Editing Protected AAC Files

Question

Editing Protected AAC Files

I realise the answer to this question is probably: you CAN'T edit protected files, but here goes:

Some bands think it's funny to string a whole bunch of songs together on one track, so to listen to any one song, you must fast-forward through the whole track. One example of this is the Brian Jonestown Massacre's song, Sound of Confusion. It is an excellent bunch of songs, but I would like to listen to them individually, instead of wading through the 33+ minute track to find them.

I have music editing software (Peak4) with which I can cut the track into smaller sections but it won't open the track, because it is a Protected AAC file downloaded from iTunes.

My question (I know I'm doomed): Is there any way to open this track so I can edit it? Or has the music industry once again protected its interests at the consumer's expense?

Posted on Oct 13, 2005 4:04 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 13, 2005 4:16 AM in response to Jeffrey Studebaker

Quite simple.
Burn a CD of the protected AAC files, or use iTunes to convert the file to an AIFF. You will need to go to Preferences and select AIFF as the method of importing. Then rip the audio off the CD or open the AIFF version of the file and you should be able to edit to your hearts content.
Now although you now have an AIFF version of the file remember it is still a data compressed version which happens to take up the room of a full bodied AIFF file. So I would strongly suggest you don't convert it back into an MP3 or AAC file. Remember when encoding to MP3 or AAC information is thrown away never to be recovered, so re-coding again will have a terrible effect on the sound quality. You would be best to leave them as AIFF's.
Phil

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Answer 2

Oct 13, 2005 7:37 AM in response to Philip Tyler

Thanks, Philip.

The method of using iTunes to convert the file didn't work - I got a message that iTunes won't convert protected files.

However, the CD method worked fine. Too bad I'm left with such hurkin' heavy files, though. I have to ask myself, is it worth 40MB to 70MB of my precious hard drive/ipod shuffle - per song - to store these AIFF files? I might convert them to AAC and see if my ears are good enough to tell the difference.
Jeffrey

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