Audio encryption/protection [closed]

Closed. This question is off-topic. It is not currently accepting answers.

---

Want to improve this question? Update the question so it's on-topic for Stack Overflow.

Closed 10 years ago.

Improve this question

Other than coding, I spend alot of my time in a recording studio making music. I intend on selling my art both online and on cd, but I have one issue...protecting the audio file. I dont want people illegally distributing or making copies of my music so I need to protect it somehow. The one way that I've seen is to create my own player and the tracks can only be played u开发者_开发技巧sing this player. Using a "PCID", and a private key, the player decrypts the adio and playsback. However, this will surely chase clients away because they wouldnt like the restriction of only using my player. Does anybody have any other ideas?

---

As creator of the music (assuming it is original music) you have copyright for the music, and legal remedies if people make copies and profit from it (or cause you loss). People who pay for music aren't going to bother pirating it, and people who pirate it aren't going to bother paying for it. Your odds of beating them via legal means are probably better than having a foolproof-yet-widespread protection model.

So, in case it wasn't obvious -- don't bother. Popularity/fame might probably bring you more value than your music.

---

In the end, any protection you devise can and will be broken. Instead of attempting to fight a losing battle, rather look at offering "value added" content to legitimate purchasers (CD sleeves, art elements, etc).

Additionally, you can look at using digital audio watermarks embedded in the audio files. Whilst this won't prevent unauthorised copying, it will allow you to identify the source of the original leak.

---

Well no matter what you do, people will find other way to do so and it will make people prevent from buying your music. What about making a deal with a Music Label Studio or something that can protect copy rights.

---

I don't know if I'm to late for an answer, but I did code some sort of audio encryption, that does have a player that plays the encrypted audio format. Also offers password protection, there is another version I finished but haven't uploaded that has input and output directories and a GUI. Here is the link for more info: http://ronaldarichardson.com/2011/04/05/saf-secure-audio-format/

---

You can't avoid the analog hole.