Lemme start by saying that YES, i have used the search function, and have been browsing this forum for more then a year, so please don't answer to just "use search" (even if you think I deserve it , it won't help me ). Thankyou.

I just had a few basic questions, and I'm not asking about how to do anything illegal either.
I have just downloaded some DRM WMA, and I have the licenses for them. Usually, I'm told to "burn and rip it to mp3". Every time I hear this I think:"What about transcoding quality loss?". "Do I have to waste a CD".

So 2 simple questions.
1- As of today, is it possible to remove DRM, through any method, without re-encoding/transcoding/burning or capturing the decompressed audio flux? (again, not asking how to do it)
2- I read in another post that you could burn a "virtual blanc CD" in a "virtual drive" This is something I've wanted to do for years, but I thought no company had ever bothered doing it? Which programs allow this blanc CD thing, and how do you do it. My highest preference would be Daemon tools or alcohol 120%, and by all means, i'd love to avoid nero.

I apologize in advance if you've answered this a 100 times...

And now two more complicated one:
1- When you burn an audio CD, in theory, it is lossless, compared to the source. As in, if you convert your MP3 to WAV, or if you burn it, rip the CD in FLAC, then unpack to wav, you get the exact same result. Is this correct? I mean a as long as the CD doesn't corrupt, it's digital data, right? Of course, you'd have to set-up EAC correctly not to add gaps and stuff...
2- That said, if you use a recording software, like Total Recorder, there is a quality loss, right? I'm not sure if the source of this program is the sound card's analog output or not... And besides, even if it is digital, there'd still be the media players DSP filters, right?

Well thanks for your time and help

Happypal

not tried it as I've no DRM audio at all but this is supposed to strip them --- FairUse4WM

There are certainly programs out there that can remove drm from wma files, but their legailty is problematic in many countries.

As long as a CD reads without errors it is indeed lossless, as long as the source material is 44.1 kHz/16 bit.

FairUse4WM works perfectly for wma files. However you might want to decrypt them on XP without Windows Updates, as M$ does everything they can to stop it.

I think it's a personal right, being able to decrypt material you have bought. I have personally been through hell by being locked out of access to the music I rightfully own.

Total Recorder functions as a virtual sound card. Windows media player, or other, will decode the audio and pass it along to the sound card. Total Recorder simply saves to disk this decoded sound. If you have EQ or other processing enabled in the media player, the processed sound will be saved. Total Recorder does have a level control, so there will be some very, very low level noise added. It is inaudible. Don't worry about it.

Another thing to try would be burning to a CD-RW, which is reusable.

Ok, thank you for the answers. I checked out the FairUse4WM thread, and ended up using FreeMe2, which worked fine. I don't have Microsoft Updates on Auto, but I had my XP manually fully updated. So I can say there is currently no problems with an updated version. At least for now. I'll think twice before updating in the future.
Still, anybody know of a program other then Nero that can do Virtual Blanc CDs?

This is off topic, but is there a good program other then nero to burn Data DVDs? I'm not sure Alcohol 120% Does it.

http://cdburnerxp.se/

The nice piece of hardware that E-MU 0404 is makes virtual soundcards like Total Recorder obsolete for 44.1/48 material. Emu is also much easier to use as you don't have to reconfigure sound devices before capturing.