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=Frequently Asked Questions=
=Frequently Asked Questions - General Stuff=


This page lists some very general [[Frequently Asked Questions|FrequentlyAskedQuestions]] about [[MusicBrainz]] and how to use the site.
Please check to see if your questions are covered in this FAQ or the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html official General FAQ] For moderation questions, you should check out the [[Moderation FAQ|ModerationFAQ]].  If that still doesn't help, please find us via the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html contact page].

<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">''This seems to have gotten truncated, and should be updated/merged with the'' [http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html version on the main pages]
If your question is not covered here, please check the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html official General FAQ] on the main site, which is more complete that this here. There are also [[Frequently Asked Questions|FrequentlyAskedQuestions]] specific to different subjects, like the [[Moderation FAQ|ModerationFAQ]]. If that still doesn't help, please find us in one of the [[MusicBrainz Forums|MusicBrainzForums]] or via the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html contact page].
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">[[Image:Attention.png]] ''This FAQ seems to have gotten truncated, and should be updated/merged with the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html version on the main pages].''
</ul>
</ul>

==General Questions==

'''Q'''. What's the purpose of this site?

'''A'''. This site is intended to be a free, on-line encyclopedia of music information. We (and you, if you decide to join us) are building an open-source database containing all the information you would ever want to know about songs, albums, and artists.

----



Q. Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with Gracenote's CDDB?

A. No one needs to use our site, and nothing's wrong with CDDB. We just have a different aim from the maintainers of CDDB. Check the history pages for more information on the origins of this project.

A. This site is free. CDDB is not.

CDDB was made by volunteers sharing the track listings of their CDs with the central server that was run voluntarily, not for profit. This freely volunteerd effort was effectively stolen by Gracenote, who made it a commercial service that you have to pay to use in your music player software, or if you want to download large parts of the database for whatever reason. (RJMunro)


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==General Questions==
Q. Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with [[FreeDB]]?


===What's the purpose of this site?===
A. [[FreeDB]] is based on the last version of CDDB that was freely available. While it is a very useful site, it is technically inferior to this site as it is based on a flat format. Ie. Albums are not grouped by artists, they just have a text field "Artist Name". Different printings of the same album that are not quite identical go into the listing twice etc. There is no concept of a single track being on more than one album - a track doesn't really exist in its own right. While [[MusicBrainz]] is not perfect in this respect, it is a lot better, and plans for improvements are laid down. The path to acheiveing those goals is clear. It would be very hard to give [[FreeDB]] those facilities. Eventually it is envisioned by some that [[MusicBrainz]] could take over from [[FreeDB]], although they may evolve to take different markets, or be competitors continually spurring each other on.


This site is intended to be a free, on-line encyclopedia of music information. We (and you, if you decide to join us) are building an open-source database containing all the information you would ever want to know about songs, albums, and artists.
In certain places, [[MusicBrainz]] itself uses [[FreeDB]] when it doesn't know an album already. (RJMunro)


===Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with Gracenote's CDDB?===
----


No one needs to use our site, and nothing's wrong with CDDB. We just have a different aim from the maintainers of CDDB. Check the history pages for more information on the origins of this project.


This site is free. CDDB is not.
Q. Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?


CDDB was made by volunteers sharing the track listings of their CDs with the central server that was run voluntarily, not for profit. This freely volunteerd effort was effectively stolen by Gracenote, who made it a commercial service that you have to pay to use in your music player software, or if you want to download large parts of the database for whatever reason. (RJMunro)
A. Please [http://www.musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html send us an e-mail] providing as much of the following information as accurately as possible:


===Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with ["FreeDB"]?===
<pre> * your username (or as much as you can remember of it)
</pre>


[[FreeDB]] is based on the last version of CDDB that was freely available. While it is a very useful site, it is technically inferior to this site as it is based on a flat format. Ie. Albums are not grouped by artists, they just have a text field "Artist Name". Different printings of the same album that are not quite identical go into the listing twice etc. There is no concept of a single track being on more than one album - a track doesn't really exist in its own right. While [[MusicBrainz]] is not perfect in this respect, it is a lot better, and plans for improvements are laid down. The path to acheiveing those goals is clear. It would be very hard to give [[FreeDB]] those facilities. Eventually it is envisioned by some that [[MusicBrainz]] could take over from [[FreeDB]], although they may evolve to take different markets, or be competitors continually spurring each other on.
<pre> * your password (or as much as you can remember of it)
</pre>


In certain places, [[MusicBrainz]] itself uses [[FreeDB]] when it doesn't know an album already. (RJMunro)
<pre> * the e-mail address you registered with
</pre>


===Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?===
<pre> * when you registered
</pre>


Please [http://www.musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html send us an e-mail] providing as much of the following information as accurately as possible:
<pre> * when you last successfully logged in
* your username (or as much as you can remember of it)
</pre>
* your password (or as much as you can remember of it)

* the e-mail address you registered with
<pre> * when you last tried and failed to log in
* when you registered
</pre>
* when you last successfully logged in
* when you last tried and failed to log in


With that information we'll be able to look into the problem and help you.
With that information we'll be able to look into the problem and help you.


===I've forgotten my password - how do I get in?===
----


If you've previously entered and confirmed your e-mail address, then use the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/forgot-password.html Forgot your password?] link.

Q. I've forgotten my password - how do I get in?

A. If you've previously entered and confirmed your e-mail address, then use the [http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/forgot-password.html Forgot your password?] link.


Otherwise, please see the answer to the previous question, "Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?"
Otherwise, please see the answer to the previous question, "Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?"


===How do I delete my account?===
----


Q. How do I delete my account?


A. You can't completely delete your account, but you can remove your personal information from it.
You can't completely delete your account; we need to keep at least the information that an account existed at some point, so that the database is kept consistent. However, you can remove your personal information from an account:
* delete all your subscriptions, if you have any ([http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/subscriptions.html http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/subscriptions.html])
* delete all your subscriptions, if you have any ([http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/subscriptions.html http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/subscriptions.html])
* edit your profile, and blank out all three fields ([http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/edit.html http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/edit.html])
* edit your profile, and blank out all three fields ([http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/edit.html http://www.musicbrainz.org/user/edit.html])
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Q. How do I get iTunes to recognize new/updated tags saved by [[MusicBrainz]]?

A. Don't ask questions here, instead post them to the [[Mailing List|MailingList]]...


----[http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html OriginalVersion]
----[http://www.musicbrainz.org/faq.html OriginalVersion]

Revision as of 12:52, 8 October 2005

Frequently Asked Questions - General Stuff

This page lists some very general FrequentlyAskedQuestions about MusicBrainz and how to use the site.

If your question is not covered here, please check the official General FAQ on the main site, which is more complete that this here. There are also FrequentlyAskedQuestions specific to different subjects, like the ModerationFAQ. If that still doesn't help, please find us in one of the MusicBrainzForums or via the contact page.




General Questions

What's the purpose of this site?

This site is intended to be a free, on-line encyclopedia of music information. We (and you, if you decide to join us) are building an open-source database containing all the information you would ever want to know about songs, albums, and artists.

Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with Gracenote's CDDB?

No one needs to use our site, and nothing's wrong with CDDB. We just have a different aim from the maintainers of CDDB. Check the history pages for more information on the origins of this project.

This site is free. CDDB is not.

CDDB was made by volunteers sharing the track listings of their CDs with the central server that was run voluntarily, not for profit. This freely volunteerd effort was effectively stolen by Gracenote, who made it a commercial service that you have to pay to use in your music player software, or if you want to download large parts of the database for whatever reason. (RJMunro)

Why would I need to use your site? What's wrong with ["FreeDB"]?

FreeDB is based on the last version of CDDB that was freely available. While it is a very useful site, it is technically inferior to this site as it is based on a flat format. Ie. Albums are not grouped by artists, they just have a text field "Artist Name". Different printings of the same album that are not quite identical go into the listing twice etc. There is no concept of a single track being on more than one album - a track doesn't really exist in its own right. While MusicBrainz is not perfect in this respect, it is a lot better, and plans for improvements are laid down. The path to acheiveing those goals is clear. It would be very hard to give FreeDB those facilities. Eventually it is envisioned by some that MusicBrainz could take over from FreeDB, although they may evolve to take different markets, or be competitors continually spurring each other on.

In certain places, MusicBrainz itself uses FreeDB when it doesn't know an album already. (RJMunro)

Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?

Please send us an e-mail providing as much of the following information as accurately as possible:

  • your username (or as much as you can remember of it)
  • your password (or as much as you can remember of it)
  • the e-mail address you registered with
  • when you registered
  • when you last successfully logged in
  • when you last tried and failed to log in

With that information we'll be able to look into the problem and help you.

I've forgotten my password - how do I get in?

If you've previously entered and confirmed your e-mail address, then use the Forgot your password? link.

Otherwise, please see the answer to the previous question, "Why won't the web site accept my login name and password?"

How do I delete my account?

You can't completely delete your account; we need to keep at least the information that an account existed at some point, so that the database is kept consistent. However, you can remove your personal information from an account:

That way all your personal information is removed from your account, and you've effectively "locked" the account (by giving it an almost impossibly complex password).

If you like we can also rename the account to something like "deleted account #1234". If you want us to do this, then follow the above instructions except:

  • set the "bio" text of the account to "Please delete this account" (or similar)
  • e-mail us (http://musicbrainz.org/support/contact.html), telling us that you'd like your account to be deleted, and tell us the name of the account. We'll e-mail you back to let you know when it's done.



OriginalVersion