ALBUM ARTIST tag in database

[brimstone]

The database appears to have support for the ALBUM ARTIST tag but none of my files with this tag is recongnized as having it (tags are ID3v2.4 tagged by foobar2000). I have one file that has the BAND tag and it is recognized by the database as an album artist tag.

Does the database support the ALBUM ARTIST tag or do I have to use the BAND tag. My player is an H120 with the 070531 daily build.

[bascule]

The Wiki is your friend...
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/DataBase#Supported_Tags

Look in the comments column

[stripwax]

What is the id3v2.4 tag name for your "ALBUM ARTIST" tag?  Foobar should be able to tell you that.  The "TPE2" tag is supported by rockbox and usually defines the 'performer' or 'band' (this is probably what foobar tells you is called "BAND").  Also "TP2" seems to be supported too.   I don't know what foobar thinks of as "ALBUM ARTIST" however..

[Rincewind]

I don't know exactly, but I think that foobar2k uses a TXXX field with the name ALBUM ARTIST.
I would really like to have this supported in Rockbox, too. I know that it is technically not very hard to do, because TXXX fields are read in for replaygain anyway.
It looks like this is not the 'right' way for the Rockbox devs.  

[brimstone]

I don't know exactly, but I think that foobar2k uses a TXXX field with the name ALBUM ARTIST.
I would really like to have this supported in Rockbox, too. I know that it is technically not very hard to do, because TXXX fields are read in for replaygain anyway.
It looks like this is not the 'right' way for the Rockbox devs.  

You are correct, Foobar2000 uses the TXXX frame for the ALBUM ARTIST tag according to the wiki at hydrogenaudio. The tag BAND is written to TPE2.
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Foobar2000:ID3_Tag_Mapping

To solve my problem i just wrote BAND tags identical to my ALBUM ARTIST tags but it would be nice if the database supported ALBUM ARTIST in the TXXX frame.

[Llorean]

Out of curiosity, could you define what, exactly, an "ALBUM ARTIST" is, and why it's separate from "Band" or any of the other predefined tags common to most specs, and requires a custom one?

[brimstone]

Out of curiosity, could you define what, exactly, an "ALBUM ARTIST" is, and why it's separate from "Band" or any of the other predefined tags common to most specs, and requires a custom one?

ALBUM ARTIST is the tag used in foobar2000 for split CDs, compilations and the like to describe all the performers on an album.  I don't know how much it is used outside foobar2000.

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Encouraged_Tag_Standards

ALBUM ARTIST

Basics:

    * the tag-fieldname used for declaring and describing albums/split-EPs or split-singles which contain various artists is "ALBUM ARTIST" (separated with space, not underscore)
    * tag should only exist if an album contains various artists. It should NOT be created when an album does not contain various artists.
    * the tag can contain the overall artist of an album (like e.g. "the foo-bar collective",) multiple artists (e.g. with split-EPs) or if an album does not have a clear overall artist (for example with compilations) just "Various Artists". Simply said: you're free to enter whatever you like as long as it describes the overall album-wide artist(s).
    * every track in a V.A.-album has to contain this tag with the same value
    * the track-specific artist should be entered into the ARTIST-tag
    * the TITLE-tag should only contain the track-title

Reasons for this standard:

    * it solves all issues regarding albums which contain multiple artists with just one tag
    * it is already in widespread use
    * sortable and searchable with low effort
    * keeping the ARTIST-tag trackspecific allows to find tracks in V.A.-albums as well when searching for a certain artist (DB-friendly)
    * keeping the TITLE-tag title-specific allows sorting and searching of V.A.-albums by title (DB-friendly)
    * allows meaningful determination and display of V.A.-Albums with a minimum amount of code
    * avoids resource-hungry and unsafe "guessing" of V.A.-albums via the filepath
    * easy to remember and type in manually
    * does not disrupt existing systems when the ARTIST- and TITLE-tag are already track specific (easy transition)
    * can coexist with additional directory-based sorting and marking
    * can be used for split-EPs and split-singles as well
    * supported by Field Remappings in foobar2000 0.9

I hope this was the answer to your question.

[Llorean]

So, outside of the "Various Artists" situation, could you give me some examples of use that require specifically the Album Artist tag?

I'm just curious if this tag is really that useful for anyone other than foobar2000 users, or if it's a makeshift solution to a problem that might have real solutions.

[linuxstb]

So, outside of the "Various Artists" situation, could you give me some examples of use that require specifically the Album Artist tag?

One use that comes to mind is albums with guest performers on certain tracks.  You would want the album to come under the name "Artist A", but the individual track to have the artist as something like "Artist A with Artist B".

[stripwax]

Mm, but how is that any different from having BAND="Artist A" and ARTIST="Artist A with Artist B".  How does a seperate "ALBUM ARTIST" tag help ?

[linuxstb]

Mm, but how is that any different from having BAND="Artist A" and ARTIST="Artist A with Artist B".  How does a seperate "ALBUM ARTIST" tag help ?

Apologies for not reading the thread fully - I thought the question related to the use of an album-artist tag in general, rather than some id3v2 specific weirdness.  I don't want to get involved in that discussion...

[Rincewind]

I think this is just a special foobar2k way, because no standard existed before. Maybe they wanted to use a TXXX field to have the same name across formats. There is also a tag TRACK ARTIST (which is kind of a counter part for album artist). With this you can have the normal artist tag for the whole album, and the tracks with guests get an additional Track Artist field.

Using the TPE2 tag is not that much of a problem, since foobar is flexible enough to use this tag, too.
I just did a quick google search and found out that amarok (my current music player in linux) will support TPE2 as album artist in the future, my previous comment is obsolete now, for me.  

Generally speaking, it would still be nice to have support for arbitrary tags in the database, but that is not easy to do in a way that works nice with different tag formats.

[Theobald]

Arghl, I just spent an hour testing why RB won't show me the "ALBUM ARTIST" tag on my new e280 before I eventually searched the forum and found this thread.

I am too using foobar2k and I have several albums where I have set the "ALBUM ARTIST" and I think the BAND (TPE2) tag does not fit.

I think this is just a special foobar2k way, because no standard existed before.

Yes, when there is nothing in the specifications, you simply have to use a new field (that's why there is the TXXX). Using TPE2 for the Album Artist is clearly a misuse of that field. And just because WinAmp, iTunes and whoever misuses this field too, does not make it automatically right.
I really hope there will be a new Album Artist tag in the next version of ID3 and TPE2 stays like it was intended.

An example (beside the VAs): Late Night Tales - Jamiroquai

Therefore I would really like to see Rockbox (which is a great piece of software btw  ) to additionally support the Album Artist tag.

Pretty please with a cherry on top  

[bzavala]

Another example is Yoko Ono - Yes I'm a Witch

Different bands playing her music, and she still... well.. sings...


Ben  8-)