Protected AAC Audio Files Not Playing on CDs

Boy did we misspoke! But that's OK, it happens.

At any rate, I don't know that all the troubles are caused simply by having an older version of Mac OS X. There does not seem to be any common threads running through the various burning problems.

Ok, today I got the answer to my problem...thank all of you that suggested a fix, but today I went to the local Apple store and decribed what I had done, step by step...and immediately they had the answer.

I had downloaded an album from iTunes...and then tried to burn it to a CD to play on my home system not simply the computer. I got only mp-4 files that would not work. I had gone to the Library...and dragged the tunes to the CD I had on the desktop, and then tried to burn it...it seemed logical...but unfortunately not the way iTunes evidently works.

So with that I failed and received several suggestions as to what might be the problem. Nothing worked but it seems that was because I had not adequately provided the step-by-step process I followed.

So now...the issue was, first I downloaded an album...then in the Library I selected all the tracks, dragged them to a CD that I had put in the Superdrive...and then tried to burn....they burned, but only as MP-4 protected...which I guess is a data CD....no good for using in a DVD/CD player.

What I learned today is the burn must be done entirely inside iTunes...which means...once the downloaded tune/tunes are in the Library, first be sure your iTunes preferences are set:

Advanced>Burning>and select Audio CD option

Then you need to create a new playlist of the tunes you want on your CD from the Library.

Next, and perhaps this is unnecessary I highlighted all items in the playlist and then selected BURN-top right from within iTunes....I did that and BINGO...it worked. I have a CD that I can play on my home system. I have tried it on both a DVD player and CD player and it works perfectly.

I hope this helps all the other folks that posted to this thread.

And thank you to the several folks that tried to help...I now know I didn't give you enough detail to understand the original steps I was following.

Please feel free to correct any details that I gave that might eliminate a step or two.
ron

...then in the Library I selected all the tracks, dragged them to a CD that I had put in the Superdrive...

Ron, if we had known this bit of information we could have helped you solve the problem in a very short amount of time. This was probably the single most important step you could have given us. 🙂

The only thing you really don't need to do in the burning steps you describe above is to highlight all the tracks in your playlist before you click the Burn button. It is not necessary.

Michael,
You are totally correct, and if I had known what the iTunes steps were... I have no doubt people like you would have given me a homerun.

However, I think lots of folks out there are dealing with the same issue...and I know you are trying to help each and everyone of them....I only hope this will help you help them. Utimately, its all in the details if the answer is not obvious.
Best wishes, ron

I also have the same problem. I'm having a hard time believing that this is a hardware or software/OS compatability issue. I can burn songs I ripped/imported just fine using my hardware and software onto CD-R's, just not purchased music. Doesn't matter what speed I set the burn to. And I have set it to "Audio CD". It's the same procedure I've used forever, but since upgrading to iTunes 6.0.1, I can't take advantage of the very service I paid for (downloading and enjoying purchased music)!! I am very frustrated. This is either a bug that hasn't been fixed, or a tweeking issue I am not aware of. (Though I did do a permissions repair.) Does anyone know how to fix this???!!!