 CDs in and let it make new MP3s.

Bob

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To CD or not to CD!
Apr 20, 2006 11:42PM PDT

Thanks again Bob. Appreciate your time. Will explore your suggested option.

Steven