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  #1  
Old Nov 24, 2008, 07:17 AM
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lockshaw13 lockshaw13 is offline
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Default iTunes soundtracks

Hey everyone,

If a digital version of a soundtrack is available on iTunes, should it be added as a separate entry in the database as a reprint, or should a note be made on the parent album about the digital version? Thanks
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  #2  
Old Nov 24, 2008, 09:44 AM
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If the tracklist is different (such as extra audio tracks -- video can be omitted) then it should be a separate entry. If it's identical to the original printing in every way (release date, cover art, etc) then it'd best be put in the notes. Otherwise it'd be a child album entry (I should probably change the wording to "digital release of" rather than "reprint of").
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Old Nov 24, 2008, 10:24 AM
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If the digital release is missing tracks, should it still be a child album, or should it receive its own entry? I was under the impression child albums were only used for re-releases.
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Old Nov 24, 2008, 11:01 AM
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Same tracklist, same release date = Info in notes field
Same tracklist, different release date = Child album
Different tracklist = New entry
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  #5  
Old Nov 24, 2008, 01:27 PM
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Well since iTunes only has the release date of the original, pressed CD (as far as I can tell anyway), most of them will end up being added to the notes.
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  #6  
Old Nov 25, 2008, 04:14 PM
CaptainCommando CaptainCommando is offline
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Well, iTunes albums are distributed as mp3 only, right? That would make them a lossy format in comparison to the CD. Therefore, while superficially the content of an iTunes album and a CD with the same tracklists, etc would be the same, they are really different. I'd say it's a modern analogy to releasing the album on CD versus cassette or LP, with the difference being it's a digital-digital conversion. Most people won't know the difference and one is more economical, but there's still a difference once you get down to it. I don't think that constitutes listing a different album for it, though, but it's something to consider.
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Old Nov 25, 2008, 05:28 PM
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I agree, we'll also have to seriously consider the prospect that entire catalogues may be re-released in digital format in the future. There should be a way to give them proper entries without cluttering up the database with redundant data. I'll give this some thought when we expand the db structure.
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Old Nov 26, 2008, 09:02 AM
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We originally did treat reprints differently. I think they had their own table with a greatly reduced set of data. The problem that arose from this was that they really couldn't be treated as albums under normal interaction without extra complication to the queries. In other words, they wouldn't show up in album searches, and you couldn't add them to your collection. Over time, the number of fields that might differ between releases has also increased.

So yeah, maybe there's a clever solution somewhere. We'll just have to keep our eye on what happens with new digital releases. So far, it looks like most of the entries in our database have some tracklist changes compared to the original media releases.

Also, maybe we need a field to describe the digital media more specifically -> mp3 vs ogg, 128 vs VBR, etc.
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Old Feb 18, 2009, 11:06 AM
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EDIT: Removed as question was already answered.
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  #10  
Old Feb 21, 2009, 05:30 AM
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One thing we need to be careful about. Chris has pointed out that the iTunes releases often have different (i.e. longer) track times tham the physical releases, even if they have the same track titles. For this reason, we need to be much more careful. Track names and times from iTunes releases should never be entered into the original album pages because of this.

For the most part, this implies that each iTunes release is going to have to get its own album entry. Because of the tracktimes, these might not always be considered reprintings either. Still, the way that we're handling these releases doesn't seem like it's working yet. There's something not very clean or concise about it.

A couple of proposals:
  • What if we "(iTunes)" to the end of the titles so that they can be distinguished from the official releases more easllly. This will clean up search results and discographies.
  • I'm not very happy with setting the release date to the album's release date when unknown. It's misleading to have an iTunes digital album with a 1991 release date. I think we'd be better off estimating the year, at least getting it in the ballpark.
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  #11  
Old Aug 22, 2009, 04:32 PM
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The following albums have been posted on iTunes
(differences from current physical released are noted when there is any):


American McGee's Alice Original Music Score
Apidya Soundtrack
Crysis Original Soundtrack (2008/10/07 & 9.99$)
Diablo II Soundtrack (published by Azeroth Music)
Devil May Cry 4 Original Soundtrack (29,99 $)
Fable (2 releases with same contents 2005/02/15 & 2008/10/07)
Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack (already entered)
Final Fantasy II Original Soundtrack (already entered)
Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version
Final Fantasy VII Reunion Tracks (19 tracks only, missing the last one)
Final Fantasy X Original Soundtrack (missing: track 01 from disc 1 "I Want to Tell You Everything" & track 20 from disc 4 "Please Remember")
Final Fantasy X-2 Original Soundtrack (release date 31 march 2005)
Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack
Final Fantasy XI Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack
Final Fantasy XI Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack
Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack
Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess Original Soundtrack
Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec: Final Fantasy VIII (12 tracks only, missing the track 07 "Eyes On Me")
Genesis Rising Original Game Soundtrack
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - Companion Piece
Hitman: Blood Money Original Soundtrack (2008/10/07)
Hitman: Contracts Original Soundtrack (2008/10/07)
More Than Mario
Piano Collections Final Fantasy VIII
Piano Collections Final Fantasy X
Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI
Perfect Dark Zero Original Soundtrack (2008/10/07)
PLAY! A Video Game Symphony Live! (2009/01/30 , published by Play Event / TMC Entertainment)
Red Steel Original Soundtrack
Sono Mukou no Mukougawa Image Vocal Tracks
Subarashiki Kono Sekai + The World Ends with You
Tenchu 3 Original Sound Track (published by Mega-Alpha)
The Very Best of Sega
Tunnel B1 Soundtrack (1998/02/08)
Unreal Tournament III The Soundtrack
Video Games Live: Volume One (2008/06/30, EMI Records)
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Soundtrack (2002/07/03, published by Azeroth Music)
World of Warcraft: Taverns of Azeroth Soundtrack (2007/08/10, published by Azeroth Music)
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Soundtrack (published by Azeroth Music)

Last edited by Myrkul; Sep 2, 2009 at 02:33 PM.
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