xREL.v3

Official MP3 -> WEB <- Release Rules 1.0

1. General

1.1   All releases must contain a SFV, NFO, JPG (proof) and the MP3 files.
1.2   The NFO file must contain the URL from the webshop or digital store.
1.3   The entire release must be released (not individual tracks!). If you
think it costs too much money to download all tracks you better don't
release at all.

2. Dupes

2.1   Digital releases are always better than custom ripped releases from
Vinyl or CD source. This is because most of the tracks are digitally
supplied straight from a record label. WEB releases don't dupe lower
formats! So it's allowed to pre a digital WEB release after CD rip.
2.2   It's allowed to release a new version from a previous released rip
as long your release contains at least 1 extra track.
2.3   If a group already did a WEB release in VBR quality or 192kbps CBR,
then it is allowed to -PROPER- with a 320kbps quality release.

3. Releasenaming

3.1   The releasename must at least contain: Artist, Title, Year, Group.
3.2   Every release needs to have the -WEB- source tag in the releasename.
3.3   If you release a digital promo release, you must add  -PROMOTIONAL-
into the releasename. You may also use -DIGITALADVANCE- instead.
3.4   The directory name of an internal release must end with _INTERNAL.
3.5   If you are going to upsample a lower quality release, you must add
the tag -UPSAMPLED- to the releasename (read also rule 6.1).

4. Filenaming

4.1   Filenames must at least contain: Track No., Title (optional: Artist)
4.2   To avoid problems with Apple products and software, filenames should
not contain the words  "m4r, 3gp, mp4, aac"  in it!
4.3   Filenames must only contain characters: a-z A-Z 0-9
4.4   The current maximum directory/filename-length is 1024 characters.

5. ID3-Tags

5.1   The ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags are optional but it's recommended to use it.
5.2   If a release doesn't have ID3 tags, it is allowed to add only the URL
into the ID3v2 tag, which links straight to the release information.
5.3   When the music genre isn't present in the ID3 genres, it's allowed to
write a custom 'sub-genre' into the genre fields.
5.4   It's allowed to add JPG files into the ID3v2 tag as long the JPG file
is not larger than 25 MB.

6. Encoding

6.1   If a release is only available as a 192kbps bitrate or lower, it must
be upsampled to 320kbps bitrate quality (read also rule 3.5).
6.2   Releases bought as ".wav"  from a webstore must be encoded in 320kbps
CBR using LAME 3.98.x as encoder. It doesn't matter which version of
LAME being used, because all 3.98.x releases are using LAME 3.98r to
encode the mp3 files.
6.3   The sampling rate from the mp3 files must be 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
6.4   It's allowed to pre releases with tracks from different stores using
different encoders, as long the bitrate is still the same.

7. Proof

7.1   All releases must always include a "proof screenshot" from the order.
7.2   Proof means a screenshot taken from the webstore after you purchased
the release. The webstore URL must be very clear and readable inside
your browser. If a screenshot contains anything that may expose your
identity, then that part of the image can be blurred or blackened.
7.3   Additional screenshots from paypal or bank transactions may be added
but these DO NOT count as sufficient proof!
7.4   Screenshot resolution must be at least 1920 x 1080 pixels and using
the standard JPG format.

Notes:

1.    Releases with an apparently incorrect webstore URL may not be nuked.
2.    Using other groups tracks to create a complete release is allowed
as long the bitrate is equal.
3.    Typos or complete mistagged/empty ID3 tags are tolerated if it still
is readable from the provided webstore URL.

Changelog:

2011-01-01 - First draft revision of the rules.
2011-01-15 - Added the upsampling rules.
2011-02-12 - Created the proof rules part and changed general rules.
2011-02-29 - Added rule 4.2 to keep Apple users happy.
2011-03-08 - Added rule 2.3 and changed 6.2.
2011-03-20 - Defined rule 3.3 in a more readable context.

Active since 2011-04-15 and signed by:

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