Guide: Ripping your DRM protected iTunes video's
By sbas87

Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Required Software
-- 2.1 iTunes & Requiem
-- 2.2 MKVToolnix
3 Main Success Scenario
-- 3.1 Acquiring the video
-- 3.2 Removing the DRM
-- 3.3 Muxing into MKV
4 Possible Problems & Solutions
-- 4.1 DRM decryption failed
-- 4.2 Creating multiple setups as a workaround
5 Miscellaneous
-- 5.1 Getting your USA store account
-- 5.2 Getting money on your account


1 Introduction
I received a few PM's from people who wanted to know how to publish their DRM protected iTunes purchases on HDBits.
Once i was in the same situation, wondering how to get rid of the DRM and convert the files to a suitable container (MKV ofc).

I learned the hard way, asking on forums and researching on the web and such...
So there i was, answering the PM's. I could do two things; answers with "google it" or write this guide.
It aint hard to guess which choice i made.

Special thanks goes out to Telejeesus, together with this guy we perfected ripping TV shows from iTunes in large quantities. Without him, there wouldnt be such a large collection of WEB-DL's on this site!


2 Required Software
The software we will need:
- iTunes (uhm, doh)
- Requiem (removes DRM) (official TOR page here)
- MKVToolnix (creates MKVs)

2.1 iTunes & Requiem
iTunes is used for buying (HD) video's and movies (note: dont rent HD movies, those can't be decrypted).
The files you buy are encrypted with Fairplay 3 DRM, which makes use of an encryption key. Only Authorized computers store these encryption keys, and the Requiem tool can find these keys and use them to decrypt the video and strip off the DRM.

So why Requiem and not some other tool? Well, most other tools are based on file playback & record along, which in most cases means a re-encode.
Requiem does no such thing, the audio & video stay untouched...only the DRM is stripped off!


This is the vital part!
Now guess what...iTunes is allways fighting against Requiem. With a software update of iTunes the storing of keys will most likely be different, and that means Requiem cant find them anymore.
This is why you need to carefully select the version of iTunes you'll install.

All versions of iTunes (Windows, 32 bits) can be found here:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_itunes_32/


But how do you know which one to pick?
There are known combinations of Requiem & iTunes. As an example, at the time of writing this guide i successfully use iTunes 8.1.0.52 with Requiem 1.8.8

So you base your pick of iTunes on the latest version of Requiem, which you can find on the unDRM.net forums (registering required).
Quote
unDRM forums, 8 May 2009
Requiem 1.8.9 [Supports iTunes 8.1.1 & HD Video]
Requiem 1.8.8 [Supports iTunes 8.1 works with Windows & Mac]
Requiem 1.8.5 [Windows support, works with iTunes 8.0.2]
Requiem 1.8.4 [Mac OSX only, Supports iTunes 8.0.2]
Requiem 1.8.1 [Mac OS X Only, Supports iTunes 8.0 & 8.0.1]
Requiem 1.8.2 [Supports iTunes 8.0 - 8.0.1]


Tip: turn off automatic updates in iTunes
Tip: backup your 'SC Info' folder (iTunes' keystore) when you have a working combination of iTunes & Requiem
Quote
unDRM.net Requiem FAQ
The SC Info folder is located in the following location

Vista:
C:\ProgramData\Apple Computer\iTunes\SC Info

XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\SC Info

Mac:
/Users/Shared/SC Info/



2.2 MKVToolnix
Create a Matroska file from different audio & video sources.
Read the HDBits wiki how to use, download the latest version of MKVToolnix here.


3 Main Success Scenario
3.1 Acquiring the video
After you downloaded the video you want, its time to locate it on your disk.

In iTunes, under Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced you will find the iTunes Music Folder location.
In that folder, there are subfolders for "Movies" and "TV Shows". There you'll find your file(s).

3.2 Removing the DRM
Now we've found the file, lets strip it of those nasty DRMs.

We can go two ways, GUI or CLI...whatever you prefer.

GUI:
Quote
-Open Requiem.jar
- Click the green + icon
- Browse to your file(s)
- Click the 'lock' icon
- Wait for it... (no progress indication)
- 'Decryption complete' message should show

Now you'll find a MP4 file with the same name as the input file in the same folder, that is your unprotected movie/tv show!

CLI:
Quote
decrypt "input file.m4v" "output file.mp4"

You can also specify the keystore location, if you modified it (or want to use a backup)
decrypt -s "C:\Path\to\SC Info" "input file.m4v" "output file.mp4"

You specified the location and name of the unprotected file, so you know where to find it ;).

3.3 Muxing into MKV
Start MKVMergeGUI (experienced users can go CLI), select as input file the decrypted MP4 file.

You can start muxing right away, there are no settings that need to be set...but its allways nice if you specify audio and video language.
On multiple audio tracks, please name them accordingly (AAC/AC3 + # channels).


4 Possible Problems & Solutions
4.1 DRM decryption failed
If this is the first time you are trying to rip a video, it may be possible that you don't have the decryption key in your keystore yet.
In order to solve this problem, make sure that:
- Your machine is authorized
- You have at least playbacked ONE purchased video on the machine (with Quicktime)

If the problem still continues to exist, please read on;


To get a detailled error description, please use the command line decrypt.

First, read the unDRM.net Requiem FAQ.

Most likely problem: you updated your iTunes, and now Requiem cant find the keys.
Try uninstalling iTunes, and reinstall an older version as described in chapter 2.1

When you actucally need the latest iTunes version for some reason, there are two things you can do:
- wait for a new version of Requiem to appear, keep an eye on the official Requiem website -or-
- create a second setup; read on in section 4.2

4.2 Creating multiple setups as a workaround
When you have a working decrypting setup, but you cant purchase new items anymore with the older version of iTunes, there is a workaround:
1. Keep or recreate your working decrypting setup on another machine (fysical or install Vmware)
2. Download the latest version of iTunes, install on a different machine (again, fysical or virtual).
3. Buy with the latest version of iTunes, cancel the download, and click Store -> Check For Downloads on the working decrypting machine.
4. ???
5. Profit!


5 Miscellaneous
5.1 Getting your USA store account
Most HDTV episodes and movies are only available in the USA store, so you'll need to create an USA store account. But, you most likely don't have a valid payment source located in the USA if you are not an USA  citizen...this is the solution:

1. Get any sort of iTunes coupon or giftcard for anything in the store (app, song, show, movie).
2. Log your current account out (if you have any)
3. Try to use the coupon
4. You will be shown a register form, fill it out. Do NOT check any payment options, even if you happen to have paypal or a credit card.
5. Done!

5.2 Getting money on your account
Buy (usa store) giftcards from eBay and/or other places, but be sure they are real. The best option is a friend in the USA.
Other ways to be sure the giftcards are real: if you are paying (significantly) less than the value of the giftcard...its probably a fake ;).



If you have any questions, suggestions or comments...you can post them or send me a PM

!!Final note: ALLWAYS make use of the latest versions of software you use, EXCEPT for the  iTunes/quicktime & Requiem combination!!

Warning: I'd like to see this as an HDBits exclusive guide...please dont share this anywhere.
You are ofcourse free to share the basic principles with other people, forums and trackers...but NEVER copy/paste this entire guide.


 Remember kids; sharing is caring