Difference between CD image + .cue and separate tracks?

2014-08-15 13:57:29

Greetings!

Been wondering, whats the difference? Is there any? Or is it simple taste? Is it maybe the first for storage and preservation and the second for ease of playback?

Hope someone can share some knowledge.

Difference between CD image + .cue and separate tracks?

Reply #1 – 2014-08-15 14:13:53

For wider compatibility, individual tracks are best by far. A lot of playback hardware and software doesn't recognise CUE sheets.

For burning replica CDs, CUE sheets help a lot. You can still keep a CUE sheet with separate tracks (e.g. CUEripper in CUEtools does this) to help.

There are some features of standalone CD players that are not supported in file-based players, even those that recognise CUE sheets. These are rarely implemented on CDs, but include the following possibilities allowed by the INDEX points.

HTOA (Hidden Track One Audio) where you rewind before 0:00 to find hidden music (see HA Wiki). Some rippers detect this and permit ripping as a separate track, most people might well prefer.

Different track start-points for shuffle play versus continuous play. It's possible to start with the music straight away in shuffle play, but have the verbal introduction or crowd banter between tracks when listening in continuous play on a CD player.

But basically, individual tracks with CUE sheets as an aid in case of future need to burn a replica, works for most situations most of us face with less effort than the Image+CUE approach. You can still convert easily enough using something like CUEtools, however, if you've started out with Image+CUE and change your mind.