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Topic: Performer not set when reading CUE files (Read 2193 times) previous topic - next topic
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Performer not set when reading CUE files

    I have used foobar (2.1.5 x64) to read an EAC generated CUE file to encode from a single WAV file to separate flac files for each track for a various artists CD. I noticed that track level PERFORMER is not ignored. It's used to set track level artist, but Performer is not set in the properties. (see Sam and Dave and the cue file I used to create the flacs...[/li]
Any way of populating PERFORMER

Thanks.
Dave

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #1
PERFORMER ≠ PERFORMER

Okay, let's see if I can explain how PERFORMER is read from the CUE file (someone will correct me if I screw it up).

As you noticed, when the PERFORMER command appears after a TRACK command, PERFORMER is treated as ARTIST.

When there are no PERFORMER commands after any of the TRACK commands, but a PERFORMER command exists before any TRACK commands, PERFORMER is treated as the ARTIST for each track.

If the PERFORMER commands after all TRACK commands ARE NOT EQUAL (or not NOT EQUAL to the PERFORMER command that exists before any of the TRACK commands), then the PERFORMER command that exists before any of the TRACK commands is treated as ALBUM ARTIST

Examples

Quote
PERFORMER "Nirvana"
TITLE "Nevermind"
FILE "NIRVANA.FLAC" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
   TITLE "Smells like teen spirit"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 00:00:37
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
   TITLE "In bloom"
   INDEX 00 05:01:67
   INDEX 01 05:02:32


PERFORMER = ARTIST
(no ALBUM ARTIST)

Quote
TITLE "Nevermind"
FILE "NIRVANA.FLAC" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "Smells like teen spirit"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 00:00:37
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "In bloom"
   INDEX 00 05:01:67
   INDEX 01 05:02:32


PERFORMER = ARTIST
(no ALBUM ARTIST)

Quote
PERFORMER "Nirvana"
TITLE "Nevermind"
FILE "NIRVANA.FLAC" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "Smells like teen spirit"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 00:00:37
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "In bloom"
   INDEX 00 05:01:67
   INDEX 01 05:02:32


PERFORMER = ARTIST
(no ALBUM ARTIST - all PERFORMER commands are equal)

Quote
PERFORMER "Kurt Cobain and Nirvana"
TITLE "Nevermind"
FILE "NIRVANA.FLAC" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "Smells like teen spirit"
   INDEX 00 00:00:00
   INDEX 01 00:00:37
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
   PERFORMER "Nirvana"
   TITLE "In bloom"
   INDEX 00 05:01:67
   INDEX 01 05:02:32


PERFORMER = ALBUM ARTIST
PERFORMER = ARTIST

Quote
PERFORMER "Various Artists"
TITLE "Atlantic Soul Classics"
FILE "Various Artists - Atlantic Soul Classics.wav" WAVE
  TRACK 01 AUDIO
    TITLE "Soul Man"
    PERFORMER "Sam & Dave"
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:00:33
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
    TITLE "In the Midnight Hour"
    PERFORMER "Wilson Pickett"
    INDEX 00 02:36:68
    INDEX 01 02:39:28


PERFORMER = ALBUM ARTIST
PERFORMER = ARTIST
korth

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #2
@korth Thank you for your explanation.

It seems to be a description of how ARTIST and ALBUM ARTIST are set to the value of PERFORMER based on it's location in various places in the CUE file. It doesn't indicate why Performer is empty in the example screen shot I showed (Sam & Dave).  I looked for a definition of the metadata fields in foobar and the best I could find is Ogg Vorbis I format specification.  The description of Performer is:

Quote
PERFORMER
The artist(s) who performed the work. In classical music this would be the conductor, orchestra, soloists. In an audio book it would be the actor who did the reading. In popular music this is typically the same as the ARTIST and is omitted.
Notice the last sentence "In popular music this is typically the same as the ARTIST and is omitted." I tried one classical CD but it has the same value for PERFORMER everywhere, so not a valid test case. However,  as ARTIST and possibly ALBUM ARTIST are always set, Performer seems to be redundant and not used. Maybe remove it?


Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #3
An additional CD-TEXT CUE sheet command does not exist to fill the Vorbis Comment field: PERFORMER.
korth

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #4
An additional CD-TEXT CUE sheet command does not exist to fill the Vorbis Comment field: PERFORMER.

Where are the Vorbis Comment fields such as Performer defined please

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #5
You posted the link to Vorbis comment field and header specification.

Performer in foobar2000 properties is the value from the Vorbis Comment field: PERFORMER.
When converting from a tagged FLAC Image + CUE to individual tagged tracks
you can have the same PERFORMER for all tracks using a single tag in the Image file (not in the CUE sheet)
or define a different PERFORMER for each track
cue_track01_PERFORMER=
cue_track02_PERFORMER=
cue_track03_PERFORMER=
cue_track04_PERFORMER=
again in the Image file (not in the CUE sheet).

Note: I know you're using an untagged wav image from EAC
korth

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #6
In case it's not clear yet, the PERFORMER data from cue sheet is mapped to 'Artist' or 'Album Artist' tag fields (depending on context). These fields are the most common fields for describing the performing artist and the most logical place for the (only) artist metadata that cue sheet stores.

Everyone would be happier if cue sheet was used only for CD mastering like intented.

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #7
You posted the link to Vorbis comment field and header specification.
I wasnt sure it this was the latest definitive specification. So, I asked...

Performer in foobar2000 properties is the value from the Vorbis Comment field: PERFORMER.
When converting from a tagged FLAC Image + CUE to individual tagged tracks
you can have the same PERFORMER for all tracks using a single tag in the Image file (not in the CUE sheet)
or define a different PERFORMER for each track
cue_track01_PERFORMER=
cue_track02_PERFORMER=
cue_track03_PERFORMER=
cue_track04_PERFORMER=
again in the Image file (not in the CUE sheet).

Note: I know you're using an untagged wav image from EAC

Yes, Understood. My question looking for the spec, was to understand how/when the Vorbis Performer is set/used.

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #8
In case it's not clear yet, the PERFORMER data from cue sheet is mapped to 'Artist' or 'Album Artist' tag fields (depending on context). These fields are the most common fields for describing the performing artist and the most logical place for the (only) artist metadata that cue sheet stores.

It's clear. I know wonder how/why the Vorbis Performer is used as Artist and sometimes Album Artist are more common.

Everyone would be happier if cue sheet was used only for CD mastering like intented.
Yes. Indeed. I'm simply trying to use existing metadata in my EAC created cue files to encode to flac. I was checking the metadata created and noticed that Performer was not populated...
It makes sense how ARTIST and ALBUM ARTIST are set from the Cue file, but I'm not clear why Performer still exists if it is not used.

Additionally, it would be great if all of the keywords in Cue files were read and parsed completely. I won't say anymore, as  it will be off topic.

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #9
"Performer" in cue sheet has nothing to do with Vorbis comment field called "Performer". Cue sheet supports three metadata fields: TITLE, PERFORMER and SONGWRITER. The fields are meant for CD-TEXT support, 'title' for title, 'performer' for artist and 'songwriter' for songwriter. And all these fields are read by foobar2000.

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #10
"Performer" in cue sheet has nothing to do with Vorbis comment field called "Performer".

Understood - assuming you meant to write 'PERFORMER' in cue sheet...

Cue sheet supports three metadata fields: TITLE, PERFORMER and SONGWRITER. The fields are meant for CD-TEXT support, 'title' for title, 'performer' for artist and 'songwriter' for songwriter.
Understood also.

And all these fields are read by foobar2000.
Understood also.

But, what is the Vorbis comment Performer meant to be used for? PERFORMER in my sam & dave example is populated into ARTIST. Vorbis Performer is blank....
Where are the semantics of Performer defined?

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #11
The 'performer' field shown in foobar2000 Properties dialog is, as the earlier Vorbis comment specification quote says, mostly meant for classical music taggers. Some people collecting classical music don't like using the "unsophisticated" artist or even title tags, they use "composer", "performer", "work" and such.

If you don't want to see the Performer field offered so readily in the properties dialog, you can remove it. Navigate to Preferences -> Advanced -> Display -> Properties dialog. Then edit the 'Standard fields' string and remove "Performer=PERFORMER;" from the string.

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #12
The 'performer' field shown in foobar2000 Properties dialog is, as the earlier Vorbis comment specification quote says, mostly meant for classical music taggers. Some people collecting classical music don't like using the "unsophisticated" artist or even title tags, they use "composer", "performer", "work" and such.

If you don't want to see the Performer field offered so readily in the properties dialog, you can remove it. Navigate to Preferences -> Advanced -> Display -> Properties dialog. Then edit the 'Standard fields' string and remove "Performer=PERFORMER;" from the string.

Thank you.
Are there any scenarios where loading the cue file for a classical music CD would  result in Performer being populated as well as ARTIST and ALBUM ARTIST? (I will test one later tonight)


 

Re: Performer not set when reading CUE files

Reply #13
No.