[Dixielandjazz] New "free" legit download site contains OKOM!

[Lowell Busching]

BillSargentDrums at aol.com wrote:

> All the songs are DRM (protected by Digital Rights Management) . . . 

Details, details :-)  You are spoiling all the fun Bill! :-)  From the 
old saying you never get anything for NOTHING.  Thanks for adding these 
details anyway. I had discovered this in the fine print also, but choose 
not to mention the alternatives that MAY be available. I figure a good 
share of the DJML members are savvy enough to think of that, but maybe 
not.  Also the email was long enough with the basics.

Now you all know the REST of the story.  Don't hate them because they 
are not beautiful. As they state, it was a requirement by the record 
companies that they put the DRM codes on them.

> meaning they expire and are useless unless you maintain your 
> "membership" which, in this case is logging in with the computer that 
> contains the songs and the download program.

Correct.  Nothing seems to prevent you from backing them up though, 
although I suspect they will not play on another computer and they may 
ask where they went.  So save them.
>  
> Now there is conversion software out there that MAY be able to help you 
> convert these file sand free them up, but that's another post and 
> research effort.

Yes there are. A simple answer is the Magix programs, for one, available 
at most computer stores legally.  The sound recording equivalent of the 
video recorders. These programs record off your sound card just like you 
would do with a hand held or plugged in recorder.  I am sure there are 
illegal programs that will remove the codes also. Your call. Jail or 
just listening while you do your email.


>  
> Translation, you can't use these songs as freely as you may think or 
> burn them to CDs.

What do you want for nothing Bill :-) Besides that I believe they are 
.wma files rather then mp3, requiring more conversions if you can not 
play .wma files. They mention using them on portable devices, but I may 
have mis-read that.  Maybe the codes need to be updated each month or 
they stop playing somehow on your portable device?
>  
I figured some other list member would fill in the blanks. Thanks again.
Not all recordings listed are available for downloading. It is more of a 
  sampler site with full tracks instead of 30 second samples. Many full 
albums. Many genres just within jazz. For OKOM. Wild Bill, Sidney, 
Louis, Fire House Five + Two etc.  Worth checking out I think. There 
still IS no free lunch, but Spiralfrog is paying the bill for now.

If you take the lunch home in your purse or briefcase, they don't want 
to know about it.

Mad Dog