[placebo]

Album Only tracks

Some "Album Only" tracks can be streamed/played in full-length, some are available in 30secs preview, and some can't be previewed: it doesnt matter, this post explains how you save the track, in all 3 cases, in full-length anyway!!!

In the 2 latter cases (bad luck, see below screenshot) you can use stream-recorder.com or simply look in the Temporary Internet Files folder to find the streamed (and automatically saved! by zune.exe) *.wma's. Look for "audio" in the file names and file extension could be *.dat, e.g. possible file names are audio[1].dat, audio.wma#0;1.000;0;0;1:2, etc.

From the track size and length, you can calculate the sound quality (bitrate). I always get ~126kbps (and never 128.0kbps).



(click on pic for more info)

Now you know the static URL's of the 126k media (DRM-protected WMA-files), good:

mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/819/at/audio.wma
mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/823/at/audio.wma
mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/825/at/audio.wma
mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/831/at/audio.wma
mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/833/at/audio.wma
mms://stream.zune.net/a4241/e3/033/984/837/at/audio.wma

Interestingly, you can switch the protocol and nothing happens. If in doubt, use both sets and compare the files. If you havent f*cked it up, the files will be exactly the same!!

rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/819/at/audio.wma
rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/823/at/audio.wma
rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/825/at/audio.wma
rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/831/at/audio.wma
rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/833/at/audio.wma
rtsp://stream.zune.net:554/a4241/e3/033/984/837/at/audio.wma

By default, zune.exe caches the streaming audio in Temporary Internet Files folder located at
C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\W12Z8HA7\audio[1].dat
You must change that. Go to Internet Explorer>>Extras>>Internet Options...>>General (tab)>>Temporary Internet Files>>Settings...>>Current Location>>Move Folder...>>and choose "C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\" (and dont choose "C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\" or "C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temp\" or "C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\"), so that the Current Location displays as:
C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\

You might have to reboot.

From now on, zune.exe caches the streaming audio in Temporary Internet Files folder as depicted in the screenshot, i.e. as
C:\Documents and Settings\placebo\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\audio.wma#0;1.000;0;0;1:2
from which you can read the MMS-url directly. The MMS-url doesnt appear instantly; wait a little until the system has fully cached the streaming audio track.

Then use a valid license on WinPcap 4.1.2 to download the above set(s). Finally, strip off the DRM-protection with FairUse4WM. (it is instructive to compare the audio[1].dat, audio[2].dat, ... files from the Temporary Internet Files folder with the DRM-protected files and with the un'DRMed files from the rtsp/mms protocol download. visual byte-per-byte comparisons can be done with BC3, good luck)

As i can see in your face, this whole procedure is a little complicated. That's why i recommend it only for tracks for which an official DOWNLOAD-button (FREE 192k *.wma, DRM-protected) does not exist.