• Registered: 2012-03-03

Topic: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

So I'm a newbie to this process. I did a cluster then a lookup and it found almost all of the albums I purchased. So let's take one as an example. I bought the Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed in Flac 24bit 192khz. How do I define this in the database? Do I form a new relationship to the original album? I can't find the right format in the drop down list when I do a "Lookup in Browser." I tried some of the plug-ins like Amazon and Amg with no luck. Can someone explain to me the process I should follow if most if not all of these albums are not defined?
Thanks, Paul

  • From: Singapore
  • Registered: 2007-02-13

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

Well, to start, MusicBrainz doesn't store sample rates, bitrates etc inside the DB's metadata. The most specific detail/format we'd capture for such a release (if purchased online) would be "Digital Media".

Which version of the release do you have? Do you know the release date? The first would be to double check with other searches that we don't have it already. A search should lead you to http://musicbrainz.org/release-group/d3 … 538ac31520 which implies we don't specifically have any Digital media releases listed. Some users may just tag against a CD or SACD version, which is fine for most people's purposes.

This is really getting more into "website support" here, but if your release is not one of those listed, and you would like to add your release you can click "add release" in the bar at the right. This will take you into the wizard where you enter release details etc. If the tracklist is the same as one of the releases we already have, you can select an existing release to reuse tracklist from on the "release duplicates" tab. You set the format of each disc and make edits to the tracks on the "tracklist" tab.

When you make edits to the database you need to provide some kind of links/evidence that can be used to verify the data you've added on the final tab, which people can use to vote on your edits, so you should be prepared to do so. :)

voiceinsideyou's Website

  • Registered: 2012-03-03

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

I apologize for my delay in writing a response. This site continues to add more and more content. Obviously the artists and record companies see an opportunity here with audiophiles.


https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file … 2284476720


A buyer is allowed to choose from the following:

"Please choose your default format (Please select one)
    AIFF - (CD Quality) Compatible with iTunes, iPods, Winamp
    FLAC - (CD Quality) Compatible with Media Monkey, VLC, Songbird, Mac Flac, Toast
    320kbps MP3 - High quality MP3 audio with smaller file sizes ideal for all portable media players."

The company that owns this website recommends Flac. They also have a nice page of software suggestions that support true 24-bit music.

As some of you are probably aware, Neil Young has been a strong opponent of the MP3 format. He feels that a buyer should be able to get the quality of the actual master. There are a ton of articles about his new "Pono" player due out next year. He does have the backing of some of the record labels.


http://techland.time.com/2012/10/03/who … -standard/

I'm not hear to argue the actual differences and whether this new format makes sense. However I do hope there will be a better way of tagging this music since it seems legitimate and has major backing from many of the record labels.

  • Registered: 2011-06-06

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

The format you want to link to is just a 'digital' release.
If you are trying to find separate releases for FLAC vs MP3 it's not going to be possible, as MusicBrainz doesn't separate the two, they are both a 'digital' release. In the case of a hdtracks release this makes sense, as for tagging purposes there is no need to have three releases, eg: AIFF/ FLAC/ MP3 - as they have the same tags regardless, and Picard can tag all of them.

If the 'digital' release you're looking for isn't in the dropdown menu/ in the database, you may have to add it, as MusicBrainz relies on user contribution to add content.

Hope I understood your query correctly!

5 Reply by pabouk (edited by pabouk 2012-10-09 11:45:46)

  • From: Czech Republic
  • Registered: 2008-03-17

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

The theme of extening the media types coverage was also discussed in this older thread: Release medium specifics.

IMHO MB should be extended to make a difference at least between "normal" and "HD" quality of digital audio. (Also low quality - like MP3 128 kbps and lower could be added.)
I think it is important to record that a release (or track?) is in HD because often:
- they are considered to be a "luxury version"
- they are released at different time
- they are sold for a different price
- they usually do not suffer from the loudness war
- the audience is often a little bit different
- the audio material is often being remastered because of the HD release

aerozol wrote:

...as for tagging purposes there is no need to have three releases, eg: AIFF/ FLAC/ MP3 - as they have the same tags regardless, and Picard can tag all of them.

Though MusicBrainz is being used for tagging purposes a lot I think it not the main goal of its existence. For the other purposes we need to record other information too.

pabouk's Website

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-03-07

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

I don't really see what needs to be changed in the database to support this. If the HD release is indeed a separate release with different audio and maybe release date it can already be entered as a separate release in MusicBrainz. Just as we enter separate releases for e.g. the standard and limited edition of an album.

But if it is basically the exact same release, just using a different audio codec, I don't see the value in distinguishing between different releases here. If one really wants to highlight that the release was made available with different audio codecs I think it's absolutely sufficient to add an annotation to the release.

  • From: Czech Republic
  • Registered: 2008-03-17

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

Precisely said proper HD release (not with least significant bits filled by zeroes or noise) will always have a different audio. I wanted to point out that the difference is not only in audio.

Why do we currently make difference between DVD-Audio and SACD? They have the same physical properties.
And what about standard Audio CD and HDCD? They are even compatible.

The main problem as I see it is that currently in MB you can record the the fact that a digital release is in HD only in the annotation.

pabouk's Website

  • Registered: 2011-12-02

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

pabouk wrote:

I think it is important to record that a release (or track?) is in HD because often:
- they are considered to be a "luxury version"
- they are released at different time
- they are sold for a different price
- they usually do not suffer from the loudness war
- the audience is often a little bit different
- the audio material is often being remastered because of the HD release.

All this information can already be added and should not be implied from the release type.

Anyhow, I kinda agree that differentiating between lossy and lossless digital releases could be useful.

(By the way, HD is too much of a gimmick term and should be avoided.)

  • From: Czech Republic
  • Registered: 2008-03-17

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

for4saken wrote:

...All this information can already be added and should not be implied from the release type.

I wrote the list just to show that HD releases do not differ only in number of bits or sample rate.

Anyhow, I kinda agree that differentiating between lossy and lossless digital releases could be useful.

I agree but I think that number of bits (or dynamic range), sample rate (or max. frequency) and number of channels (mono, stereo, 5.1 ...) is more important.
If it looks too technical probably two or three digital audio quality categories could be created - like CD quality (2x16 bits, 44.1 kHz) ...

(By the way, HD is too much of a gimmick term and should be avoided.)

I agree. Please see above.

pabouk's Website

  • Registered: 2011-06-06

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

pabouk wrote:

Though MusicBrainz is being used for tagging purposes a lot I think it not the main goal of its existence. For the other purposes we need to record other information too.

I'm just answering the query, without throwing in an opinion on the situation.

But, since we're here now, digital releases you can download in various file formats shouldn't be separated into different releases, but the file formats available should be listed somewhere in the release info (eg, more than one available per release). Not particularly complicated, and then the info can be utilized later/ given more prominence if needed. And there's really no reason to not let users add this info.

  • From: Czech Republic
  • Registered: 2008-03-17

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

Aerozol, what you suggest is the best feasible solution in my opinion. Unfortunately I think that many people involved in older discussion opposed storing (too many) technical details.

pabouk's Website

  • Registered: 2011-06-06

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

I guess they have their reasoning, but too much information? Not really possible on my watch (;

  • From: Australia
  • Registered: 2008-10-22

Re: hdtracks.com 24bit 96khz or 192khz -what to do?

I recently added a release from HDtracks that has its own barcode, significant from the 16bit edition.