SCS requesting a licence for downloaded music

[Joe Nallon]

I have downloaded an albumn all legit and can play it in Windows Media Player, but when I try and add the music in a playlist in SCS 9.5.1, it returns a message "<file name> The file is protected (Licence Required)"

Is there any work around or fix for this?

Regards

Joe

[Mike Daniell]

Unfortunately the cost is too high. WMA files are a Microsoft format, and what you are encountering is a WMA file protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). To provide support for DRM files in SCS I would have to pay a license fee to Microsoft. It's all a bit vague as to what that license fee is - although I haven't tried contacting Microsoft directly - but from what I've found out so far it looks like it would cost me $10,000.

[BobCar]

Actually most audio editor programs will allow you to 'Import' a WMA file, then convert it to wav or mp3.
Simply import the file into the editor, then turn right around and:
1. Go to: FILE (drop down menu)
2. "Save As".
3. Then go down to the bottom of the pop-up box and (from the last menu) select either wav or MP3 as 'Save As Type'.
Try this with whatever audio editor you're currently using (it works for me with Adobe's "Audition"; but does not work in "Audacity"); but if it doesn't work, then get a copy of an older audio editor (i.e. - PRE Digital Right Manager era [pre-2006?]) like Audition's predecessor "Cool Edit Pro".
It's only one extra step, but it has converted every WMA file I've run into - to date.

Bob