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Thread: Need advise on including album title, artist and song title(CD Text) for my EP album

  1. #1
    Member Top Cat's Avatar
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    Need advise on including album title, artist and song title(CD Text) for my EP album

    Hi everyone, I've recently joined Bandcamp and I'm getting ready to upload my EP album Odyssey.
    I'd like to have each track visible with song title if possible. I don't use iTunes and burn my cds using NCH Express Burn software.
    I've used the option of CD Text that is available and the album title, artist and song titles all show up in a box before burning. It requires you use the one time burn session mode for it to be effective, which is what I do.
    But when I play the cd in my car, cd player and even Blu Ray audio, none of the titles appear. And as usual it's all basic stuff when using Windows Media Player, nothing shows up but track numbers and unknown artist.
    Any ideas?

    Also for those of you who use Bandcamp to make your music available, is it necessary to have the song titles or does your work simply appear as Track 1, Track 2, etc.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  2. #2
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Bandcamp allows you to title each song, in fact you can add a whole description if you want, sell it separately (or not), give it composer & publisher ("credits") information, lyrics, separate "track artwork," give it searchable tags, or attach a video. You can even attach secondary artwork which isn't seen until the track is purchased.

    But I'm not sure how much of this is embedded on the CD as text and how much is simply on the BC website.

  3. #3
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Okay, I took an album I recently downloaded off Bandcamp -- Jon Keliehor's "Fables of Forests and Light" (fabulous album BTW) -- and popped it into my car stereo. It displays artist, track and album title information, which I know I didn't add.

    By the way, the default, if you don't add titles, is to call them track 1, track 2, etc.
    Last edited by rcarlberg; 11-13-2019 at 08:07 AM.

  4. #4
    Member Top Cat's Avatar
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    Thank you so much for sharing your information and experience.
    Although the album will be offered as a name your price, I want to make it as professional as possible and would really like the appropriate info to be displayed.
    I realize once it's uploaded all the song titles and duration will be displayed on the page, I had hoped it would be included once the album is downloaded.
    Album cover image and back cover with song titles will also be available.

    I've read, Nero Express software has this info available, but uncertain if it's basically the same thing as NCH Express which has worked flawlessly over the years for me.

    Thanks again, your input is greatly appreciated.
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Jon Keliehor's "Fables of Forests and Light" (fabulous album BTW)
    It sure is
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  6. #6
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Incidentally, you can upload an album (or EP) and get everything the way you want it, before you make it public. There's a full-featured "private listing" feature.

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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Top Cat View Post
    Although the album will be offered as a name your price, I want to make it as professional as possible ...
    Why are you listing as "name your price"? I had a discussion with Jon on this very point. If somebody samples your music, and likes it, they will undoubtedly be willing to pay a fair price for it. Nobody buys music they don't want just because it's free. Or if they do, they delete it. You worked hard making the music; you deserve some money for it.

    Don't be too shy to ask.

  8. #8
    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    Streaming "Fables of Forests" right now.
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Incidentally, you can upload an album (or EP) and get everything the way you want it, before you make it public. There's a full-featured "private listing" feature.
    Thanks for that information, that will come in handy while I'm trying to get it all set up. I have to use the free version of Bandcamp, the Pro version is $10 a month and we're both retired now so I have to watch my budget.

    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Why are you listing as "name your price"? I had a discussion with Jon on this very point. If somebody samples your music, and likes it, they will undoubtedly be willing to pay a fair price for it. Nobody buys music they don't want just because it's free. Or if they do, they delete it. You worked hard making the music; you deserve some money for it.

    Don't be too shy to ask.
    I appreciate your comments and I'm seriously considering posting an amount for the download. It's something new for me to wrap my head around, but what you say makes perfect sense to me, and I will still have each song available to listen to before anyone decides whether they want to download the album or not.
    I think the default for streaming is set to 3 listens.
    Thank you for your advise rcarlberg.

    On another note, I just checked a cd I bought on Bandcamp by Karibow, From Here to the Impossible and it also just displays the Track number for each song.
    My research seems to indicate, song titles are displayed when the duplication process is performed for multiple copies in a commercial setting.

    I think we'll be good to go the way it is.

    John Battema, question? do you know what format you need to provide a download for the cover art? I'm using a photographic image and using Open Office to print the covers for cds in the correct proportions. In otherwords, can I provide a Open Office document to Bandcamp for download cover art?
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  10. #10
    Ummmm, I believe you need to provide a JPG, PNG, or GIF file. I'm not sure offhand about size limits, arguably bigger is better (maybe 1200x1200 pixels for a max target?). Your software should be able to export in one of the three formats mentioned...

    I haven't messed with that recently myself, sorry for the slightly vague answer!
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  11. #11
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    There are top limits on music file size -- based on your previous sales through Bandcamp -- although the limit is large for first timers, well over 30:00 per track (600 mb).

    There are also limits on album cover files. They must be AT LEAST 1400 pixels by 1400 pixels. There's also an upper limit too, 10 mb. John Battema is correct on the formats supported.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Why are you listing as "name your price"? I had a discussion with Jon on this very point. If somebody samples your music, and likes it, they will undoubtedly be willing to pay a fair price for it. Nobody buys music they don't want just because it's free. Or if they do, they delete it. You worked hard making the music; you deserve some money for it.

    Don't be too shy to ask.
    Thanks again for your advise, I created my bandcamp page and album is posted with a price.

    Quote Originally Posted by battema View Post
    Ummmm, I believe you need to provide a JPG, PNG, or GIF file. I'm not sure offhand about size limits, arguably bigger is better (maybe 1200x1200 pixels for a max target?). Your software should be able to export in one of the three formats mentioned...

    I haven't messed with that recently myself, sorry for the slightly vague answer!
    After much hair pulling, I figured everything out and have the page completed and album posted on Bandcamp.
    They suggest minimum of 1400x1400 pixels with a max of 3000x3000. I went with 2000x2000.

    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    There are top limits on music file size -- based on your previous sales through Bandcamp -- although the limit is large for first timers, well over 30:00 per track (600 mb).

    There are also limits on album cover files. They must be AT LEAST 1400 pixels by 1400 pixels. There's also an upper limit too, 10 mb.
    Thanks for the private page info, it helped me greatly as I created my Bandcamp page.
    You are correct, cover art should be 1400x1400 min, 3000x3000 max.

    I've posted the link to my Bandcamp page over at What's New forum.

    Here it is again.. https://richardhermans.bandcamp.com/releases
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  13. #13
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Looks (& sounds) fantastic. That cover photo is quite something, isn't it? Great job Richard!

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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Looks (& sounds) fantastic. That cover photo is quite something, isn't it? Great job Richard!
    Thank you so much, yes after numerous pages of scrolling through NASA space images photos, my heart jumped with excitement when I saw that photo and knew it was the one.
    Thanks again for all your help today and kind words.
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  15. #15
    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    Looks great, giving it a listen now.
    Ian

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    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    That's one helluva cover! Great work. I'll stream the album in the next day or two.
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

  17. #17
    A bit late to the discussion, and I see you have already published your page. As far as I can see, you managed to do it correctly. Actually Bandcamp is quite easy. When you upload an audio file you have to provide all the information regarding title, artist, album, etc. Bandcamp will take care of incorporating all these metadata into your downloads in the correct format.

    CD Text never really took off. It is defined in the red book standard, but very few CD players ever supported it, and very few of the commercially released CDs ever bothered to include that information. I used to have a CD player in my old car which did support it, and from all CDs I have in my collection only a couple had any information to display. It is very rare to find commercial CDs which include CD Text information. It's one of those things that were defined in the red book standard (like the index, for example), and which seemed like a good idea at the time, but almost no one ever used. I remember the first pressing of the Atom Heart Mother CD used to have index to separate the different parts of the suite, which I found very neat. But only my very first CD Player was able to display that information, none of the subsequent ones ever did.

    And in any case, you would only need to worry about any of that in case you were selling CDs. This is completely irrelevant in the context of Bandcamp, where you are selling downloads.

    Regarding the "name your price" discussion, my advice would be to set the price you want, and leave the option for people to offer more. You'd be surprised at how many people actually end up paying more that what you asked...
    Perspective Vortex - my new solo project available now at http://perspectivevortex.bandcamp.com
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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pmrviana View Post
    When you upload an audio file you have to provide all the information regarding title, artist, album, etc.
    It's optional not to.

    Quote Originally Posted by pmrviana View Post
    from all CDs I have in my collection only a couple had any information to display.
    I think every CD I have that was made after 2009 includes it.

    Quote Originally Posted by pmrviana View Post
    And in any case, you would only need to worry about any of that in case you were selling CDs. This is completely irrelevant in the context of Bandcamp, where you are selling downloads.
    Unless, of course, you're selling CDs or LPs on Bandcamp. And, as you stated earlier, the Bandcamp downloads include metadata as well.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by NogbadTheBad View Post
    Looks great, giving it a listen now.
    Thank you.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerjo View Post
    That's one helluva cover! Great work. I'll stream the album in the next day or two.
    Thank you, please see info below about the NASA video this photo is from.

    Quote Originally Posted by pmrviana View Post
    A bit late to the discussion, and I see you have already published your page. As far as I can see, you managed to do it correctly. Actually Bandcamp is quite easy. When you upload an audio file you have to provide all the information regarding title, artist, album, etc. Bandcamp will take care of incorporating all these metadata into your downloads in the correct format.

    CD Text never really took off. It is defined in the red book standard, but very few CD players ever supported it, and very few of the commercially released CDs ever bothered to include that information. I used to have a CD player in my old car which did support it, and from all CDs I have in my collection only a couple had any information to display. It is very rare to find commercial CDs which include CD Text information. It's one of those things that were defined in the red book standard (like the index, for example), and which seemed like a good idea at the time, but almost no one ever used. I remember the first pressing of the Atom Heart Mother CD used to have index to separate the different parts of the suite, which I found very neat. But only my very first CD Player was able to display that information, none of the subsequent ones ever did.

    And in any case, you would only need to worry about any of that in case you were selling CDs. This is completely irrelevant in the context of Bandcamp, where you are selling downloads.

    Regarding the "name your price" discussion, my advice would be to set the price you want, and leave the option for people to offer more. You'd be surprised at how many people actually end up paying more that what you asked...
    Thanks for the information, and I have to give kudos to Bandcamp for making the entire process pretty straightforward and easy enough for a novice such as myself.

    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    It's optional not to.

    I think every CD I have that was made after 2009 includes it.

    Unless, of course, you're selling CDs or LPs on Bandcamp. And, as you stated earlier, the Bandcamp downloads include metadata as well.
    For those who've commented on the cover photo, it is from a NASA video, a recreation of the Apollo 8 mission.

    Here is the full video from YouTube.

    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  20. #20
    I tend to hit Bandcamp in batch mode these days, and tomorrow is the day, so I'll be picking this up then

    Listening now...nice work!
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  21. #21
    Member Top Cat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by battema View Post
    I tend to hit Bandcamp in batch mode these days, and tomorrow is the day, so I'll be picking this up then

    Listening now...nice work!
    Thank you John. As a big fan of your solo and Ephemeral Sun work, I appreciate the fact you even take time to listen and your opinion is greatly appreciated.
    Last edited by Top Cat; 11-14-2019 at 11:04 AM.
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

  22. #22
    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
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    For many downloads I've purchased, only the first track will have a high resolution image for the album cover. All following tracks will have a 600 x 600 image. There isn't really a size limit per say, but if the image is too large in size, many players and player software will have problems processing the file(s).
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by progmatist View Post
    For many downloads I've purchased, only the first track will have a high resolution image for the album cover. All following tracks will have a 600 x 600 image. There isn't really a size limit per say, but if the image is too large in size, many players and player software will have problems processing the file(s).
    When I download a digital album, I usually print the cover and back cover and use them for a cd jewel case for the burned cd. So when I posted the cover for this I had that in mind which also has a image on the back included with the download. The back cover lists the songs and time, plus some info giving credit to NASA for the images and audio.
    I didn't bother uploading images for each individual track, especially since many are quite short in duration.

    Thanks for stopping by and contributing information for me.
    Soundcloud page: Richard Hermans, musical meanderings https://soundcloud.com/precipice YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@richardhermans4457

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