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Topic: Defined naming convention for digital audio files? (Read 10471 times) previous topic - next topic
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Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Right, I'm wondering if there is a defined naming convention for digital audio files? I want to rip my entire CD collection and try and tag it as perfectly as I can with correct names etc. Is there any sort of official or generally accepted naming convention I can follow. For example should a captial A be a or Of be of etc. Should remixes etc. have square brackets or normal brackets e.g. Cafe Del Mar [Alex K Remix] or Cafe Del Mar (Alex K Remix). Should albums which are generally by the same artist but feature a couple of other artists e.g. The Way I Are by Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson have album artist as Various Artists or Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson. This example track listing should give you a better idea of what I mean:

1. The Way I Are
Artist: Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson, Sebastian & D.O.E.

2. The Way I Are (Timbaland vs. Nephew)  <------------- should this be Vs. or vs, should Nephew be in the Artist field???
Artist: Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.

Album Artist: ??????

Another query I have is when you have got with is with the same as featuring?? Or are they different? Should a disc field be used if there is only one disc i.e. Disc 1 of 1??

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #2 –
Ok then but can other people tell me what they think is best?

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #3 –
I don't quite understand what you expect to be answered in this thread. There's no "best" scheme, since this matter is entirely based on personal preference. One guy prefers "Vs." over "vs.", the next one puts the disc number into the album's name (like "Cult [CD1]" and Cult [CD2]"), another one goes for the "Disc" tag instead. And whether it's the "artist" or "album artist" field, that's filled with the interpreter's name - really, that's up to you.

It wouldn't help you at all, if people began spamming this thread with their personal ideas, since the many possible choices would even be more confusing to you. Hence, decide for yourself.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Exodemia on
Ok then but can other people tell me what they think is best?


Seriously, i don't even know what kind of answers you're expecting... everyone has their own way of doing it. For example, i don't use DISC tags (so i have some albums with like 90 tracks), i also use a 3 star rating system, and i remove "the" from artist names. Other people will likely have equally eccentric ways of doing it. So the solution is for you to make a system for yourself and stick to it. There's no standard way of doing things except maybe using the album artist tag to store various artists.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Exodemia on
Right, I'm wondering if there is a defined naming convention for digital audio files? I want to rip my entire CD collection and try and tag it as perfectly as I can with correct names etc. Is there any sort of official or generally accepted naming convention I can follow.


Yes. Have a look at MusicBrainz:

http://musicbrainz.org/

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #6 –
@Exodemia
Just write what's on the cover or don't tag at all if it's only complicating your life (use filenames).
 

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: btocher on
Yes. Have a look at MusicBrainz:

http://musicbrainz.org/
I just had a look, and it seems to me that [a] it is just one more suggestion and even they do need seem in agreement.

http://musicbrainz.org/doc/VersusStyle

Edit: Also it seems the suggestions are limited by their database set-up, and not good tagging practice.

Here is the basic guidelines though: http://musicbrainz.org/style.html (or http://musicbrainz.org/doc/OfficialStyleGuideline)
I'm on a horse.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Synthetic Soul on
Quote from: btocher on
Yes. Have a look at MusicBrainz:

http://musicbrainz.org/
I just had a look, and it seems to me that [a] it is just one more suggestion and even they do need seem in agreement.

http://musicbrainz.org/doc/VersusStyle

Edit: Also it seems the suggestions are limited by their database set-up, and not good tagging practice.


I don't disagree. But:

a) it's what the OP was looking for;
b) I'm not aware of any alternatives, certainly not on that scale;
c) the users make it what it is via democratic voting procedures;
d) Last.fm will be using their data shortly; and
d) anyone unsure really ought to try it. It saves a huge amount of manual work.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #9 –
Right. MusicBrainz is confusing. Thanks for that anyway. Ok can I ask what people do in the example I gave with The Way I Are? That's the most important part to me.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Exodemia on
Right. MusicBrainz is confusing. Thanks for that anyway. Ok can I ask what people do in the example I gave with The Way I Are? That's the most important part to me.


How is it confusing?

You run the tagging software, you drag the files you want to tag over an icon, and it tags them! How much easier could they make it?

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #11 –
Just use what you think is best for you, there is no wrong or right way, it's up to the individual.  I have seen some horrible tagging from files from the internet... so I easily change it with Foobar
:Foobar 2000:
:MPC --standard:
:iRiver H320 Rockboxed:

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: btocher on
I don't disagree. But:

a) it's what the OP was looking for;
  ...
Agreed.  I was not knocking the suggestion - merely pointing out that it is not a de facto standard, and is still confused.
 
 
Quote from: Exodemia on
Ok can I ask what people do in the example I gave with The Way I Are? That's the most important part to me.
The link I provided to MusicBrainz gives a pretty comprehensive answer...

I would go with the MusicBrainz' suggestion of "vs." for any "versus" tracks, and "feat." for "featuring".

I would either use:

ALBUM ARTIST=
ARTIST=Justin Timberlake
TITLE=The Way I Are (Timbaland vs. Nephew)

ALBUM ARTIST=
  ARTIST=Justin Timberlake
  TITLE=The Way I Are (feat. Keri Hilson, Sebastian & D.O.E.)

... or, if the tagging format will allow it, perhaps:

ALBUM ARTIST=
  ARTIST=Justin Timberlake
  ARTIST=Nephew
  TITLE=The Way I Are

ALBUM ARTIST=
    ARTIST=Justin Timberlake
    ARTIST=Keri Hilson
    ARTIST=Sebastian
    ARTIST=D.O.E.
    TITLE=The Way I Are

The first is probably good enough though.  IMHO.

Edit: Oh, and I wouldn't use a DISC/DISCNUMBER field if there is only one disc, but you can.  Either use DISC=1/2 or DISCNUMBER=1 and TOTALDISCS=2.  I notice that foobar is using DISC=N/M now.
I'm on a horse.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Synthetic Soul on
Quote from: btocher on
I don't disagree. But:

a) it's what the OP was looking for;
  ...
Agreed.  I was not knocking the suggestion - merely pointing out that it is not a de facto standard, and is still confused.


Sure, no problem. And if anyone out there can suggest anything else out there that's approaching becoming a standard, I'd be interested in getting involved.

Defined naming convention for digital audio files?

Reply #14 –
I once have been fancied by the naming convention used by the uber freaks... Although their encoding standard have been defunct, I believe that their defined naming convention would still be very helpful for someone like the OP in this case.
"Listen to me...
Never take unsolicited advice..."