Analysis of the MediaMax CD3 Copy-Prevention System

[seadzz]

And how to disable it:

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~jhalderm/cd3/

Seems the Media max system loads a driver into your PC that inhibits mahing a copy or ripping it.

The artical exposes how this driver is loaded and how to get it out. Every lock has a key and fortunately the few disks out that have this are not worth ripping IMHO


sdz

[FlameGrilled]

I said it before, and i say it again... analogue sourcing still has it's benefits :P

The worst you can do with an analogue output feed, is doing the audio equiv of what Macrovision does to cv/rf output on a DVD player.. or the deteriorated sync on a commericial vcr tape.

In the last instance, you simply re-inject the lost sync signals back in between VCR and the destination, DVD you find how to disable the MV.

*pats his stack of tape, cassette decks and turntables, fondly*

[reddshack]

I've come across a few instances where I had to thwart the MV from VHS or DVD. Not too hard, you just have to think about it and it will come. FlameGrilled has offered great advice to all, so remember it.

[FlameGrilled]

well, redshack, it's lucky that analogue audio is clean as a whistle vs such 'nasties' - else it'd be brute force or 'ferk it' time.

Of course, it doesn't mean analogue feeds can't be encrypted or scrambled - but the irony is that all methods of butchering analogue audio for encryption involves some sync loss and some filtering. This, for video, is why encryption methods such as Syster (that said, Syster was one of the more effective analogue encryptions) soon became redundant.

It's old territory, but still efffective.. to not be too rigid and declare that only lamers use analogue - us 'lamers' dont need hyper-duper decryption untils and other disproportionately process-cost vs time-involved techniques to get a working solution

Alternatively, for the purposes of audio CD, a simple image extractor like Isobuster pro, tends to be totally ignorant of trickery... if it can find the tracks, they can be extracted.. end of story :P

[Arm_The_Homeless]

Is the MediaMax CD3 Copy-Prevention System the main copy control tactic used by record companies now? I have some copy controlled cds that have different copy control software than the cd3 (at leat I think so). One of the ones I have sitting in front of me now is Iron Maiden's Dance of Death...appears to be copy controlled by something that emi music designed. Haven't tried disabling the driver or anythig yet, but I'm wondering if that would make this cd rippable. I tried ripping it before and it ripped everything but 2 tracks, which ended up being cut short. I guess I'll try what the article suggests and see if that helps...

I refuse to even buy these copy controlled cds unless its a cd that I've been waiting for for a long time and really really want it. I guess its somewhat justified, but if its gonna end up on p2p programs, its gonna end up on p2p programs. I guess the big record companies are just getting desperate...

[Poppy]

MediaMax is used by labels on BMG. Last month, EMI signed on to have their CDs be equipped with it. Also, MediaMax is working on a copy protection scheme for DVDs.

[FlameGrilled]

I dont buy CD's, i get sent them direct (ie legit promos) and they never have had copy-protection on to date :P

If a protected CD works in my Arcam or D-NE1, i aint fussed about defeating copy protect such as this and others attempt to do software wise.

Like i said before, analog is your best friend.. as it dont let you down. Alternatively, given SCM issues dont affect you, get the audio transferred using optical or coax connections if your devotion to hi-tech prevents you sinkiing into the depths of analogue links. At the end of the day, the analogue transfer will still be good as long as you have a method of linkage (aint no room for complex copy-management or inter-connect barring in the simplicity of analog).