07/08/2008, 10:45am, EDT
Tuesday, July 8thRIAA pushing PC makers to limit stereo-in?
The American music industry may be pressuring Dell and other computer manufacturers to disable stereo recording support in an artificial attempt to discourage piracy, say accounts from users. Users of Dell systems with SigmaTel chips in particular claim to be only allowed single-channel recording out of the box and are told that an official solution that restores stereo input will cost $99; Gateway and (in Europe) Packard Bell systems with the audio hardware are also said to be affected.
Dell and others haven't provided an official explanation for the artificially disabled stereo support or the need to charge for the fix, though one Dell representative claims that a fix for the Precision M65 restores stereo recording. Other users have also discovered a registry solution which is said to address the problem for most notebooks that use the SigmaTel processor.
Multiple reports pin the disabled audio on the Recording Industry Association of America, which is accused of asking larger PC builders to neuter full-quality recording to prevent users exploiting the analog signal to record copy protected material. While unverified, the approach would be consistent with previous RIAA approaches to combating piracy, which have often focused on closing off analog-to-digital recording.
The RIAA doesn't publish contact information and so is unavailable to respond to the accusations.
Filed under: computers, industry
Other story tags: Dell, Gateway, RIAA, Packard Bell
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What a dopy idea!
Haven't they heard of USB and FireWire?
You plug one nostril and air is going to escape out of the other one.
Lame.
i think they are
going about this thing all wrong. Just chop off people's ears and then you can rent them back to them.
...But seriously. Once again an organization wants to punish everyone for something a few folks do. Lame
Also...
Did they just forget about ripping from CDs and bittorrent? In fact what I use my audio in ports for is to record my own music (as in music I create), not to steal it. It's just like everything else the RIAA does, they try to punish people who use the system legitimately in a misguided attempt to shut down piracy.
Here we go again . . .
Wow! Being a musician, I was in shock when I read this article. Now, everyone in North America knows that the RIAA has their head up their a**, but really??? Cutting off people's ability (and right) to be able to record on their computer? I guess all musicians really will buy Macs from now on!! (Assuming Apple doesn't get strong-armed next).
And honestly, uh, who actually copies files from their audio in jack? What's next, disabling ethernet and USB???
What's that $99 going to?
So is the $99 "fix" an under-the-table kickback to the RIAA for "revenue lost" due to those pesky kids recording CDs via the audio in?? (as opposed to the 100 other ways to do it better)
Oy vey
So, digitizing my fully paid for LPs from the 1970s is disallowed? Right. I have a legal obligation to buy them a second and perhaps third time.
More of the same obnoxious behavior from the RIAA - making life stupid for the majority in order to artificially limit activities by a minority. Do they think for one second that anyone seriously intent upon piracy would hesitate for one second to purchase a hardware solution? (USB sound card, etc.) Come on!
wait!
I sure hope none of these companies advertised their computers with stereo-in capabilities.
And I'm sorry, but I see no reason why anyone should have to pay a manufacturer to fix a broken component on their system.
Check your info
"The RIAA doesn't publish contact information and so is unavailable to respond to the accusations."
http://riaa.org/aboutus.php
C'mon guys - one of their arguments in favor of legal restrictions is that the public doesn't do it's homework where the RIAA is involved. Let's not give them cannon fodder. Give them a call or write them a letter to get their feedback. They may not answer but don't say they don't publish any contact info.
Linux, anyone?
Same machine linux live CD = problem solved.
No registry nonsense, no hardware solution.
Linux, anyone?
Same machine plus linux live CD = problem solved.
No registry nonsense, no hardware solution.