Medium: Difference between revisions

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In [[MusicBrainz Terminology|MusicBrainz terminology]], a prototypical medium is one of the physical, separate things you would get when you buy something in a record store. They are the individual CDs, vinyls, etc. contained within the packaging of an album (or any other type of [[Release|release]]). Mediums are always included in a [[Release|release]], and have a position in said release (e.g. disc 1 or disc 2). They have a format, like CD, 12" vinyl or cassette (in some cases this will be unknown), and can have an optional title (e.g. disc 2: The Early Years).
{{DocumentationHeader|Medium|Terminology}}
Mediums are a [[MusicBrainz]] [[Database|database]] entity that was added during the [[Server Release Notes/20110516|May 2011 change]] to the [[Next Generation Schema]].


Note that a side of a disc, like side A of a vinyl, is not its own medium; the whole vinyl disc is. Digital (as opposed to physical) releases don't have "real" mediums, but they should be entered as several mediums if they are officially divided in several "discs". Exceptions in the treatment of mediums can exist: DualDiscs are usually entered as two mediums if the tracklist is the same on both sides, but with different mixes.
They are the physical parts of media you would get when you buy something in a record store. E.g. they are the individual discs, vinyls contained within the packaging of an 'album/release/...'.
In [[MusicBrainz Terminology|MusicBrainz terminology]], mediums are included in a [[release]]. They contain information about the format (audio disc, 12", cassette, etc.), and the position in the release (e.g. disc 1 and disc 2). They can have an optional title (e.g. disc 2: The Early Years).


[[Disc ID]]s are linked to mediums.
[[Disc ID]]s are linked to media. The content of a medium (which tracks and in which order) is given by a [[tracklist]] that is linked to the medium. [[Tracklist]]s also have a [[MusicBrainz Terminology|MusicBrainz-specific meaning]]. A single tracklist can be linked to multiple media.


==Examples==
==Examples==
These CDs are media (mediums?) of their respective [[release]]s.
These are mediums of their respective [[release]]s.
* CD1 of the 1984 US release of "''The Wall''" by "''Pink Floyd''"
* CD 1 of the 1984 US release of ''"[[release:4bd2dbd5-a961-335a-a618-39c26b2ee791|The Wall]]"'' by Pink Floyd.
* CD2 of the 2005 UK release of "''Aerial''" by "''Kate Bush''", named "''A Sky of Honey''"
* CD 2 of the 2005 UK release of ''"[[release:f205627f-b70a-409d-adbe-66289b614e80|Aerial]]"'' by Kate Bush, named ''"A Sky of Honey"''.
* 12" vinyl 1 of the 1975 US release of ''"[[release:0d06025c-afff-49fd-a1db-8005e686e4d9|Physical Graffiti]]"'' by Led Zeppelin.
** And also 12" vinyl 2 of the same release (but not sides A, B, C and D!).
* Digital Media 1 of the 2010 US digital release of ''"[[release:f49244dd-7921-41d0-b5d8-ebf531c776b1|My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]]"'' by Kanye West.


==Dates==
{{Stub}}
When adding a medium to an existing release, please ensure that year of release does not conflict with the medium being added. Here are the dates of first commercial releases for some common formats: <br>
[[Category:NGS Specific Terminology]]
* 7" records: c.1895<br>
[[Category:Terminology]]
* 10" records: c. 1898<br>
* 12" records: 1903<br>
* Reel-to-Reel: 1954<br>
* 8-Track: 1964<br>
* Cassettes: late 1965<br>
* Compact Disc: October 1, 1982<br>
* SACD: September 1999<br>
* DVD-A: 2000<br>

==See also==

* [[Release/Format]]

[[Category:Terminology]] [[Category:To Be Reviewed]]

Latest revision as of 21:51, 30 April 2020

In MusicBrainz terminology, a prototypical medium is one of the physical, separate things you would get when you buy something in a record store. They are the individual CDs, vinyls, etc. contained within the packaging of an album (or any other type of release). Mediums are always included in a release, and have a position in said release (e.g. disc 1 or disc 2). They have a format, like CD, 12" vinyl or cassette (in some cases this will be unknown), and can have an optional title (e.g. disc 2: The Early Years).

Note that a side of a disc, like side A of a vinyl, is not its own medium; the whole vinyl disc is. Digital (as opposed to physical) releases don't have "real" mediums, but they should be entered as several mediums if they are officially divided in several "discs". Exceptions in the treatment of mediums can exist: DualDiscs are usually entered as two mediums if the tracklist is the same on both sides, but with different mixes.

Disc IDs are linked to mediums.

Examples

These are mediums of their respective releases.

  • CD 1 of the 1984 US release of "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.
  • CD 2 of the 2005 UK release of "Aerial" by Kate Bush, named "A Sky of Honey".
  • 12" vinyl 1 of the 1975 US release of "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zeppelin.
    • And also 12" vinyl 2 of the same release (but not sides A, B, C and D!).
  • Digital Media 1 of the 2010 US digital release of "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West.

Dates

When adding a medium to an existing release, please ensure that year of release does not conflict with the medium being added. Here are the dates of first commercial releases for some common formats:

  • 7" records: c.1895
  • 10" records: c. 1898
  • 12" records: 1903
  • Reel-to-Reel: 1954
  • 8-Track: 1964
  • Cassettes: late 1965
  • Compact Disc: October 1, 1982
  • SACD: September 1999
  • DVD-A: 2000

See also