DRM Removal Software Review

In this article, several pieces of audio & video DRM removal software tools will be reviewed from different aspects, with the aim to help you find the best DRM removing utility to get your iTunes media and other DRM media liberated.

#1 Aimersoft DRM Media Converter (Windows)

The best DRM removal tool which legally removes DRM copy protection from WMV, WMA, iTunes M4P, iTunes M4V, M4A, M4B, ASF and converts other popular video/audio and even HD video. With this powerful DRM removal software, you can strip DRM with customizable output profiles for iPod, iPhone, iPad, PSP, Zune and other players.

Key features: DRM Removal + Video Converter + HD Video Converter + Audio Converter + Video to Audio Converter.
Conversion theory: Record play and save the recording.
The edge: Compatible with 64-bit Windows Vista and Windows 7, 500% conversion speed with NVIDIA® CUDA™ support.

     $35.95

#2 Audials Tunebite 10 Platinum (Windows)

Record, convert and enjoy music, movies and DVDs anywhere.

Key features: Removes DRM from audio/music and video/movie files + Video Converter + Audio Converter; Record the latest blockbusters and classic movies in HD from free movie sites, portals with RTMP-E flash videos and from online movie stores.
Conversion theory: Records music, films and videos from the Internet, subscription services and online video stores.
The edge: Includes 100 playback formats and an editor to customize settings for every at home and portable device.
The bad: The conversion speed is a little bit slow.

     $39.90

#3 Tune4Mac iTunes Video Converter (Mac)

Tune4Mac iTunes Video Converter is designed to help you convert iTunes purchased M4V videos with DRM protection to plain MOV, MP4 formats on Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5 (Leopard), 10.6 (Snow Leopard), 10.7 (Lion) or 10.8 (Mountain Lion).

M4V videos you get from Apple iTunes are DRM protected and limited to play on 5 Apple devices only. You may feel unfair if you can't play the M4V files on your other portable devices. So if you need to watch these M4V videos on other devices freely, you are recommended using iTunes Video Converter for Mac to finish this.

Buy Now For Instand Download $39.95

The Conclusion

1. For Windows users, Aimersoft DRM Media Converter is the best choice. Actually, it includes all the features of Aimersoft DRM Music Converter. So, it is recommended choosing DRM Media Converter in case that you would have the need for removing DRM from video files such as iTunes movies and TV shows, protected WMV files, etc.

2. Noteburner M4P Converter adopts the very smart virtual CD burning tech - simulating the process of burning a CD disc and ripping it back. I love this idea very much. Though it can be used for converting music only, it does offer an easy and fast way to free DRM music, especially iTunes music. I have used it to convert purchased music in both iTunes (.m4p) and Windows Media Player (.wma). The result turned out that the conversion process with iTunes is more smooth than that with Windows Media Player. The Mac version of Noteburner is used to convert iTunes music only.

3. If you want to convert audiobooks, I'd like to suggest that you try out Audials Tunebite 9. It works great for removing DRM from iTunes audiobook (.m4b), audiobook .aa/.aax and recording music and video found online. I have once used Noteburner M4P Converter to convert an audioobook downloaded from iTunes and found the output was divided into several parts. However, using Audials Tunebite 9, this problem was not found.

4. The Mac apps for removing DRM are very rare and I find Tune4Mac iTunes Video Converter is a pretty good DRM removal tool for Mac user. As its name indicates, you can only use it to remove DRM from iTunes video and convert iTunes video from M4V to other (DRM free) video format. Yet, it is well worth a try if you have lots of iTunes movies and TV shows which you'd like to transfer to mobile devices other than iPod, iPad and iPhone.

More DRM Removal Tools

Ondesoft iTunes Converter (Mac)

To be exact, Ondesoft iTunes Converter is an iTunes Audio Converter, as it can only output audio files from music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks purchased from iTunes Store. With this iTunes Converter, you will be able to remove DRM from iTunes music and convert iTunes music from M4P to MP3 as well as remove DRM from iTunes video and extract audio from iTunes video M4V files. However, if you need to output video files from iTunes movies and TV shows, you have to turn to Tune4Mac iTunes Video Converter.

Platform: Mac OS X 10.6.0 - 10.8.3

Buy Now For Instand Download $39.95

Video Converter Ultimate (Windows)

Video Converter Ultimate is a perfect combination of Video Converter, DVD Ripper, DVD Burner, DRM (Digital Rights Management) Remover, Online Video Downloader / Recorder and Media File Transfer. Video Converter Ultimate provides you with a truly one-stop solution for video, audio and DVD files. It enables you to rip DVDs and convert video files to almost any video format, or rip DVD and convert video directly to any optimized format to fit mobile devices like iPod, iPad, Android, etc.

Key features: DRM Removal + Video Converter + Audio Converter + DVD Ripper + DVD Burner + Media Transfer + YouTube Downloader.
Conversion theory: Records play and save the recording.
The edge: Allows you to burn DRM protected video/movie files to DVD.
The bad: Too many features may be very confusing.

SoundTaxi Pro+VideoRip (Windows)

SoundTaxi Pro+VideoRip is a DRM Remover and Video Converter for converting DRM protected music and movie files and various audio/video files to unprotected MP3, MPEG4, CD, iPod and other MP3 player file formats at high speed with CD quality.

Key features: DRM Removal + Audio Converter + Video converter.
Conversion theory: Recording.
The edge: Output video/audio copy to iPod feature.
The bad: Very limited output video/audio formats.