Gracenote CDDB

Posted by: kevinrt on 05 November 2004

How does this work?

Is it a massive database which identifies my CD from some coded information sent from iTunes. I wondered if the information was actually on the CD and Gracenote just took it and presented it back in a readable form.

I've been surprised at some of the things it has come back with track listings for (everything I've thrown at it actually) including obscure record label compilations, CD singles and freebies from magazines.
Posted on: 05 November 2004 by Steve Hall
It looks at
[LIST]
  • The number of tracks on the CD
  • The length of the tracks on the CD
  • The size of the inter-track gaps

    And, this is nearly unique. The enties are update by users of some software, such as Exact Audio Copy, who have been adding this information each time they rip a CD for years and years.

    Welcome Apple, the revelution started year ago.
    • Posted on: 05 November 2004 by Steve Hall
    From a further look at this, I've found out we both maybe right.

    Check here

    This is taken from the gracenote patent for cddb, and it shows the information feeds from the record companies.

    Good huh?
    Posted on: 05 November 2004 by throbnorth
    Gracenote used to be called CDDB, and was one of those philanthropic internet things where the public submitted CD data so that..., well no reason really - just because.

    Then the guys who organised & hosted the system upped & sold the database which had been built by the public for a very large amount of money. It became Gracenote, and now charges programmers & companies who wish to incorporate it in their products quite sizeable sums. You can well imagine how people who had laboriously typed in all that information felt; well pissed off. You can still submit information yourself, but I think that now it's a pay system, Gracenote themselves organise most new input, and are doing very well as use of their product increases exponentially.

    FreeDB is the replacement for the original project, and can be used by anybody without payment. Audiograbber uses it, and I have been quite surprised, while ripping my CD's for the iPod, at just how comprehensive it it. Seems to be considerably better than Gracenote, in fact- especially for classical music on odd obscure labels.

    throb