Support and General Use > Audio Playback, Database and Playlists

ALBUM ARTIST tag in database

<< < (2/3) > >>

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:

--- Quote from: Llorean on June 01, 2007, 07:31:56 PM ---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?

--- End quote ---

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


--- Quote --- 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
--- End quote ---

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:

--- Quote from: Llorean on June 02, 2007, 03:10:39 AM ---So, outside of the "Various Artists" situation, could you give me some examples of use that require specifically the Album Artist tag?

--- End quote ---

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 ?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page