Standalone Recording: Difference between revisions

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(modified version of non-album track... probably needs modifying more and turning into official guidelines)
 
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Standalone recordings (previously called non-album tracks) are [[Recording|recordings]] which are not linked to a [[Release|release]].
Standalone recordings (previously called non-album tracks) are [[Recording|recordings]] which are not linked to a [[Release|release]]. To enter one, just use the "Add recording" link from an artist page or the Edit menu.


Standalone recordings shouldn't be used as a dumping ground for "dodgy internet sourced mp3s". To help prevent this, an [[Edit Note|edit note]] is always required and [[Editor|editors]] are unable to add standalone recordings until they have been a member for two weeks or have at least 10 edits which weren't [[Auto-Edit|automatically applied]].
Standalone recordings shouldn't be used as a dumping ground for "dodgy internet sourced mp3s". To help prevent this, an [[Edit Note|edit note]] is always required when adding a standalone recording.


==When to use standalone recordings==
==When to use standalone recordings==
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;Tracks captured from broadcast performance: A song may be performed as part of a TV or radio show or other non-concert performance; tracks captured from these events may be entered as standalone recordings if they are not part of any live album or bootleg compilation.
;Tracks captured from broadcast performance: A song may be performed as part of a TV or radio show or other non-concert performance; tracks captured from these events may be entered as standalone recordings if they are not part of any live album or bootleg compilation.


;Multiple songs in one track: If multiple songs share one track (one after another, possible separated by long silence or noise), it is recommended to add additional standalone recordings for each of them, except when the recording exists as distinct track on another release. It is required to link each of the distinct recordings to the combined recording using [[rt:1b6311e8-5f81-43b7-8c55-4bbae71ec00c|compilation relationships]]. For the duration of the new standalone recordings, try to find a popular source (Last.fm, bootleg download, etc.).
;Pregap (track 0) tracks: It is not currently possible to enter [[Pregap Track|pregap tracks]] as part of a release. These should be entered as standalone recordings [http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-users/2004-January/004532.html][http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-users/2004-August/006344.html]. See also the [[Releases With Pregap Tracks|list of releases with pregap tracks]].


==When not to use standalone recordings==
==When not to use standalone recordings==
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;MP3 CD-ROM collections: If a number of songs are released as MP3 files on a CD-ROM rather than as an audio disc; these should be entered as normal releases. If there is no explicit track order in the filenames, they should be listed in alphabetical order as that is how most MP3 CD-ROM capable players will play them.
;MP3 CD-ROM collections: If a number of songs are released as MP3 files on a CD-ROM rather than as an audio disc; these should be entered as normal releases. If there is no explicit track order in the filenames, they should be listed in alphabetical order as that is how most MP3 CD-ROM capable players will play them.

;Tracks hidden in other tracks: [[Hidden Track|Hidden tracks]] where a single (very long) track has music, then a long silence (or noise), followed by one or more (different) pieces of music should be entered as a single track following the [[Multiple Title Style|guidelines for multiple titles]]. If the title of the hidden song is not known, see the [[Untitled Track Style|guidelines for unknown track titles]]. These tracks are not allowed as standalone recordings.


;Track "99": [[Hidden Track|Hidden tracks]] which ''are'' separate tracks, but are preceded by dozens of short tracks of '''[silence]''' can and should be listed as tracks of the release, e.g. [[release:9c0b5a23-ca6e-4b4e-be2f-98280cf56c88|Broken]] by Nine Inch Nails
;Track "99": [[Hidden Track|Hidden tracks]] which ''are'' separate tracks, but are preceded by dozens of short tracks of '''[silence]''' can and should be listed as tracks of the release, e.g. [[release:9c0b5a23-ca6e-4b4e-be2f-98280cf56c88|Broken]] by Nine Inch Nails


;Pregap (track 0) tracks: These are now supported and should be entered as part of the release. There is a [[Releases With Pregap Tracks|list of releases with pregap tracks]] which need fixing.
==Other guidelines==

==Other recommendations==


Finally, there are some other guidelines for use of standalone recordings:
Finally, there are some other recommendations for use of standalone recordings:


;Use informative titles: Since standalone recordings don't have release dates or other information associated with them, adding information like "(live, 2002-05-13: Radio One)" is very helpful. Using titles like "[untitled]" or "[unknown]" is sure to get the recording voted down or removed.
;Use the disambiguation field: Since standalone recordings don't have release dates or other information associated with them, adding information like "(live, 2002-05-13: Radio One)" is very helpful. Using titles like "[untitled]" or "[unknown]" without adding a disambiguation is sure to get the recording voted down or removed.


;Submit [[PUID]]s: Standalone recordings with no associated PUIDs are fairly useless, since they cannot be matched by track number or disc ID, and matching by track name is unlikely to tell you anything you didn't already know. If you add a standalone recording, it's presumably because you have an MP3 or other sound file for it. Tagging your file with [[MusicBrainz Identifier|MBID]]s is only half the work; you need to submit the PUID to the MusicBrainz database so that the entry is useful to others. If you don't, the entry is likely to be "garbage collected" for lack of PUIDs later on.
;Submit fingerprints: Standalone recordings with associated [[AcoustID]]s are much more helpful, since they cannot be matched by track number or disc ID, and matching by track name only is usually quite hard. If you have an MP3 or other sound file for your standalone recording, tagging your file with [[MusicBrainz Identifier|MBID]]s is only half the work; it's much better if you also submit the fingerprint to the MusicBrainz database so that the entry is more useful to others.


;Link to a download source: Direct download links if available (like from artist websites) should be linked to the recording with a [[Advanced Relationship|relationship]]. They are not only the best proof for the recording's existence when adding it, but also the best documentation as to where it's from.
;Link to a download or streaming source: If a direct download (e.g. from the artist's website) or stream (e.g. from Soundcloud) is available, it should be linked to the recording with a [[Relationships|relationship]]. They are not only the best proof for the recording's existence when adding it, but also the best documentation as to where it's from.


[[Category:Terminology]] [[Category:Style]]
[[Category:Terminology]] [[Category:Style]]

Latest revision as of 12:14, 10 February 2017

Standalone recordings (previously called non-album tracks) are recordings which are not linked to a release. To enter one, just use the "Add recording" link from an artist page or the Edit menu.

Standalone recordings shouldn't be used as a dumping ground for "dodgy internet sourced mp3s". To help prevent this, an edit note is always required when adding a standalone recording.

When to use standalone recordings

Although the Style Guidelines don't spell this out explicitly there are a few valid reasons for creating a standalone recording:

Internet-only release
Often, before an album is released, songs from the album may be available on an internet site for download, and may be entered as standalone recordings. Less frequently, some such songs are available for download, but are never included in any album or compilation.
Tracks captured from broadcast performance
A song may be performed as part of a TV or radio show or other non-concert performance; tracks captured from these events may be entered as standalone recordings if they are not part of any live album or bootleg compilation.
Multiple songs in one track
If multiple songs share one track (one after another, possible separated by long silence or noise), it is recommended to add additional standalone recordings for each of them, except when the recording exists as distinct track on another release. It is required to link each of the distinct recordings to the combined recording using compilation relationships. For the duration of the new standalone recordings, try to find a popular source (Last.fm, bootleg download, etc.).

When not to use standalone recordings

Conversely, there are some cases that should not use standalone recordings, even though it might seem applicable:

MP3 CD-ROM collections
If a number of songs are released as MP3 files on a CD-ROM rather than as an audio disc; these should be entered as normal releases. If there is no explicit track order in the filenames, they should be listed in alphabetical order as that is how most MP3 CD-ROM capable players will play them.
Track "99"
Hidden tracks which are separate tracks, but are preceded by dozens of short tracks of [silence] can and should be listed as tracks of the release, e.g. Broken by Nine Inch Nails
Pregap (track 0) tracks
These are now supported and should be entered as part of the release. There is a list of releases with pregap tracks which need fixing.

Other recommendations

Finally, there are some other recommendations for use of standalone recordings:

Use the disambiguation field
Since standalone recordings don't have release dates or other information associated with them, adding information like "(live, 2002-05-13: Radio One)" is very helpful. Using titles like "[untitled]" or "[unknown]" without adding a disambiguation is sure to get the recording voted down or removed.
Submit fingerprints
Standalone recordings with associated AcoustIDs are much more helpful, since they cannot be matched by track number or disc ID, and matching by track name only is usually quite hard. If you have an MP3 or other sound file for your standalone recording, tagging your file with MBIDs is only half the work; it's much better if you also submit the fingerprint to the MusicBrainz database so that the entry is more useful to others.
Link to a download or streaming source
If a direct download (e.g. from the artist's website) or stream (e.g. from Soundcloud) is available, it should be linked to the recording with a relationship. They are not only the best proof for the recording's existence when adding it, but also the best documentation as to where it's from.