DIsable Gracenote? And iTunes blank CDs

Question

Level 1

15 points

DIsable Gracenote? And iTunes blank CDs

I extracted audio from several FLV files I authored using MPEG Stream as AIFF format. Using Toast 9 I made an audio CD of each and then loaded it on the computer to hear it. iTunes searched the Gracenote database and has permanently attached a random name and artist to the track. There is only one track on each of the three CDs (recording of a church service). How can I get rid of this information? Finder even appears to list the CD with the same information, not the info I embedded in Toast 9.

Now when I try to bypass using Toast 9 and import the file into iTunes and burn the playlist, iTunes will not read my blank CD-R!! Why?

Message was edited by: me100finn (added details)

MacPro 2.66, 250GB drive, 2GB ram, Mac OS X (10.5.8), MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 19, 2010 8:45 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

428,189 points

Apr 19, 2010 8:56 PM in response to me100finn

[How iTunes remembers audio CDs|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93952]

Reply

Answer 2

ed2345

Level 9

63,602 points

Apr 20, 2010 6:34 PM in response to me100finn

Gracenote tries to identify the CD using the pattern of tracks and times, but will commonly make incorrect identifications on CDs with one single track, for obvious reasons.

The second issue is that Toast can write CD Text on the CD, but iTunes (is one of the very few importing tools that) cannot read CD Text, so that will not overwrite the Gracenote data.

However, why don't you just import the track into iTunes, and change its data manually using right-click > Get Info, Info tab. That will tag the file and you will no longer be depending on the remembered CD info.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 25, 2010 12:16 PM in response to ed2345

ed2345 is correct on all counts. CDs with one track have very little information with which to identify the disc. The possible range of values is relatively small, so it is common for more than one distinct CD to share the same identifier. Because of this, Gracenote never returns an authoritative answer for CD singles, and applications are supposed to surface a pop-up dialog to allow the user to confirm the answer. If iTunes does not do this, it should...

I would note that CD Text is generally pretty crappy (on commercial CDs - if you make it yourself it's a different matter), so under most conditions you wouldn't want it to override Gracenote text. But you can edit any disc information in iTunes, so on those occasions when Gracenote data isn't exactly what you want, you can always change it to your satisfaction.

If you do edit disc information, you should send it to Gracenote, even if it's a home burn. To do this, click on "Submit CD tracknames" under the "Advanced" menu in iTunes.

Message was edited by: Elwood J Cat

Reply

Answer 4

me100finn Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 25, 2010 2:14 PM in response to Elwood J Cat

I was concerned the actual info was burned on the CD itself as the incorrect name. The one-track CD is simply a church service recording, so it will not make much sense to submit these CDs to Gracenote as they are for our church use only. I understand how Gracenote works now. Assuming most people know how to rename the tracks in iTunes, they can do so when they copy it to their computer.

Thanks for the help!

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 25, 2010 4:10 PM in response to me100finn

Just for the record, people are encouraged to submit even personal burns to Gracenote. This way, if you make even one copy and give it to someone, the titles will show up for them. If you make copies for your church members, it would potentially be helpful for them when they put the disc in their computer.

Reply