History:Release Type Restructuring Proposal: Difference between revisions

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Attention.png Status: one of the very interesting proposals lying around. Probably (at least) parts of it may be implemented for a relatively low development cost (ReleaseFormat enhancements?). While this proposal is not "exactly" stalled (it has been regularly worked on during the past years), for now it lacks promotion efforts and needs refreshed edits to be made fruitful. -- dmppanda 15:19, 20 February 2008 (UTC) -- mo 22:05, 27 July 2008 (UTC)

Attention.png Updated Status: Coming back to the forefront with the DVD-Audio, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, and related discussions of late. Attention to the server code may end up happening, so as to finally allow pretty much this exact proposal to be supported by the server and the web services. Updating this proposal to fill in missing specific types, and to update per the recent DVD-handling discussions on users and style is still needed here. -- BrianSchweitzer 04:04, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

Proposal

update new fixings.

I have been re-thinking this Release-release thing over again. I have tried to include what people have said on irc and in the ReleaseTypeRestructuringDiscussion page, Here is my redraft proposal updated after the new 1-4-2007 release.

First a small list with new names, all the new options are in italic, (the option 'I don't know' is implied throughout). After this list follows a list of explanations of their meanings.

Physical Media

Parts of this is now official and is defined by ReleaseFormat.

  • CD
    • 8cm
    • 12cm
    • DVD
    • DVD-A
  • SACD
  • MiniDisc
  • Vinyl
    • 7"
    • 10"
    • 12"
    • other
  • Cassette
  • 8-track
  • Digital Media (web releases / stand alone mp3/ogg etc)
  • HD Media
  • Other

Release Status

Official | Commercial | Bootleg | Promotional

Main Types

  • Album (LP)
  • EP
  • Single
    • Maxi-CD
  • Other

...

  • Split
  • Compilation
    • Highlights
  • Remix
  • Remaster
  • Live
  • Soundtrack
  • Composer
  • Data (when clicked, either option under is possible, but not both)
    • audiofile disc
    • multimedia 2 session disc
  • Other
  • Demo
  • Bonus
  • Spokenword
    • Interview
    • Audiobook
    • Radio play
    • other narrative

Description

Physical Media

pretty much says itself, what is the thing you have in your hand? These types have now been partially implemented with the 1.4.2007 server release as part of the LabelSupport (see ReleaseFormat) these are also connected with releasetype+releasedate tables, which is what I said would have to happen from the get go, here we go:

Each releasedate and place can have one Physical Media accociated, as well as a label, #cat and optional barcode. This outline some more detailed subtypes that may be added.

CD
just a regular audio CD, also known as CD-A.
DVD
Comes in both 'DVD' video format and 'DVD-Audio' formats. There are a few thousand DVD-Audio releases according to wikipedia, the same is true for DVD-A.
SACD
separated from DVD because it is a different coding process entirely, hybrid SACD discs that have the capability of being played on regular CD-player should go under this option as well.
MiniDisc
There are not many new releases but a lot of older ones.
Vinyl
finally we have Vinyls! subgroups of 7", 10" & 12" and 'other' for that one nth" type laying in PRAEst76's attic ;)
Cassette
just your average tape
8-track
for really old wonky releases on 8-track tape
Digital Media
(webalbums / stand alone mp3/ogg etc) HD Media: Comes in Blu-ray and HD
Other
random obscure types!

Release Status

the status of the release. These should not be multiple choice as one release conglomeration should only be able to be one of these options at a time. (while per days date, release events and labels are separated from release status.)

Official
exactly like it is today, sanctioned by *both* the artist and the record-company (if applicable). These releases are most likely listed on the artists' own website and most fansites.
Bootleg
same as today. albums not sanctioned by the record company (owner of the licence/copyright) but may or may not be sanctioned by the artist. These albums might be listed on official websites (rare), but most good fansites will have a bootleg section.
Commercial
this a new, confusing type, this is for releases that may be sanctioned by the record-company (or resold/legally pirated by other companies) but *not* necessarily by the artist.
  • Wizzcat suggests retail as a name instead. please discuss.
Commercial not sanctioned by the artist (but the licence may be i norder / not illigal in italy/etc)
Promotional
same as today, for releases that are given away (usually free) by sweepstakes. magazines, competitions etc.

Main Types

These are mostly multiple choice per release conglomeration. The exceptions are album, single and EP, as (I think) they are exclusive of each other. (these are per day's date separate from release events and labels)

(One Choice)

Album
same as today, first time releases.
EP
same as today, for releases clearly marked 'EP'
Single
same as today, single releases
Maxi-Single
a suboption for single, basically what EP was to vinyl this is to CD's today? the rules are not as strict though, any Maxi-Single is as explicitly a single, if a release is rather more classified as EP, use that instead.
Other
for releases that do not fit in any other categories, Album, EP or Single.

(Multiple Choice)

Compilation
for compilations, same as today: releases that are selections of tracks from one ore more artists that has been released before.
Split
releases that are re-releases of 2 or more releases on one disc (f.ex No Heavy Petting / Lights Out) or releases where two or more artists share a disc (f.ex Light the Fuse and Run/Hot Cross Split ). both are typically called a "split release".
Remix
same as today, remixes. although they should probably be stored with albums on the 'albums' page in APR?
Remaster
while there is an AR for this, sometimes a release is released as being specifically a "Remaster" rather than a "remastered album", probably some [album] [remaster] combination for this. Other times a release is a collection of "remastered tracks found on several albums" (making them in essence compilations) (see "Remasters" 1 & 2 by Led Zep for an example) [compilation] [remaster] etc.
Live
same as today, a live release. The difference however is that one can now chose [compilation] [live] for releases that aren't of a single live 'session', finally solving this issue.
Soundtrack
same as today, with the addition that one can chose [compilation] [soundtrack] for comps of soundtracks, etc.
Composer
this is a new type for releases that utilise the ClassicalStyleGuide (where the artist in the !track/album is the composer of the work, not the performer). Here [album] [composer] is for your typical "full works" and [compilation] [composer] for releases with several works by the one or more composers on the same release.
Highlights
after discussion with Clutcher I agree. this should be (at least) a subtype in its own right. please use with Composer style or Soundtrack
Data
this is for releases that are either
  • a) audiofile discs, cd's full of audio files such as mp3's or ogg
  • b) multimedia 2 session disc (bad name please change) cd's that typically have 2 sessions, one which is data and the other which is comprised regular of audiotracks, such discs are typically computer-Game CD's or CD-lens cleaners.
Demo
a new type. a demo is released by an unknown band to promote themselves, usually released in a crude format such as a homeburnt CDR or homemade cassette (f.ex blink-182's Buddha demo). Alternately a demo can be an early version of a song, recorded before the final layout of the song has been... layed out. The demo release type is not for releases that were, either commercially, officially or unofficially, compiled and released after the final cut/album was released.
Bonus
after discussion with Shepard this makes sense. mod #3576131 excellent example of why 'bonus' needs to be added.
Other
ideally this type should now be obsolete, it should however be retained because a) we still lave loads of releases with this type and b) no matter how you try to cater for releases there is going to be the odd one out that breaks the mold.
Spokenword
this is now a heading type. it is still used the same as before. however it is implied that if something is 'audiobook' or 'interview' it is also at the same time 'spokenword'
Interview
same as today, for interview discs
Audiobook
same as today, for audiobooks
Radio play
a new subtype, as requested by Shepard: "At the moment many actual radio plays are stored as Audiobooks in the db - this is wrong. And audiobook is just a book read by one person. A radio play is an audio play with many different characters and background sounds and stuff"
other narrative
other spokenword type releases not already covered.


See also

  • ReleaseRegionStyle - proposal for restructuring release countries to wider release regions
  • ReleaseDataSet - a proposal on how to restructure other release data
  • AlbumRework - a comprehensive proposal which makes use of the types defined here
  • misc link: bla

Discussion

Please see ReleaseTypeRestructuringDiscussion