I've never noticed in downgrade in quality. Like I said I only go from mp4 to CD to MP3. Sound quality is still perfect and I or anyone else listening never have any quality issues. Its when you start with a low quality that you notice it.

Auron said: west-phoenix-az said: Can't you just burn all your tracks onto a CD, then extract them as mp3's? Thats what I do with songs purchased from iTunes, I just make a music CD for the car/truck, use Roxio to extract the songs into MP3 format, then delete the iTunes format. It leaves me with a legal hard copy and file copy that I paid for that I should be able to use on any MP3 player, PC or any other mp3 playing device of my choice. Everybody wins When i buy something i don't want to go through a 10 step process to use it....

 Seriously? 10-steps?

Step 1: Download the song (can listen to on your PC or ipod)

Step 2: Burn an audio CD (now you have added the ability to play on any CD player)

Step 3: Extract the track to MP3 format (can play on anything and share with anyone)

If you buy from iTunes you can only put that track on your ipod or make a CD for playing in any CD player. Now if you want a MP3 that you can play in any MP3 device all you have to do is extract the tracks from your CD, which I pretty much always make one for my car, truck or for someone elses car, truck, home etc. I like to have actual backups as harddrives do crash and sometimes you can't get it back. So to me its no extra steps, I get everything I want, the way I want, and it takes about 1-minute a song.

Is it really considered piracy? I mean, you already bought it in the digital form and since you can't use it anymore you'd have to re-dl it.

you do lose quality with MP 3 you just can't hear it with most sound system... I have some songs from iTune and the same in good quality MP3... and I can feel the difference between both.... but you don't have to rip them in MP3 anyway

west-phoenix-az said: Auron said: west-phoenix-az said: Can't you just burn all your tracks onto a CD, then extract them as mp3's? Thats what I do with songs purchased from iTunes, I just make a music CD for the car/truck, use Roxio to extract the songs into MP3 format, then delete the iTunes format. It leaves me with a legal hard copy and file copy that I paid for that I should be able to use on any MP3 player, PC or any other mp3 playing device of my choice. Everybody wins When i buy something i don't want to go through a 10 step process to use it.... Seriously? 10-steps? Step 1: Download the song (can listen to on your PC or ipod) Step 1a. Go to store Step 1b. Buy CD's  Step 2: Burn an audio CD (now you have added the ability to play on any CD player) Step 3: Extract the track to MP3 format (can play on anything and share with anyone) If you buy from iTunes you can only put that track on your ipod or make a CD for playing in any CD player. Now if you want a MP3 that you can play in any MP3 device all you have to do is extract the tracks from your CD, which I pretty much always make one for my car, truck or for someone elses car, truck, home etc. I like to have actual backups as harddrives do crash and sometimes you can't get it back. So to me its no extra steps, I get everything I want, the way I want, and it takes about 1-minute a song.

I dunno about you but i haven't used a cd in years, with portable HDDs and Flash drives i have no use for em.  5 steps or 10 steps or even 2 extra steps are bullshit.  Digital Downloads are supoosed to be easier than buying physical medium no more complicated.

must be dropping zune

 Screw that. you want to support an artist? See them in concert. That's where they make most of their money. Buying their music does more to fund record producers and distributers. And they're exactly what's wrong with music today.