User:Hawke/Proposal/Vinyl track numbering

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Guidelines

Sides

Medium sides should be indicated with a letter (A, B, C, etc.) before the track number.

For most releases this will be similar to A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3.

If the numbering does not restart at 1, use the number on the release: A1, A2, A3, B4, B5, B6.

Some releases have no side indication. In this case, if there is a matrix number or other identifier which distinguishes them, treat the lower-sequenced one as side A.

Sub-tracks

Some single-sided media have “Sub-tracks”. This applies to CD “indexes”, DVD “titles”/“chapters”, and 4 or 8-track cartridge “programs”, and is also common in production music to identify alternate versions of a track (e.g. a 30-second excerpt).

For these releases, separate the main track from the sub-track with a period: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2.

Alternate audio tracks

Some formats (DVD, SACD) provide alternate audio tracks within the same title. For these, separate the audio track identifier from the track number by a slash: “1/1, 2/1, 3/1” for the first three chapters of the main track “1/2, 2/2, 3/2” for the first three chapters of an alternate track “1/3, 2/3, 3/3” for the first three chapters of a second alternate track

Unusual releases

automatic-sequence double (or triple) albums
Some releases have more than two “sides”: This is common on older multi-disc vinyl records designed for a stacking turntable. For these, use A, B, C, D, etc. as applicable. This means that track ordering may be strange:
  • A1
  • A2
  • D1
  • D1
  • B1
  • B2
  • C1
  • C2
side in cat. no.
Some releases include the side as part of the catalog number on each side (e.g. 8326-A and 8326-B). In this case, just use the side indicator (e.g. "A" or "B")
double-A singles
Some singles have other unusual numbering. (e.g. double-A sides, side AA, side AAA, side A/side 1, etc.) For these cases, use whatever is printed on the release.
parallel grooves
Some vinyl records have several sets of parallel grooves. Treat them the same as alternate audio tracks, above. Ordering is left to the discretion of the editor and voters.