What do you mean? Like you said, I paid for the 'right' to play tracks from the music I purchased. All I want to do is play the tracks I purchased with different software and for my own personal use with pictures. I'm not selling it, I'm not giving it away, I'm not mass producing it, I'm just using the music I purchased for personal enjoyment. So when you say, "you certainly did not pay enough to start dropping them into video projects."-- I think 'I' have paid for the right to listen to the music I paid for.

How are your bringing the music into Vegas?

If you have purcased the license from a download service, then it is probably DRM protected and Vegas will not load it in.

If you ripped the song from a CD, then you some how enabled DRM on the ripped version.

If you have the CD, then you can just insert the CD and let Vegas extract the track for you.

However, you are still bound to what ever aggreement you made when you licensed the material, be it download or purchased CD your ripped from. Just because you believe it is for "your ears" only, does not make it legal to use in a video, even if you are the only person that will view/listen to it. You need to consult your original license of the content you want to use. I doubt that the owner of the license grants re-purpose for video as a legit use of the material.

Peter

"I paid for the 'right' to play tracks from the music I purchased. "

Yes - you paid to play it ONLY in a very specific way on a very specific computer or device - NOT in a video production

"All I want to do is play the tracks I purchased with different software and for my own personal use with pictures. "

Well - that's not possible with the "right" you bought. To place that track into a video is a different "right" and until you pay for that - you can't use it in a video of any kind - home movie or otherwise.

"I'm not selling it, I'm not giving it away, I'm not mass producing it, I'm just using the music I purchased for personal enjoyment. "

The artist/agency doesn't care - if you are attempting to use it as backdrop to a home movie - in their eyes - that is a much different use than just listening to the song on your computer. In their eyes - as stupid as this sounds - each person who views your video and hears that track playing must pay in some way for that listen.

"So when you say, "you certainly did not pay enough to start dropping them into video projects."-- I think 'I' have paid for the right to listen to the music I paid for."

Yes - I think we are clear on the fact that you paid for the right to listen to the song you purchased. But that "right" specifically limits you as to how and where you can listen to it. Again - one last time - DRM hardwires your "song" to a device or computer - that's it.

For use in video, my friend - you have no idea how expensive this can be - especially if the song in question is even moderately popular.

There is no way around this...so maybe it's time to switch to a different song - perhaps something royalty free.

DRM can be a pain when you try to bend the rules - as you are trying to do. There is no other option.

VP

There are some royalty free mucic sites such as "royaltyfreemusic.com" that allows use of their material for non-profit org.s and.personal use without fees.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I've learned a lot about DRM and what I can use legally purchased music for.

Off the record:
For personal use : if your kids likes a certain song to dance too at a birthday party or what-ever -- I don't think the labels are gonna come looking for you.