- Official MP3 Release Rules 1.1
- __________________________________________________________
- 1. No Dupes !
- Complete albums/releases are checked, not single tracks. So a release
- is not a dupe if it has different or more tracks.
- Exceptions:
- 1. It's also a dupe if the complete release is included in a
- previous one. For example CDM is released, now someone releases
- the CDS and all tracks of the CDS were already included on the
- CDM (excactly the same tracks).
- 2. You are allowed to create a duplicate release from a release
- that has a source of lower quality (a different source!).
- Example: if vinyl is out then a CD-release is allowed.
- If you do that then please add this info to NFO and dirname. For
- online bought MP3s (-WEB-) we assume the best source quality
- (CDDA or better).
- 3. All MIXED cds should be ripped as one track supplied with a
- .cue. If they are not, they may be duped by another group that
- releases it as one track with a .cue supplied.
- 4. If a WEB version has been released then a CD RETAIL version is
- allowed if the CD version has scans/photos.
- For all LIVE sources:
- + If a show has already been released (e.g. another name, but the
- mix is the same), no dupe of that same show is allowed. If the
- show is included in another release (for example, as a guest
- mix), then it is not allowed either.
- + If a show, containing a guest mix, is a partial dupe (either the
- regular part of the show, or the guest mix), it is allowed to
- release them both as a set. However, it is encouraged to release
- only the new part if the other part is available in equal or
- better quality, denoting in the nfo why the other part was
- omitted.
- + If a show contains the broadcast of a commercially released CD,
- it may not be released if the CD has already been released.
- Note: if you want to release an import-album or some "extendend
- edition" then check rule 7 as well !
- 2. An .SFV and .NFO file must be included in every release.
- If you release a CUE file for multitrack mp3s then the CUE file must
- include artist and tracknames if they are available on the cover or
- inlay.
- 3. Directoryname must at least contain:
- 1. Artist Name - Title - Published Year (decimal) - Group name
- (extra info is allowed of course)
- 2. All bootleg releases must have the word BOOTLEG in dirname.
- (check bootleg rule 14)
- 3. If you release magazine CDs then you must tag them as -MAG-.
- Don't tag them -PROMO-, -ADVANCE- etc..
- 4. The directory name of an INTERNAL release must end with _INT.
- Example: Someone_Something-2007-GROUP_INT
- 5. For all LIVE sources:
- It is not necessary to include the name of the station the show
- is broadcasted on (if it is not included in the directory name,
- it is strongly encouraged to include it in the nfo instead). The
- date must be the date of the broadcast. Both USA (-MM/DD-) and
- EU (-DD/MM-) date format are allowed.
- Exception:
- If a vinyl/cd has no title then it's allowed to replace the title by
- labelname+catnumber (both!). If there is only one artist on the
- vinyl/cd then you must add the artistname.
- 4. Filename must at least contain:
- Track Number - Song Title
- If it's an album with different artists (one artist per track) then
- you must add the artist name as well ("VA-tracks" like mixes don't
- need artistnames).
- The song title for the filename must include the full title as it's
- written on the cover/cd/inlay with all additional infos like
- remixed/featured stuff as long as it doesn't exceed the 128 char
- limit.
- Make sure that your filename is unique otherwise some sites might
- dupeskip.
- Exception:
- If no tracknames are supplied by the source (cd,vinyl,..) then you
- *must* provide proof that these tracks have no names. Either by a
- scan of the original cover of the record company/label (no selfmade
- cdr or bootleg covers) or a link to an official or trusted webpage
- with proofs. If these "untitled tracks" are part of a big mix (no
- silence between the "tracks") then it's considered as one track and
- you must rip it as one mp3/cue and give this track same name as the
- "album".
- 5. Files/directories must only contain characters a-z A-Z 0-9 _ . - ()
- This is to avoid problems with windows/linux-filesystem and
- ftp-servers.
- 6. Self-made releases
- 1. Self-made compilations are not allowed !
- A self-made compilation is when you select tracks from other
- sources, put them together and release that as something new.
- 2. A self-made MIX or completely self-made music is allowed if it's
- good. Sites decide if it's shit by nuking it.
- If you are releasing self-made stuff then that must be clearly
- visible in your nfo.
- If it's not possible to see that it's self-made then it will get
- nuked as bad pack.
- Exception: if the selfmade release is free available at release
- time or when you obviously know that it will be available soon
- then it's not allowed to release it.
- If it's not clear if it's selfmade or not and it's not possible to
- find any information about the release/artist/label then it's up to
- the group to prove that this release is not selfmade (coverscan, url,
- ...). If they are not able to prove that it's real it will get nuked
- as bad pack.
- 7. The entire CD,Vinyl,etc. must be released (not individual tracks)
- If you think it's too much work to rip all tracks you better don't
- rip at all. Releasing the complete CD/Vinyl/.. is necessary because
- otherwise it would be possible to make several (different) releases
- of the same cd/vinyl/etc..
- Exception for albums:
- If a RETAIL album has been released and you have a different edition
- of the same album (foreign/promo/advance/..) then it's allowed to
- release the new/bonus tracks only. But you may NOT re-release an
- entire inital edition within the first three months except if ... :
- ... it's a 1disc release and more than 30% of the tracks of your
- version are not on the previous retail version.
- ... it's a multi disc release and either more than 30% of the tracks
- or at least 6 tracks of your version are not on the previous
- retail version.
- Moreover, it is NOT allowed to re-release a new edition of an retail
- album EVER if the different/extra/bonus tracks are already included
- in one (!) previous release. For example, USA album is released and
- four months later japanese with simply a remix from an old CDM/CDS
- still wouldn't be allowed.
- Example1: album released in US with 10 tracks, japanese edition with
- 11 tracks (1 bonus track that is a new song) then you MUST release
- the jap bonus track only (without including previously released
- tracks of the US album) during the first three months after first
- full retail release. If it's more than 3 months later then you are
- allowed to do either the bonustrack-only or the full album.
- Example2: After the retail you got a promo with 1 different track.
- Then it's not allowed to release this full album within 3 months. If
- the bonus track was already out on a different release then it's not
- even allowed to release it bonus-only.
- Example3: Your different edition has 13 tracks of which 9 were on the
- first retail release and 4 (= more than 30%) are new. Then you are
- allowed to release the full album even within first 3 months. Except
- when the 4 new tracks were already all on ONE previous release. Then
- a release isn't allowed at all.
- For DVD(A) releases check Rule 10.
- 8. Current maximum directory/filename-length is 128 characters
- Exception: Dirfixes that reach the limit by adding "-DIRFIX-"
- 9. No fake-releases
- It's a fake release when artist, title, group or source is incorrect
- (different).
- examples:
- - Some_Artist-Crappy_Music-2004-GRP not released by GRP
- - Another_Artist-Lots_of_Noise-CDM-2004-GRP was ripped from TV or
- downloaded from a paysite
- - Madonna-Something_New-2004-GRP really containing some tracks by
- Marilyn Manson
- 10. DVD/DVDA Ripping
- A DVD/DVDA release must contain all music tracks. Additional tracks
- (interviews etc.) are optional. If those extra tracks are not
- included then a proper (with ALL tracks) or an additional release
- (extra tracks only) is not allowed.
- If tracks are available in several audio formats then you must use
- the "best" version.
- Priority is:
- - PCM stereo (doesn't matter if DVDA or CDDA quality)
- - PCM 3+ channels
- - AC3 (dolby digital) stereo or DTS stereo
- - AC3 (dolby digital) 3+ channels or DTS 3+ channels
- - MPG
- Examples:
- - DVD contains AC3 5.1 and AC3 2.0 => you must rip the AC3 2.0 tracks
- - DVD contains PCM and AC3 2.0 => you must rip the PCM tracks
- - DVD contains MPG and AC3 2.0 => you must rip the AC3 2.0 version
- Normalizing the sound volume is allowed but optional.
- 11. Encoding Quality
- 1. For releases made from MP3s (online bought) and which are not SBD:
- VBR (all combinations, but no maximum bitrate limit) and CBR is
- allowed. The minumum bitrate for CBR is 192kbit.
- => You release the MP3 as is. It is NOT allowed to re-encode! If
- the source is below 192 kbit CBR it's not allowed to release it.
- Release the MP3 unmodifed as you downloaded it. Only
- adding/changing ID3 tag is allowed.
- If you want to release a -WEB- mp3 file with constant bitrate
- (CBR) then you must choose the best version (320->256->224->192
- kbit) available at the shop.
- 2. For ALL other sources (CD, Vinyl, DVD, SBD, CABLE, LINE, etc.):
- You must use either:
- - LAME 3.97 (final version!) with preset V2 and VBRNEW
- ("-V2 --vbr-new") or
- - LAME 3.90.3 (modified version preferred) with preset APS
- ("--alt-preset standard").
- For both LAME versions additional switches which would affect
- the mp3 quality are forbidden, especially no minimum or maximum
- bitrate limits.
- If you use LAME 3.90.3: preset must either be stored in mp3
- header (= modified LAME version) or be part of info in your nfo
- file.
- (If you are going to change your encoder now then switch to
- 3.97. LAME 3.90.3 will probably be removed from this rule in
- next rules version)
- 3. The sampling rate must be either 44.1khz or 48khz. 32khz is not
- allowed. Downsampling to 44.1 or 48khz is allowed (if source is
- better), upsampling to 44.1 or 48khz is not allowed.
- 4. For all LIVE sources: Straight-to-mp3 encoding is allowed, but
- discouraged. The header of the mp3 file must be correct at all
- times.
- 12. Promos
- If a release is considered not to have every track from the source
- then it must be labeled as a promo and can be duped by any legitimate
- retail release that DOES contain all tracks. The legitimate release
- can be identified by the CAT number, or more suitable proof.
- Promos do not have to contain track listings, they are promotional
- material, they are not considered legitimate releases, and are still
- governed by quality rules.
- If you release a promo when the retail is already out then you must
- provide proof that this promo is real to make sure this is not a
- selfmade "promo".
- to reduce amount of fakes:
- A one track promo single release must include cover scans/photos.
- 13. Re-encodes are not allowed.
- Exception: releases of following sources are currently allowed if
- they are tagged correctly:
- DVD, DAB, DVBC/DVBS/DVBT/SAT (compressed digital tv/radio
- sat,cable,terrestrial), MD (live)
- 14. All bootleg releases must have the word BOOTLEG in dirname
- A bootleg recording is a cd/vinyl/dvd that was not officially
- released by the person/company owning the rights to do that (for
- example streetmixes, pirate live cds, etc).
- Because very often it's not 100% clear if something is bootleg there
- are conditions when we assume something is or isn't bootleg. This is
- not a defnition of "bootleg" and if a condition is not true then it
- does not mean the opposite is true. This only helps nukers and groups
- to decide if a bootleg tag is needed and hopefully leads to more fair
- nuking.
- conditions for:
- [records done completely by the artist] (no samples from other
- artists)
- It's bootleg if ...
- - there are no signs that the label really released this
- - the "label" has no connection to the artist
- (independent releases (no label, own label) are allowed and don't
- need a bootleg tag)
- even if the conditions above are true it is NOT bootleg if:
- - the record is available at at least 3 major retail shops
- conditions for:
- [mixes] (samples of other artists included)
- It's not bootleg if ...
- - the record is available at at least 3 major retail shops
- - the label exists and lists the record and the label never released
- any bootlegs and released stuff that was available at major retail
- shops
- - the artist or label of the samples confirms this release is valid
- (on their webpage or some other trusted place)
- "major retail shops" currently are:
- www.amazon.com (.de, .fr ...)
- www.bestbuy.com
- www.walmart.com
- www.cduniverse.com
- www.virginmegastores.co.uk (.gr, .fr, .jp) (US shop excluded)
- www.sonymusicstore.com
- www.juno.co.uk
- www.deejay.de
- www.ukdancerecords.com
- www.dancegrooves.com
- www.threebeatrecords.co.uk
- www.4djsonly.com
- The shop itself must sell the record (no private sellers).
- 15. FREE MP3s
- If music in mp3 format in acceptable quality (CBR 192kbit minimum) or
- files in a lossless format (wav/flac/...) are legally available for
- download on the net at no cost (artist / record company allows it)
- then it's NOT allowed to release those files or mp3s of the same
- tracks you made from this or other sources (cd/vinyl/...).
- 16. SOURCE
- The tracks of a release must all be from the same source and have the
- same quality/cbr-bitrate/vbr-setting/encoder/setting. Taking tracks
- from other scene releases or internal group releases of other groups
- is strictly forbidden.
- If the source is not a pressed CDDA then the directory name needs a
- valid source tag. Valid tags are listed below.
- =RETAIL SOURCES=
- [CD SINGLE] (pressed CDDA)
- dirtag needed: -CDS- or -CDM-
- [CD ALBUM] (pressed CDDA)
- dirtag needed: none
- dirtag suggested: -CDA- (-2CDA- -3CDA- etc.)
- [CD OTHER] (pressed CDDA)
- dirtag needed: none
- dirtag suggested: -CD- (-2CD- -3CD- etc.), -CDEP-
- [VINYL SINGLE]
- dirtag needed: -VLS- or -VINYL-
- dirtag suggested: -VLS-
- [VINYL ALBUM]
- dirtag needed: -LP- or -VINYL-
- dirtag suggested: -LP-
- [VINYL OTHER]
- dirtag needed: -VINYL-
- [DVD] (pressed video DVD)
- dirtag needed: -DVD- (-2DVD- -3DVD- etc.)
- extra nfo info needed:
- - codec of source (AC3, PCM, MPG, DTS),
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [DVD SINGLE] (pressed video DVD)]
- dirtag needed: -DVDS- or -DVD-
- dirtag suggested: -DVDS-
- extra nfo info needed:
- - codec of source (AC3, PCM, MPG, DTS),
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [DVDA] (PCM data of a pressed DVDA, not audio of a video DVD!)
- dirtag needed: -DVDA- (-2DVDA- -3DVDA- etc.)
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [SACD]
- dirtag needed: -SACD- (-2SACD- -3SACD- etc.)
- [HD DVD] (pressed)
- dirtag needed: -HDDVD- (-2HDDVD- -3HDDVD- etc.)
- - codec of source (AC3, DD+, PCM, MPG, DTS, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD)
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [BLU-RAY DISC] (pressed)
- dirtag needed: -BD- (-2BD- -3BD- etc.)
- - codec of source (AC3, DD+, PCM, MPG, DTS, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD)
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- =LIVE SOURCES=
- [ANALOG RADIO] (terrestrial)
- dirtag needed: -FM-
- [ANALOG CABLE]
- dirtag needed: -CABLE-
- [ANALOG OR DIGITAL SAT]
- dirtag needed: -SAT-
- [DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCAST SAT]
- dirtag needed: -DVBS-
- [DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCAST CABLE]
- dirtag needed: -DVBC-
- [DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCAST TERRESTRIAL]
- dirtag needed: -DVBT-
- [DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCAST]
- dirtag needed: -DAB-
- [MD] (MiniDisc)
- dirtag needed: -MD-
- [direct recording by the ripper from soundboard/mixer through the
- LINE-in interface]
- dirtag needed: -LINE-
- [MP3 FILE supplied by a radio station or DJ] (and not recorded from
- a webstream)
- dirtag needed: -SBD-
- [WEBSTREAM] (not allowed, so must be released internally)
- dirtag needed: -STREAM-
- =OTHER SOURCES=
- [WEB] - audio files legally available on the net and not free
- dirtag needed: -WEB-
- extra nfo info needed:
- - codec of source (MP3, PCM, ...),
- - bitrate of source file (if not PCM/WAV),
- - URL to some shop where it's available in that format
- [CDR] (small label/artist releasing CDDA on CDR pr LIVE set supplied
- on CDR)
- dirtag needed: -CDR- (-2CDR- -3CDR- etc.)
- [DVDR] (small label/artist releasing on DVDR)
- dirtag needed: -DVDR- (-2DVDR- -3DVDR- etc.)
- extra nfo info needed:
- - codec of source (AC3, PCM, MPG, DTS),
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [HD DVD RECORDABLE]
- dirtag needed: -HDDVDR- (-2HDDVDR- -3HDDVDR- etc.)
- - codec of source (AC3, DD+, PCM, MPG, DTS, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD)
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [BLU-RAY DISC RECORDABLE]
- dirtag needed: -BDR- (-2BDR- -3BDR- etc.)
- - codec of source (AC3, DD+, PCM, MPG, DTS, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD)
- - number of channels of source (stereo, 5.1, ...)
- [DAT TAPE]
- dirtag needed: -DAT-
- [ANALOG TAPE]
- dirtag needed: -TAPE-
- [HOMEMADE] (done by a groupmember or close friend)
- dirtag needed: -HOMEMADE-
- [UNKNOWN]
- dirtag needed: -BOOTLEG-
- All other "sources" are invalid source tags (-LIVE- , -EP-, ...).
- Which means you need a second tag for the source if you use those
- tags (except for CDs which don't need a source tag).
- A SBD release is not allowed if it could be a re-encode/repack of the
- same show streamed or downloaded free from inet. If a free broadcast
- or download is/was available with 160kbit CBR or better then it's not
- allowed to do a SBD release.
- 17. Trackfixes
- Only one trackfix per release is allowed. If the release needs a
- second trackfix or more than 50% of the tracks need a fix then you
- must re-rip the whole release and all previous releases+dir/nfofixes
- getting nuked.
- A 1-track fix for a 2-track release is allowed (=50% and not "more
- than 50%").
- 18. ID3 Tags
- All mp3 files need an ID3 v1.1 tag. This tag must include Artist,
- Title and Album (see Note #3). The fields Year, Genre and Tracknumber
- must be present but may not be nuked if incorrect.
- An additional ID3 v2 tag is allowed and recommended.
- 19. LIVE release quality
- 1. The set must be complete. This means that every part of the show
- must be released, and the beginning and end must be included in
- their entirety. A set may not miss more than 1 minute from begin
- or end.
- 2. All commercials must be edited out.
- 3. DJ talk can be included to a certain extent: track announcements
- and short lines from the DJ should not be removed; interviews
- and other long talk should be removed (or included in a separate
- file if it's special).
- 4. It is encouraged to fade-in and fade-out the set. However, lack
- of fades constitutes no proper reason.
- Notes:
- 1. Releases with an apparently incorrect year may not be nuked. However
- the year should be correct of course. Keep in mind that a lot of
- sites nuke for fake year when it's incorrect. (The Year in dirname is
- not the year when you released it but when the record company/artist
- published it!)
- 2. If a release labeled as "advance" is identical to the retail version
- then the advance turns into a retail release. This means then it is
- not allowed to dupe it and it counts as retail for ALL rules. If the
- retail is different then of course it's allowed to release it.
- 3. Typos (in dirname, trackname, id3, etc ...) are tolerated if it still
- is readable and either artist or title is 100% correct.
- 4. The audio of a normal video DVD is *NOT* DVDA ! The audio of a DVD
- usually is MP2/AC3/DTS compressed (lossy) while the audio of a real
- DVDA is high quality PCM (lossless, e.g. 24bit/192khz). Tagging a
- normal DVD release as -DVDA- will get nuked.
- change-log:
- 2007-01-15 first version (v1.0)
- 2007-06-01 rule 1: live sources addition
- 2007-06-01 1.4 added (CD after WEB allowed)
- 2007-06-01 3.4 added (INT tagging)
- 2007-06-01 3.5 added (live sources)
- 2007-06-01 rule 4 addition (remix info in filenames)
- 2007-06-01 rule 7 reworded to make clear it's for promos/advances too and
- to allow full re-releases within 3 months more than 30% is new.
- 2007-06-01 rule 11 addition: best CBR must be released for WEB releases
- 2007-06-01 11.3 added (minimum sampling rate)
- 2007-06-01 11.4 added + rewordings for live sources
- 2007-06-01 rule 13 adjusted for live sources
- 2007-06-01 rule 16 reworded to forbid different encoders in one release
- 2007-06-01 rule 16: new sources HD DVD and BLU RAY added
- 2007-06-01 rule 16: "CDDA" added to all CD-sources
- 2007-06-01 rule 16: all live sources adjusted, "SBD" rips limited
- 2007-06-01 rule 19 added (LIVE release quality)
- V1.1 active since 2007-06-01, signed by:
- 1way AMRC BERC BF BOSS BUTT CMG CMS CR dh DPS EGM EGO EMP ESC ESK FKK FNT
- FTD FWYH gEm GRAVEWISH i8 iDC iPC JAH JFK JUST KzT MIL MNS MOD NBD
- NukeNet OBC ONe PMS PULSE pyt RAGEMP3 RpM RTB SAW SER Sheepnet SiRiON
- sour TCLUB TGX tronik TWCLIVE uF UPE ViC wAx WiTF XXL
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday 23rd August 2011 21:40:17 - Never Expires
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