Discogs Guideline Review 2007 08 Stage4 Tracklisting

DONE

Explain how to list items that have the exact same audio on both
sides http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/167964

Added a guideline forbidding Prefixing with zeros and Suffixing with
periods

Remember that if you use position numbering in the main credit
section, it must be identical to the position numbering scheme in
the tracklisting.

Should bonus tracks be listed using index tracks? - "bonus tracks
are allowed under an index if they clearly appear as a separate
section in the tracklist on the release itself"

When are titles for whole sides of releases eligible for use as
index tracks?
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/169803#2174124 - now
incorporated into the index track guidelines

Added "How to list Non-audio content of releases" section

Describe when it is OK to add non-audio tracklistings
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/171905#2197336

Some file-based download stores (such as Beatport) place the phrases
"Original Mix" and "Original" on the end of any track title without
a mix name. These phrases should be ignored unless specifically
appropriate to the release (for example - by the physical
counterpart or cover).
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/156811#2091890

Megamix / medley - when to put in a tracklist, when to use the notes
http://www.discogs.com/help/forums/topic/167525

Updated guidelines for multi-disc or multi-format releases, any
position numbering scheme which differentiates each item is
acceptable.

Hidden tracks

See
http://wiki.discogs.com/index.php/Editor-Discussion-Guideline-Update-October-2006#How_to_display_.E2.80.9Chidden_tracks.E2.80.9D_on_the_tracklist_and_detail_them_in_the_release_notes

Describe how to list the various styles of hidden tracks:
- Pregap (Track zero, found by rewinding from the first track, or
  accessible by some -not all- computer CD-Roms)
- Attached to another track after a section of silence
- Audio included after a series of short silent tracks
- Parallel grooves on vinyl
- Songs played in reverse on vinyl

NOT DONE

List artist on all tracks if one artist is needed to be listed
http://www.discogs.com/release/1028803 - is this nessasary? Can it
be an automatic function?
- The way it has been done for 8 years now at Discogs is a clearer
  way of listing tracks - having a track artist on one track but
  not the others looks wrong or incomplete to me now. This can be
  discussed further if needed, but for the moment, I don't feel we
  should change it.

Proposed Guideline Text

This section is where we list all the details regarding the individual
tracks.

Position

The position numbering of the track on the release. Standard positions
encountered at Discogs:

Without sides - CD etc:

1
2…

With sides - LP, 12", 7", cassette etc:

A1
A2…
B1
B2…

For multiple 12", LP, etc, just continue the letters: …C1, C2, D1, D2
etc. Side specification is mandatory.

If the release is a one-sided vinyl or cassette (or is a set containing
such an item) you must add "Single Sided" to the format.

Multiple CDs etc:

1.01
1.02…
2.01
2.02…

On multi-disc or multi-format releases, any position numbering scheme
which differentiates each item is acceptable - CD1-1, 1.01, CD1.01,
DVD-1.1 etc.

Sub tracks - for example DJ mixes that comprise one track on a CD.
Seperate songs or tunes that are rolled into one track on a CD, LP etc
should be listed using a point and then a number:

1
2
3.1
3.2
3.3
4…

A1
A2
A3.1
A3.2…

For Enhanced CDs containing Video material, use the "Video" prefix in
the TrackPosition field (for example "Video 1", "Video 2" etc). Enter
the Video tracks after the audio material. In the Release Notes, mention
any specific software included in order to view the Video material
and/or the technology required to view the Video material (e.g. "Video
material viewable on PC and Mac. Videos launched automatically in a new
Window") For vinyl releases with a single track per side, trailing
numbers are not required (e.g. you can use A instead of A1), but they
are acceptable. Preference goes to the way it's listed on the physical
release.

It is not unusual for vinyl albums to list tracks sequentially,
regardless of sides (e.g. A1, A2, B3, B4, C5, C6, D7, D8): this is fine
but should be clarified in the Release Notes.

Some labels use lowercase letters, or list the sides in some other way
(calling the sides X and Y, for example); this is fine. Submit in a way
that is consistent with the label's practice. Keep in mind that the aim
is that the user be able to easily match what the release reads with
what Discogs reads.

More creative track positions such as "Up, Down" (for example) are
acceptable if under fifteen characters long, and were listed like that
on the release, however, please avoid the use of unnecessary format type
prefixes and suffixes - for example;

Prefixing "CD1." in front of a release that only contains one CD
Prefixing with zeros or punctuation
Suffixing with punctuation

Remember that if you use position numbering in the main credit section,
it must be identical to the position numbering scheme in the
tracklisting.

Normal capitalization
rules
apply.

Artist

This field is for the main artist for each track. It is possible to use
more than one artist and join fields by clicking the " " button. The
same guidelines apply as the main artist. This field should not be used
if all of the tracks are by the same artist.

Title

The title of the track. Discogs requires full track titles, and the
standard format is: "Name Of Track (Version)". Where versions of tracks
are included which have the same track title but do not have version
titles, mention this in Release Notes. Abbreviations and case follow the
usual rules.

All tracks on a release must be listed, including locked grooves, short
bonus tracks and so on. Detail special features (locked grooves, double
concentric groove, hidden tracks, inside-out cut, etc.) in Release
Notes, not in the track listing. Additional information on hidden tracks
should be added to Release Notes. An untitled locked groove should be
"Untitled" and Release Notes mention "Track xx is a locked groove".

Some file based download stores (such as Beatport) place the phrases
"Original Mix" and "Original" on the end of any track title without a
mix name. These phrases should be ignored unless specifically
appropriate to the release (for example - by the physical counterpart or
cover).

Extra Artist

The extra artist for each track is to enter any relevant credits. It is
possible to use more than one artist by clicking the " " button. The
same guidelines apply as to the Main Credits section. This field should
not be added if no extra artist is present on a track.

Durations

Legitimate formats for duration are:

mm:ss
mmm:ss
hh:mm:ss

Please enter durations in the format they appear on the release, or if
they aren't on the release, in the most convenient format. The format
should not be changed without good reason.

If durations are entered from the release text, they should be entered
for all the tracks, unless the release doesn't list the durations for
all the tracks, in which case please enter the track durations that are
listed on the release, and explain the discrepancy in the notes.

If the durations are not listed on the release, they can be found and
entered by timing the vinyl / listing the CD times from a CD player or
computer etc. Please mention in Submission Notes and if appropriate
Release Notes where the durations were derived from.

If durations are changed due to the printed durations not matching the
durations as they actually run, list the actual durations, and list the
incorrect durations in the notes.

Extras

Add Tracks

This adds x number of tracks, the number is selected from the drop down
menu to the left of the button.

Autonumber Tracks

This will overwrite all track numbering with 1,2,3,4 etc on all the
tracks on the release.

Add Artist Per Track

This will add a main artist field for every track. Pressing it multiple
times will add multiple main artists, with corresponding join fields.

Add Extra Artist Per Track

This will add an extra artist field for every track. Pressing it
multiple times will add multiple extra artists, with corresponding join
fields.

Insert Track

Selected by mousing over the small arrow on the left of every track,
this will add a track above the existing one.

Delete Track

Selected by mousing over the small arrow on the left of every track,
this will delete the existing track.

Insert Index Track

Index Tracks are used to denote groups of tracks (for example:
movements in a musical piece, or where a range of tracks are given a
collective title). Index tracks should never be used 'on their own',
they should always refer to a group of audio tracks directly below.
To separate subsequent tracks which are not part of the Index Track,
it is necessary to add a blank Index Track containing a single dash (-)
after the last track in the group.
When bonus tracks / bonus content is identified on the release itself
as a separate section of the release content, an index track can be
used. However, when bonus tracks are identified with an asterisk, with a
bonus track mention appended to the track title, a footnote or such
like, do not use an index track, enter this in the release notes
instead.

4.1 Index Tracks should only be used only when the release divides
itself into named sections in some way. They can be used to enter
special titles given to release sides or different media, if so done on
the release.

4.2 Index tracks should not be used for denoting generic side, track
position, or separate media data (for example, 'Side A', 'CD1' etc),
track numbering is used for this.

4.3 Index tracks should not be used for adding incidental information
which belongs in the Release Notes.

How To

Tracklisting For Releases That Contain The Exact Same Audio On Different Sides or Media

For release where the same tracks are repeated (for example, cassettes
with the same tracks on both sides), please add the full tracklist for
both sides, for example:

A1: Track A
A2: Track B
B1: Track A
B2: Track B

Don't worry about which one is A and which one is B, is the tracklist is
the same each side then it doesn't matter.

Then put 'record plays same tracks on both sides', so no-one flags it up
as a mistake in the tracklist.

For releases where the same tracks or tracklists appear on different
formats (for example, a CD and an LP set with the exact same tracks),
please list all the tracks on all the different media.

How to list Non-audio content of releases

Releases that have eligible audio focused content, but which also
include non-audio focused content (for example, videos with interview
sections, DVDs with non audio multimedia content) in their tracklisting,
can have those non audio focused sections listed in the tracklisting
section. Non audio content that isn't listed in the tracklisting of a
release (for example, text files on a CD-ROM) should be listed in the
notes section.

How To List Megamix And Medleys

Q: How do I list a tracklist where several pieces of music are included
in one CD track or vinyl track, and the tracklist on the release lists
all the individual pieces of music?

A: Use a logical scheme for multiple pieces of music on one CD or record
track, such as 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b etc... Avoid tracklists in the notes
(except where they are additional information to the tracklist in the
tracklisting section).

Q: How do I list a tracklist where several pieces of music are included
in one CD track or vinyl track, and the tracklist on the release does
not list all the individual pieces of music?

A: We try to list the actual audio on the release where possible, so
again use a logical tracklisting scheme and list out the tracks / sub
tracks. Always use the release notes to explain the information (or lack
thereof) that comes with the release, and any corrections made to the
tracklist (IOW, if you correct the entire tracklist, you should list the
uncorrected (original) tracklist in the notes).

Q: Where do you draw the line between a track list and a sample source?
Where do you draw the line between a Mix CD (Tape, etc.) and a collage
like Double D & Steinski's Lesson, MARRS' Pump Up The Volume, etc?
Should sample sources ever be mentioned in the Track List section? Is it
OK to list them in the Notes section?

A: We should refer to what the release was intended as. A mix will
usually have at least a minutes worth of a track on it, and longer than
5 minutes, whereas a megamix / collage / medley will usually chop
through tracks faster, and be structured more like a song. If a medley
is on the release with the separate tracks listed, then it is acceptable
to list them in the tracklist section.

How To Enter Hidden Tracks, Blank Tracks etc.

Blank space on a release that is given it's own CD index or otherwise
marked out from the other tracks, but which isn't given a title, can be
entered in the tracklist using the usual track numbering schemes, and
titled as "(no audio)".

Hidden tracks on CDs are usually made as one audio track with two
songs/tunes and an area of blank space in between. List a hidden track
on a CD like so:

1 A Song (7:54)
2 The Other Song (6:43)
3.1 A Final Song (14:29)
3.2 The Hidden Song (6:08)

And add a small explanation to the notes, for example: "Track 3 contains
a hidden track (track 3.2). Track 3.1 lasts for 7:13 before a period of
silence."

Audio included after a series of short silent tracks on a CD can be
listed like so:

1 A Song (7:54)
2 The Other Song (6:43)
3 A Final Song (14:29)
4-98 (no audio)
99 The Hidden Song (6:08)

Pregaps (Track zero, found by rewinding from the first track, or
accessible by some -not all- computer CD-Roms) can be listed in the
tracklisting. If possible, use the track numbering scheme on the
release, and extend it for the hidden track. This can usually be
accomplished by using zero as the first track number, for example: A0,
A1, A2 or 0, 1, 2. Make sure to explain the hidden track in the release
notes.

Parallel grooves on vinyl can be listed like so:

AA1 First Groove, First Track
AA2 First Groove, Second Track
AB1 Second Groove, First Track
AB2 Second Groove, Second Track

And explained in the notes.

Vinyl that plays in reverse can be explained in the release notes, no
special track numbering is needed for this, list the tracks in the order
they play.