SoundTaxi – Protected Media Converter Review

DRM-protected files are still frequently used by popular digital music and video stores. Among protected formats the most typical are DRM WMA (Rhapsody, Napster, Kazaa, Nokia Ovi Music) and iTunes M4V movie downloads. Still there is an easy software way to unprotect the files for personal use. You can use SoundTaxi converter applications in order to convert protected music and video files from music subscriptions services and Video on Demand websites.
SoundTaxi supports different media formats besides protected ones, for example MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, MKV, Flash video, Real Media files, VOB DVD format and lots of others that can be played on Windows computer. The converter supports synchronization with portable devices like iPod, iPhone, iPad, Sony PSP etc. You can actually convert media for any device that can playback MP3 songs, MP4 and AVI videos.


 DRM stands for Digital Right Management. This technology allows you to play or download a media file only to specific DRM authorized devices. Because of this you’re unable to playback iTunes M4V videos on non-Apple device or transfer Amazon video into iPad. Most Video on Demand services and music provides implement DRM on their files. Here are the most popular ones: Apple iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and CinemaNow. In case you’re Apple iTunes store customer, SoundTaxi can operate in the way of M4V converter for both movie rentals and purchases. The program records video while it’s being played via iTunes application. The output files are unrestricted copies of the original M4V. The conversion quality level depends on user preferences. There are plenty of video settings available, for example different output format alternatives and video resolutions.
SoundTaxi supports both video and audio files. Digital downloads are typically sold in MP3 format, but those available via subscription are DRM-protected WMA songs. SoundTaxi can convert protected audio files into common MP3 and AAC. For lossless formats there’s an option to convert into uncompressed WAV format. There’s an ability to rip audio CD’s, convert audio books (Audible, iTunes, OverDrive), strip audio from video MP4 to MP3 etc.
SoundTaxi is available in 3 program editions: Platinum, Professional and Pro+VideoRip. First two are audio converters and the third one is audio plus video converter with improved speed for copy-protected files. Here’s the brief list of features:
- Intuitive and clear user interface, to start conversion using default settings, only dropping files into program required
- Support for any files that can be played on Windows computer using Windows Media Player and iTunes applications
- Batch conversion for audio files
- Flexible video quality settings (for almost any screen resolution and device)
- Apple device synchronization possibility