Browser Upload - Documentation

Last updated : 09/30/2022

The process of uploading music tracks and metadata has been greatly simplified!

1. Preparation is quicker and more flexible
2. Upload is easier and less technical
3. Updates are live almost instantly

The new Browser Upload feature replaces the FTP upload feature.

Changes

• Metadata: The text metadata file format can now be CSV (comma separated) or TAB delimited (previously TAB only)
• Audio: The audio file format can now be WAV or AIFF (previously WAV only)
• Album Artwork: The album artwork/cover art file format can now be JPG or PNG (previously JPG only)
• Upload: Upload using your browser! 
• Delivery Time: New music tracks uploaded are now searchable within minutes! Previously the ingest process took around 8 hours.

Existing Users - Switching from Encoder & FTP Upload

Note: The steps for preparing the master folder are the same as before. 

If you have previously used the Encoder and FTP upload,  switching to Browser Upload is easy:

• Prepare you master folder as usual
• Go to https://www.cndmusictracker.com, login and click Upload Music.
• Drag and drop the master folder to the browser
• Click Upload

New Users - Quick Start

Preparations

Master Folder

Create a new master folder on your computer and name it “update_august_2022” e.g. Copy the folders with audio files, album art and the text metadata file to the master folder.

Metadata

Export your text metadata as a TAB delimited text file (.txt) or comma separated text file (.csv). One text file only. Multiple text files (one per folder or multiple text files in the master folder e.g.) are currently not supported.

Audio Files

Your audio files must be in .wav or .aif (.aiff) format.

Album Art

Each folder with .wav/.aif files should contain a single .jpg or .png file. If no album art file is available, we will check .aif files for embedded album art.

Upload

• Go to https://www.cndmusictracker.com, login and click Upload Music.
• Drag and drop the master folder to the browser
• Click Upload

 

Preparations - Details

Last Updated on 09/30/22

Note: The steps for preparing the master folder are the same as before. The Browser Upload feature however provides more flexibility.

Metadata

Excel file with specifications: Download specs

• first row contains the column headers
• second row indicates if a column is required or optional. 
• third row indicates if optional columns are recommended to be filled with data
• fourth row indicates if the value is string or integer
• fifth row explains column usage
• sixth+ row contains sample data

Excel file metadata template: Download template

• first row contains the column headers
• second+ row contains sample data

Notes:

• Please use the exact spelling for the column headers listed in our specification. 
• The order of the columns is not relevant
• Required columns are listed in the specification
• Required columns must contain data
• You can omit columns you do not use, unless the column is required
• If you include column headers that are not our spec, we ignore them
• Composer and Publisher
  • You can add up-to 9 Composer columns (Composer1-Composer9)
  • You can add up-to 9 Publisher columns (Publisher1-Publisher9)
• If your text file is missing required column headers from our specification (because you misspelled the column header or you omitted it), the Browser Upload will display a warning.
• Export your text metadata as a Tab delimited text file (.txt) or comma separated text file (.csv)
• You can create Tab or Comma delimited files with Excel e.g. : File > Save as … >
• The first line (row) must contain the column headers (see the template)
• The data starts in the second line (row)
• A column header must not appear twice
• Empty column headers are not allowed
• Column header names must not contain spaces (see the template)
• The filename in the “Filename” column must be unique.
• Recommended text encoding is UTF8
• If needed, you can manipulate line delimiters and the text encoding with BBEdit or Notepad++ e.g.

Audio Files

• Create a “master folder” (e.g. “updates-2012-08”) and COPY the audio folders to the “master folder”.
• The filenames of all audio files to be processed must be unique. Meaning you must not have two files with the same name in two different folders.
• Your audio files must be in .wav or .aif format.
• Bit Rate can be any (16 or 24 Bit)
• Sample rate can be any (44.1 or 48 or 96 kHz)
• Audio files must have the file extension .wav, .aif or .aiff. “.wave” is not supported.
• We recommend organizing your audio files in folders. Typically, all tracks of an album are in a single folder, including cut downs and alternative versions of a track. Indie tracks are typically in a folder named with the Artist's name. However, the Browser Upload can handle any file/folder structure.

Album Art

• Every folder that contains one or more .wav/.aif files should contain a single .jpg or.png file.
• The name of the .jpg/.png file can be anything.
• The file must have the .jpg or .png file extension. You cannot use “.jpeg” e.g.
• If no .jpg/.png is found, we will try to use embedded album art from .aif files.

Mapping

• The text metadata is mapped to the audio files using (a) the "Filename" column and (b) the name of the file in the folder
• The number of audio files in your master folder must match the number of rows in your metadata file (excluding the column header)
• All filenames in the text metadata must match all filenames in the master folder.