Tunebite

[jbischke]

Just came across this piece of software tonight:

http://www.tunebite.com

A few questions:

1. Is it legal? It seems to be but given the way the DMCA works I wasn't sure.

2. What's the benefit of using it? Just that it's less painless than burning content to a CD then ripping it to get it into an unprotected format?

3. Is this the first of its kind in terms of software or are there other programs out there that do this already?

 

[moriond]

I was surprised to see an announcement about this a day or two ago (can't remember where right now, but the date was December 13, and it seemed to imply new support for iTunes format even though the current version of tunebite has been out for some time), since there are past references to this in the iPodlounge, both on the News page and in the search of forums. (I ran this at the time to check that my memory was correct).

The odd things are the claims to legality. There are other programs that do things like this, but I don't know about the claims to encoding speed made by the authors. Also, I'll go check again, but I think this has been out in the present format for a while (more than a month) at least

 

[jbischke]

Cool. I hadn't seen this before so I thought it might be something new based on the press release. I probably should have done a site search first?

It's interesting right now because it seems like there is some much pressure on the services to allow customers an easy way to get unprotected versions of legally purchased files. It's not that tough to do anyway but is more of a pain in the ### than anything else.

2006 will be a very interesting year for DRM developments I think. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on where this will head.

 

[Code Monkey]

It definitely does not break the DMCA since it doesn't crack or circumvent the DRM, nor does it allow you to do anything extra with the actual protected material. All it's doing is a higher tech job of recording off the radio. Still, whether it is "100% legal" or not is not truly clear as it's a fair use question cross referenced with the various T.O.S. and EULAs that go along with purchasing DRM'd content. It won't be truly legal or illegal until it is challenged in court and survives the challenge. At one level, it is no different than previously upheld fair use challenges such as the RIAA going after people taping off the radio and the networks going after TiVo, but that's no guarantee when we have judges who equate downloading 128 kbps mp3s with stealing a physical CD.

The quality of the re-recording is dependent upon your soundcard and the ability of your computer rig to keep up with it. I've been using it with subscription services so I can use them on my iPod for almost a year now and find the software fantastic.

 

[TheJosher]

I use it for downloads from subscription music services such as Yahoo or Napster. (And iTunes as well.. but not as often. I buy most of my music from Yahoo. iTunes gets stuck with the raritys.)

I absolutely love Tunebite, and wouldn't have 75% of the music in my library without it.

It seems to be legal, but even if it isn't.. its a lot safer than P2P, as the RIAA doesn't have any way of tracking if you record the files or not

moriond, its always worked with iTunes 6. Thats the advantage of recording over using the method that *that currently not working software that starts with J* is using.

2. Yes, its less painful. But the other benifit is that it works with WMA protected tracks.. and with the DRM they use, often you're not allowed to burn them.

3. There are a couple of others that work for WMA format (although I like tunebite the best.) I think tunebite is the first with iTunes support.. and of all the others I've tried (two or three.), Tunebite gave me the best quality at the fastest rates with the easiest setup.

Josh

 

[moriond]

moriond, its always worked with iTunes 6. Thats the advantage of recording over using the method that *that currently not working software that starts with J* is using.

Josh

Yes, Here is the press release from the software manufacturer, although this is not the site that I read this at. What I meant, is that I thought tunebite was being used with iTunes for some time, including with iTunes 6, and I wasn't sure what had sparked the present press release -- unless it is the move by various other parties into the iTunes/iPod market (e.g., Real's 14-day free access to Rhapsody for Mac users and similar industry moves).

And the original announcement for Tunebite was back in 2004, so maybe it is the faster speed that is new? Again, when I checked this by backtracking sources and version tracker at the time I first read the press release I couldn't see an obvious change over earlier versions.

Edited to add last paragraph

 

[TheJosher]

Well, from checking the site.. it looks like maybe audiobook support has been added? I don't remember seeing that before. And acording to flashget, the file has been modified. So I'm redownloading it. I have 2.1.03 installed right now.. I'll see what the current version is once I finish downloading it


Josh

 

[Code Monkey]

Well, from checking the site.. it looks like maybe audiobook support has been added? I don't remember seeing that before. And acording to flashget, the file has been modified. So I'm redownloading it. I have 2.1.03 installed right now.. I'll see what the current version is once I finish downloading it

I think that's my biggest complaint: you have no idea what version is available from the website until after you download it and go to install. Still, if that's the worst complaint you can have about something ...

 

[TheJosher]

Yeah, the latest version is later than what I have installed, I think. But the problem is it won't let me install the new version! It says I don't have WMP installed It is.. and works fine. I guess I'll have to redownload that huge install so it will recongnize it :/

But yes, the version I mentioned above doesn't have support for audiobooks.. so I guess thats the change with the current version on the website.

Josh

 

[robert]

Wow, where have I been? Why didn't someone tell me about this before, or was I asleep when it was mentioned?

Turbocharged. Records at:
2X for one source
4X for other source

Does recommend not using PC for anything else while converting, but at 2X and 4X, just start it, go to bed and leave it running overnight. Does not filter out systems sounds, so all sound producing software must be exited.

I see nothing in Help or shareware that specifically addresses audiobooks. Appears to require a manual or MarkAble conversion to bookmarking files.

And more. Visit site to see.

Incredible

EDIT 3-10-06:
Code Monkey's Hosting of MP3 Resizer
Preference and Options Settings for Recording to MP3s - Guide/Tutorial for Tunebite


Results in one file for each original file. Has anyone a recommendation for an mp3 freeware splitter to avoid iPod playback problems? I found 10 day free-trial $20 shareware mp3 splitter/joiner that seems to work well and reasonably quickly. It will create as many files from the tunebite one as you want to:
MP3 Splitter & Joiner 2.96 692k
A google on mp3 splitter merger freeware has lots of hits, but many are really shareware.
I was going to use Audacity to split the file, but it took forever to load the Tunebite resulting mp3 file into audacity and then also a long time to produce the split mp3 files. I did neglect to set the KBPS to a reasonable number, converting my first file at 128, so that may be the reason audacity took so long.

not through playing around with this yet. audible remains the best, however, but tunebite seems ideal for audiobooks not available from audible.

Preference and Options Settings for Recording to MP3s Guide/Tutorial for Tunebite

 

[PaulJones]

Results in one file. Has anyone a recommendation for an mp3 freeware splitter to avoid iPod playback problems?

Hey Robert. Can you elaborate a bit more on what iPod playback problems you would have with a single file? Or if this has been discussed before just send me a link or tell me to quit being lazy and use the forum search.

 

[Stensvaag]

Possible MP3 Splitter Software

I have in the past tried Cool MP3 Splitter 2.02. The web site is here:

http://www.yaosoft.com/

If Robert and others have time to test this (and other MP3 splitters) that would be great, as I am tied up grading law school exams at the moment.

By the way, Robert, have you run into a maximum TuneBite duration yet? I wrote the contact folks at their web site asking about maximum duration/file size, but have not received a reply.

 

[robert]

Re: Re: Tunebite

Hey Robert. Can you elaborate a bit more on what iPod playback problems you would have with a single file? Or if this has been discussed before just send me a link or tell me to quit being lazy and use the forum search.

LOL
Stutters, skips, whatever. Makes file impossible to listen to satisfactorily. Perhaps solved with newer iPods, but I have been reluctant to test because i still have an older iPod that I want the files to work upon. Most audio books are two files, some three files, and rarely more. That is not a big issue if use smart playlists and a naming convention that keeps the files together.* The consensus is 5 hours and 300 mb, but no one seems to have a really precise set of numbers. I have stretched the 5 hours, but not to much over 6, without problems.

*Book Name, 1_4, Book Name 2_4, etc., instead of Chapter 1 Book name, Chapter 2 Book name (all chapter 1's fall together that way.

You do know not to record in mono, don't you?

John-Mark,

I did an 11:40 file last night. Dunno what the max length capablity is. And, I have not yet listened to that file. I didn't reset options and was done at 2X and 128 KBPS, so I need to do a file at 4X and 32 KBPS to test that.

thanks for the link to freeware. I will give it a look. Is it free

I began splitting in PolderBits and Audacity by looking for spaces in sound graph as a place to split files, but gave that up and have yet to hear a glitch in sound from words getting chopped. Today went from 1_3 to 2_3 of a homemade book (Wickett's Remedy, which is headed toward a 5+* rating from me) and didn't even know that iPod had gone to second file. I wish audible didn't put all that junk at end of files and beginning of 2nd and later files. It is a bit jarring.

Code Monkey's Hosting of MP3 Resizer

 

[Code Monkey]

A freeware mp3 splitter that I use is mp3bookresizer by monolith. I have no idea if it's hosted anywhere, so I'll host it for a bit if anyone reading this thread wants to give it a go:

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/channum/files/MP3BookResizer.zip

Only 188kb zipped, doesn't work with VBR files, but will let you split CBR files according to any criteria you want.

 

[Code Monkey]

You may find this useful for large single file download/tranfers:

I don't think 188kb qualifies as large, though Unless a billion people suddenly try to download it, the university isn't going to care.

 

[robert]

Preference and Options Settings for Recording to MP3s Guide/Tutorial for Tunebite

Tunebite Preference and Options Settings for Recording to MP3s Guide/Tutorial (Click Here)

Includes brief step-by-step instructions with screenshots on how-to-use Tunebite as well as options and preference settings.

How to use iTunes to convert, without MP3 Splitter software, large MP3 to AAC files that are below maximum recommended length: here.

Edit 3-15-06
Playing file problems. Due to the high security level on the Windows XP Service Pack 2 platform, the file might not play correctly. For example, stop several hours into the conversion with the message that WMP needs a missing codec. If this occurs, follow these steps to play the file successfully:

(Save the file on your computer if it is not there already)

1. Open a windows explorer window with the file in it
2. Right-click the file and select Properties.
3. Select the General tab
-Click the Unblock button
-Click the Apply Button
-Click OK

The file should then play correctly when you open the file again.
Not a bad idea to do this every time before playing.

Thanks to Need2know for this tip.