Studio News/Blog

CD Text and Online Album Information Databases

Bernie Becker — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:24:46 +0000

CD Text and online album information databases have been the cause of much confusion for our clients over the years.

One would understandably assume that if the song titles and other album information were embedded in the CD master as CD Text during the mastering process that when the CD was placed in a computer for playback that software such as Apple iTunes and Microsoft Windows Media Player would utilize it to correctly identify the album, it’s artist, and track names. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

While the embedded album name, artist name, and track titles on a mastered disc are properly read in many car stereos, home stereos, and other non-internet connected devices, CD Text is not used by most music playback software, which instead use online databases as the source for album information.

For this reason it is very important for our clients to register their album information with the various online databases to ensure that their CD’s display properly when inserted in a computer.

Apple iTunes uses Gracenote’s CDDB, in which CD information can be easily submitted right from in the iTunes software. Place your reference master into your computer. When the CD displays in iTunes, right-click on the first track and select “Get Info.” Enter the track info for each song. When you’re finished, select ‘Submit CD Tracks Names’ from the ‘Advanced’ menu.

Windows Media Player uses information from the AMG database. This database is not user editable, so you must send your CD to Rovi Enterprises to be added. You can find more information on how to do that HERE.

Pro Tools 9 vs. Pro Tools 10 shootout on GS

Bernie Becker — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:55:47 +0000

Hey Everyone,

Check out the shootout that we did on GS.

Fun Times.

Dale

A great message to us all today from the Lefsetz Letter

Bernie Becker — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:58:29 +0000

I always enjoy Bob Lefsetz's letter, but sometimes he really nails it. Having survived the industry for so long has just allowed him to have such a unique perspective and great insight. Please check out his thought for the day below about George Harrison's Sgt. Pepper. Really great. -db

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/

Bernie's thought for the day

Bernie Becker — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:46:44 +0000

In a contemporary world where mixes are recalled many times, incremental adjustments are done over the coarse of busy schedules and client refs are made using a plug in to achieve commercial loudness, the truth, nuance and intitial connection with the music in the mix is often lost, overlooked, or overmagnified.

Mastering is often a time a rediscovering the exitement (and sometimes the frustation) of a project.

In the studio with legendary vocalist Linda McCrary & bassist/producer John Peña

Bernie Becker — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:59:00 +0000

I got extremely excited when I got called for the new Christian Assembly Voices album by long time friend Linda McCrary. We had talked about this album months ago, but as you all know how things go in the music industry, things always take so much longer than anticipated. So when I actually had the final mixes in my computer Thursday afternoon, I was pretty amped. The arrangements and performances are fantastic. Sometimes, I almost forget what musical performances made by humans sound like. Seems these days, we hear more of the computer than the person...

Anyways, I digress... Had a GREAT time hanging with the two. John Peña is such a sweetheart and of course Linda is always a riot. I look forward to wrapping this album up for them. I'm about 80% of the way there!

- Dale