ok, i'm having a really weird problem.....
I've read all the solutions to getting Protected AAC files to play!

not only do my protected tracks from itunes not show up in serato, but when i burn them to a cd and re import them they still don't show up

actually, when i go to import i can see them but serato won't let me import them.

Help! Please?

SSL (or any DJ program for that matter) can't play iTunes protected tracks.

You need to burn them to a CD as regular audio, not data. Sounds like your burned them as data.

nope i burned them as audio

Then you need to rerip the CD again in iTunes as mp3, wav, or regular aac format.

it's weird huh, and i've tried reimporting as aac, mp3 and lossless
none of them will import into serato

hah
got i just put the import speed up to 320kbps and as mp3
and i now seem to be able to get my tracks. Hurray!