Understanding Rippers and Accuraterip Submissions Options

[jayess]

I'm trying to learn more about the process of ripping and how it works in regards to Accuraterip.

"For example, audio CDs contain 16-bit, 44.1 KHz LPCM-encoded audio samples interleaved with secondary data streams and synchronization and error correction info. The ripping software tells the CD drive's firmware to read this data and parse out just the LPCM samples. The software then dumps them into a WAV or AIFF file, or feeds them to another codec to produce, for example, a FLAC or MP3 file."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripping

If I insert a CD from say Led Zepplin's box set of complete studio recordings, or an Elton John hybrid SACD, or a CD that's been remastered, how does a ripper and Accuraterip differentiate and correctly identify which of the recordings I have? If the selection the ripper returns in identifying the media is wrong (the media is a 2009 remaster and the ripper claims it is the original 1973 disc) and I don't change/correct it, how does that affect the database?

[pdq]

Many different people submit CD metadata to the databases, and there is wide variation in how they all interpret the meaning of the different fields (as well as outright errors). Unless you check every time you are about to rip, you will often get files with tags that are not what you wanted.

For someone who has ripped as many CDs as you say you have, I am surprised that this is all news to you.

[jayess]

Many different people submit CD metadata to the databases, and there is wide variation in how they all interpret the meaning of the different fields (as well as outright errors). Unless you check every time you are about to rip, you will often get files with tags that are not what you wanted.

For someone who has ripped as many CDs as you say you have, I am surprised that this is all news to you.

I fix the errors before I rip and submit, but I await the wiki with these questions:

What does AR do?
How is AR organized?
What do AR results mean?
What are pressings according to AR and how does this differ from what pressings are in real-life?
What steps are taken to curb errant or redundant submissions as well as vandalism?

Another question on a different point:
How does a drive know where the disc ends?

This post has been edited by jayess: Sep 10 2012, 20:05

[greynol]

What are pressings according to AR and how does this differ from what pressings are in real-life?

AR keeps individual records for each unique disc id. The pertinent information used to generate this id has already been given. Within each record exists one or more checksums for each track and how many times it was submitted. It is assumed that each unique checksum for any given track came from a unique pressing. In the real world, pressings of the same title can have tracks with different lengths and start times. It is even possible for the tracks to be in a different order or have a different total because there were bonus tracks or some tracks on one pressing may be combined into a larger track on another pressing. Because discs with different numbers, track lengths or start times will generate a new record in the AR database, they are not considered to be different pressings of the same title.

Ancillary cases like remasters are already covered in the above explanation. Please read it a second time before asking about them.

EDIT: The key point here is that AR submissions are organized into different records (records as in a dental or criminal, not records as in sides one and two of "The Song Remains the Same" on vinyl). Each record may contain information for multiple "pressings" (scary quotes intentional; they may or may not reflect different pressings in the real world) and will do so on a track by track basis.

This post has been edited by greynol: Sep 11 2012, 15:02