- How do you create metadata for each song - what fields are must and what SW you use to create it
- How do you set 2 sec pause between the songs (which program do you use), but keep different file formats available - wavs, flacs, cd tracks, etc.
In Audition I can create a CD project, and it sets 2 sec pause between songs automatically, while I can create the metadata there as well, but this is to burn it directly on CD at the end, not saving and keeping this on file level.
I want to have on file level all metadata for different format files, and then to be used either for creating a CD, or for uploading to streaming platforms.
For streaming/download my clients enter all the information in a spreadsheet or online form. There is no metadata contained in the files.
For my biggest client, I take the spreadsheet he creates for the digital distributor and import the relevant metadata with the necessary formatting into Reaper and create a DDP format CD master from there.
I also remove any automatic 2 second gap (apart from the gap before track 1 which is compulsory) and set the gaps by ear. Some clients prefer 10 second gaps while others prefer less than one second gaps.
James Perrett wrote:For streaming/download my clients enter all the information in a spreadsheet or online form. There is no metadata contained in the files.
Ok, clear.
James Perrett wrote:For my biggest client, I take the spreadsheet he creates for the digital distributor and import the relevant metadata with the necessary formatting into Reaper and create a DDP format CD master from there.
Ok, one more reason to move to Reaper.
James Perrett wrote:I also remove any automatic 2 second gap (apart from the gap before track 1 which is compulsory) and set the gaps by ear. Some clients prefer 10 second gaps while others prefer less than one second gaps.
But to be perfectly clear to me - when you say "set the gaps by ear" you mean to extend the audio tracks or...?
If I need let's say 5 secs between each song, do I have to extend each track with 5 sec silence at the end in DAW?
Or after you set the gap you want, the SW (in your case Reaper) adds it automatically to each track?
If each song is in a separate file then I'll place them all on the timeline in the order that I want and then listen to each transition between the pieces. If it sounds to rushed I'll move the second piece to the right (later) to add more space between the tracks whereas if it sounds too long I'll see if I can remove some silence or shorten the fade on the previous piece to allow the subsequent song to be moved earlier. Every gap is set separately by ear (it doesn't take long once). I don't usually use end of track markers, just start markers, so the gap is appended to the previous track. If you don't want the extra silence on the previous track you can use an end of track marker (known as an Index 0) where you want the track to end. A start marker is also known as Index 1.
Reaper has a ripple edit button which keeps the timing the same for later edits which is useful here. I think Audition has something similar.
Once the timings are right I'll place the track markers which contain the metadata.
I usually generate files for digital distribution from the DDP master but sometimes they need to be at a slightly different level so I'll generate a slightly different master for digital distribution.
If I'm doing vinyl, I will usually do the vinyl master first with all the timings as it doesn't need the limiting that CD usually does (and currently, due to pressing plant capacity issues, the vinyl master is needed weeks or months before the CD master).
Last edited by James Perrett on Thu Mar 11, 2021 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just want to say I'm so pleased to read that someone adjusts the silences to suit the tracks. If there's one think I hate it's a lovely soft relaxing song instantly followed by heavy metal!
OK, that's an extreme example but you get the point!
James Perrett wrote:If each song is in a separate file then I'll place them all on the timeline in the order that I want and then listen to each transition between the pieces. If it sounds to rushed I'll move the second piece to the right (later) to add more space between the tracks whereas if it sounds too long I'll see if I can remove some silence or shorten the fade on the previous piece to allow the subsequent song to be moved earlier. Every gap is set separately by ear (it doesn't take long once). I don't usually use end of track markers, just start markers, so the gap is appended to the previous track. If you don't want the extra silence on the previous track you can use an end of track marker (known as an Index 0) where you want the track to end. A start marker is also known as Index 1.
Reaper has a ripple edit button which keeps the timing the same for later edits which is useful here. I think Audition has something similar.
Once the timings are right I'll place the track markers which contain the metadata.
I usually generate files for digital distribution from the DDP master but sometimes they need to be at a slightly different level so I'll generate a slightly different master for digital distribution.
If I'm doing vinyl, I will usually do the vinyl master first with all the timings as it doesn't need the limiting that CD usually does (and currently, due to pressing plant capacity issues, the vinyl master is needed weeks or months before the CD master).
