The music industry , certain software and hardware groups have set about the task of securing all digital music . This groups ultimate goal is to scare the RIAA into funding vaporware ( non existent software ) . The music industry is funding the attempt to control what goes into your ears . This goes beyond not being able to download ......it's control on the 1984 Orwellian scale . 

   This attempt to control how many times you can listen , copy , or share music ....is feeble at best . As I explain .....digital content cannot be secured let alone analog information . The guide below demonstrates the ease at which current proprietary/secure music can be transformed into MP3's . The SDMI's attempt will go beyond what is conventionally viewed as secure , but I'll bet the farm , it'll be cracked .....sooner than later. In fact this article explains how educators are being threatened with lawsuits if they disclose the HACK . This might strike some , as a violation of the 1st amendment , but in this day in age the DOLLAR is more powerful than constitutional law . I'll use the latest DeCSS trial as an example of how money trumps God given Rights .

   Current proprietary music software exists as RealAudio , Windows Media Player , Liquid Audio , Quick time , any streaming audio ........etc etc . Some of these formats expire after 30 days or after a # of times listening to them ( weeeek !) . The best way to capture and preserve these files is with the program cool edit 2000 . Although a little pricey  , it's got tons of features . They also have a demo . 

  First thing you'll need to do is setup windows to capture sounds off the soundcard . Double click your speaker in the windows task bar , go to options - properties . Check recording and stereo mix . It'll look like this 

Now , anything that plays out of you speakers can be recorded and ripped to any format with the help of Cool Edit . Just hit the record button !! Too easy .

 The standard windows recorder can save sound files too , it just takes more work . As a default , windows will only save 1 minute of sound . To get around this , a template or blank sound file will need to be created . Go to the windows start bar ...programs .....Entertainment ......sound recorder and open . Start recording , without any sound playing up to the default 60 seconds . Then hit edit - copy . Edit - paste insert . Do this up to 6 minutes ( plenty of time for most songs ) , and save as Blank/template etc etc . Whenever you need to record sound , you can open this file and save as song name and artist . This will save in a variety of formats  , the best is a high bitrate PCM ( Pulse Code Modulation  , commonly called wave )  . It's easily ripped into mp3 format .

  How will SDMI circumvent this ??? My guess is  , they will get Microsoft to further cripple the included sound recorder . They will also get hardware makers to limit the ability of sound cards to capture the output to the speakers . Kinda silly ???? The only way to completely secure music  , will consist of encrypted hardware implanted directly into the ears of consumers . I wouldn't put this past Microsoft , Roxio , and the SDMI group . F em .