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Topic: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks (Read 1917 times) previous topic - next topic
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Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Link To The Sample Cue

I tested out the file above on PotPlayer and it works.

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #1 –
Well, cue file is designed to resemble physical Audio CD. This is defined by Red Book standard. And Red Book allows for maximum of 99 tracks on CD (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_Digital_Audio#Tracks ). They can have indexes (sub tracks), however - TRACK command should be present in cue for legitimate CD not more than 99 times...

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #2 –
Thanks for the reply,
i get the point, but practically speaking in addition to officially released CDs, i mostly use CUEs for mixes shared online on soundcloud, BBC etc.
the CueNation website itself is an exemplar of these use cases.
I think we have well past the time of the popularity of the limited CD format releases.

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #3 –
We will see if Peter will take into consideration this point of view - I must say I agree with your opinion, but you must be aware, that official audio standards are taken seriously here and are rather always reference for how program should work :)

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #4 –
The sanity checks will probably be removed but it pains me that internet weirdos abuse file formats for stuff they are not well suited and were never intended. Cue sheet is just a layout descriptor for CD burning use. You could use any modern format that has chapters to properly handle such mixes with single files, these modern formats also have accurate seeking without parsing the whole stream. Or if MP3 is a requirement for some reason Matroska would allow using chapters there.

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #5 –
@Case : of course - you are 100% correct with how you perceive this particular situation, however there is something "from the other side" that should be taken into consideration: 
- availability of those mixes - I mean how they are shared: in what format
- reasons for use mp3 for such files: most popular an universal format, compatible with both older (like discman or simple mp3 players) and newer devices (smartphones, etc.)
- user experience and knowledge: it would be rather hard to believe that all those people would trancode (AAC+MP4/M4A container - the most obvious solution for average user) or at least remux their mp3 files to MKA container (requires understanding difference between container and audio format - you know that people mess them). And even if all those average users would know it - I would not expect them to devote their time to do it...
- further availability questions: amount of mixes floating and their average length which starts to be computing power / disk bandwidth and space problem, even today (not everybody use desktops and not everybody use "all up to day" PC technology).

That's why it is quite reasonable to forget original intents behind CDRWIN image format and allow certain non-standard-conformity when reading cue sheets.

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #6 –
Why not distribute as separate mp3 files in archive?

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #7 –
Hahaha - ask those who rip those mixes / record them / share them to do so :) . Splitting files using some software - like Mp3Splitter - still involves time, disk space and requires some determination :) .

Also - we should all keep in mind, that it is rather straightforward, to open .cue file in Notepad, make some copy-paste work and fill such structure with some values (track numbering, time stamps). As far as I know creation of chapters in both MP4 and MKA containers would require some specific software (setting chapters) or probably some CLI work or at least digging in some GUI which then starts batch processing (I think of programs like mkvtoolnix and frontends). Then any changes in time stamps is also just opening file in notepad and reloading info in foobar.

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #8 –
Wow!
I really enjoyed reading each of your comments @EpicForever @Case
it was my first post in this forum, never expected this amount of diligence!
Big Kudos!

just a quick mention:
I've looked for alternatives for archiving and used to use Medieval CUE Splitter, which is less of a headache to work with than Mp3Splitter, but it adds gaps at the beginning and end of tracks..

Re: Can't Open CUE with >=100 Tracks

Reply #9 –
Bumped the limit from 99 to 999 for the next update (1.4 beta 2).
Microsoft Windows: We can't script here, this is bat country.