Scene rules?

**Vercors** · 02-05-2007, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Melvinmeow

Scene Standard rules:

11. Quality

current minimum bitrate is 160kbit

it's not allowed to re-release something in 192kbit (or higher) because

a previous release was only 160kbit.

That one is dating back from 2005, is it still the same now?

**Cerise** · 02-05-2007, 08:33 PM

most of sites don't accept anymore releases encoded in a lower ratio than 192Kbps so those standart rules are obsolet

There is not real statement about new rules. Last ones were those :



   MP3 Council (un)Official Scene Releasing Standards 2000  



1. An .SFV file must be produced for verifying every release. 

2. An .NFO file must be produced for every release. 

        

    The NFO file must feature at least:

     - Title

     - Artist Name

     - Label

     - Release Date

     - Tracks

     - Genre

     - Encode Bit rate

     - Source

     - Encoder

    

    Nfo must contain as much information about the release as possible,

    a recommendation is that you place a release notes section in the NFO 

 

3. Directory standard

 

    The following are the standards for directory naming: 

    Directories must only contain characters; a-z A-Z 0-9 _ . - ( ) 

    

    The filenames cannot contain () through artist neither in dir nor in filename 

    

    All release data will be held within one release directory; no CD1, CD2 directories 

    

    Various Artist releases must start with "VA", soundtracks with "OST". 

    

    Underscores and singular periods will be used. No double periods, i.e. ".." 

    

    Length of ALL directories/filenames must no exceed 64 characters. 

    

    Directory naming will follow this format (spaces are used to better display the format):

    Artist Name- Title - Additional Information - Published Year - Group name

    i.e. "artist_-_title-4cd-2000-group"

    

    Additional information tags are (suggestions):

      VLS - vinyl single (1-2 tracks)

      EP - vinyl maxi-single (2-5+ tracks)

      LP - vinyl full-length album

      CDS - cd single (1-2 tracks)

      CDM - cd maxi-single (2-5+ tracks)

      MD - minidisk

      Promo - promotional

      XX-import

      RETAIL - retail

      ...

      etc.

      

       

       

4. Filename standard 

  

    Files must only contain characters; a-z A-Z 0-9 _ . - () 

    

    Dots are not allowed as replacement for spaces in filenames because it slows down windows 

    

    File naming will follow this format (spaces are used to better display the format):

     Track Number - Artist - Song Title - Additional Info - Group.mp3

    

    

    Track numbering example:

     Single CD Release, or non CD and less than 2 sides, cds, etc...

     01-... (track 1)

     02-... (track 2)

     etc.



    Multi CD Releaes, or non CD and more than 1 side, cd, etc...

     101-... (track 1 from cd 1)

     102-... (track 2 from cd 1)

     201-... (track 1 from cd 2)

     202-... (track 2 from cd 2)

     etc.

    

    

    For vinyl releases you may also use the naming scheme a1, a2, b1, b2, etc... 

     

5. Encoding 

      

    One of the following encoders MUST be used:

     - Fraunhofer HQ 

     - LAME - [URL]http://www.sulaco.org/mp3/[/URL]

    

    

    Encode Bit rate:

     Only 160JS or 192FS (Not 160FS or 192JS). For comedy or lower quality sources 160JS.

     Encode Bit rate from a quality source 192FS should be used. 

     

6. No dupes! 

      

    You are not allowed to create a duplicate release from any other source if the original CD

    has already been released.

    You are allowed to create a duplicate release from a source of lower quality.

    (not allowed: vinyl after CD release - allowed: CD after vinyl release) 

        

    A release is a dupe if the complete release (all tracks) is included in ONE previous release.

    Futhermore if a release is different because it has less tracks it is not allowed to be 

    released when a release previous to it contained all the tracks from this release. 

     

7. Mixes must include track listing (in NFO) and a .CUE file if possible (N/A for live mixes). 

8. No self made compilations. (YES DJ Mixes r still allowed)

9. All ID3 tags must be generated correctly (appropriate information in the correct fields). 

10.The entire CD,Vinyl,etc. must be released (not individual tracks). 

11.Live recordings (from radio) must contain a date when they were broadcast. 

12.Including covers or CD-Extra tracks (videos, etc...) in a release is optional. 

     



     This Document was signed & approved in August, 2000 by the following individuals, 

     representing their respective groups:



     crayfish(CMG) fido(AMOK) deepdown(NBD) azmd(MOD) wonder(UBE) fastjack(STAR) luna6(NuHS) 

     karmacoma(kW) hopkin(sb) xtream(SS) uforia(eMission) atg(ATR) wezel(HS) eminenz(cnmc) 

     trax(trbmp3) trancer(tclub) stryker(OZM)

**Melvinmeow** · 02-05-2007, 10:12 PM

2005 is the newest set of rules for mp3

08:45 200- -/\/- MP3 Rules (2005-03-03) -\/\-
08:45 200- 1. No Dupes !
08:45 200-
08:45 200- We check complete albums/releases, not single tracks. So a release is not
08:45 200- a dupe if it has different or more tracks.
08:45 200- Exceptions:
08:45 200- 1.1.
08:45 200- It's also a dupe if the complete release is included in a previous one.
08:45 200- For example CDM is released, now someone releases the CDS and all tracks
08:45 200- of the CDS were already included on the CDM (excactly the same).
08:45 200- 1.2.
08:45 200- You are allowed to create a duplicate release from a release that has a
08:45 200- source of lower quality (not lower bitrate! (see rule 11)).
08:45 200- Example: if vinyl is out then a CD-release is allowed.
08:45 200- If you do that then please add this info to NFO and dirname.
08:45 200- 1.3.
08:45 200- All MIXED cds should be ripped as one track supplied with a .cue.
08:45 200- If they are not, they may be duped by another group that releases it as
08:45 200- one track with a .cue supplied.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Note: if you want to release an import-album or some "extendend edition"
08:45 200- then check rule 7 as well !
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 2. An .SFV and .NFO file must be included in every release.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 3. Directoryname must at least contain:
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 3.1 Artist Name - Title - Published Year (decimal) - Group name
08:45 200- (extra info is allowed of course)
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 3.2
08:45 200- All bootleg releases must have the word BOOTLEG in the dirname.
08:45 200- Street mixes that are not available at major retailers or only at one
08:45 200- suspicious webshop are bootlegs and they need to be labeled as such.
08:45 200- (bootleg rule start: 2005-03-14)
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Exception:
08:45 200- If a vinyl/cd has no title then it's allowed to replace the title by
08:45 200- labelname+catnumber (both!). If there is only one artist on the vinyl/cd
08:45 200- then you must add the artistname.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 4. Filename must at least contain:
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Track Number - Song Title
08:45 200-
08:45 200- If it's an album with different artists (one artist per track) then you
08:45 200- must add the artist name as well ("VA-tracks" like mixes don't need
08:45 200- artistnames).
08:45 200- Make sure that your filename is unique otherwise some sites might
08:45 200- dupeskip it. (You can search for filenames here as well)
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Exception:
08:45 200- If no tracknames are supplied by the source (cd,vinyl,..) then you *must*
08:45 200- provide proof that these tracks have no names. Either by a scan of the
08:45 200- original cover of the record company/label (no selfmade cdr or bootleg
08:45 200- covers) or a link to an official or trusted webpage with proofs. If
08:45 200- these "untitled tracks" are part of a big mix (no silence between the
08:45 200- "tracks") then it's considered as one track and you must rip it as one
08:45 200- mp3/cue and give this track same name as the "album".
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 5. Files/directories must only contain characters; a-z A-Z 0-9 _ . - ()
08:45 200-
08:45 200- This is to avoid problems with windows/linux-filesystem and ftp-servers.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 6. Self-made releases
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 6.1.
08:45 200- Self-made compilations are not allowed !
08:45 200- A self-made compilation is when you select tracks from other sources,
08:45 200- put them together and release that as something new.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 6.2.
08:45 200- A self-made MIX or completely self-made music is allowed if it's good.
08:45 200- Sites decide if it's shit by nuking it. We won't nuke/unnuke such a
08:45 200- release.
08:45 200- If you are releasing self-made stuff then that must be clearly visible
08:45 200- in your nfo. If it's not possible to see that it's self-made then it
08:45 200- will get nuked as bad pack.
08:45 200- Exception: if the selfmade release is free available at release time
08:45 200- or when you obviously know that it will be available soon then it's not
08:45 200- allowed to release it.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- If it's not clear if it's selfmade or not and it's not possible to find
08:45 200- any information about the release/artist/label then it's up to the group
08:45 200- to prove that this release is not selfmade (coverscan, url, ...). If
08:45 200- they are not able to prove that it's real it will get nuked as bad pack.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 7. The entire CD,Vinyl,etc. must be released (not individual tracks)
08:45 200-
08:45 200- If you think it's too much work to rip all tracks you better don't rip
08:45 200- at all. Releasing the complete CD/Vinyl is necessary because otherwise
08:45 200- it would be possible to make several (different) releases of the same
08:45 200- cd/vinyl/etc..
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Exception for albums:
08:45 200- If an RETAIL album has been released in different editions and the only
08:45 200- difference is one or more bonus tracks (imports) then it's allowed to
08:45 200- release the bonustrack(s) only. But you may NOT re-release an entire
08:45 200- inital edition within the first three months.
08:45 200- Example: album released in US with 10 tracks, japanese edition with 11
08:45 200- tracks (1 bonus track that is a new song) then you MUST release the jap
08:45 200- bonus track only (without including previously released tracks of the
08:45 200- US album) during the first three months after first full retail release.
08:45 200- If it's more than 3 months later then you are allowed to do either the
08:45 200- bonustrack-only or the full album.
08:45 200- Moreover, it is NOT allowed to re-release a new edition of an retail
08:45 200- album EVER if the extra/bonus tracks are already included in one (!)
08:45 200- previous release. For example, USA album is released and four months
08:45 200- later japanese with simply a remix from an old CDM/CDS still wouldn't
08:45 200- be allowed.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 8. Current maximum directory/filename-length is 128 characters
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Because of limitations on windows cd-filesystem (linux has 256char-limit)
08:45 200- and about 99of the people here use either windows or linux.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 9. No fake-releases
08:45 200-
08:45 200- It's a fake release when artist, title, group or source is incorrect
08:45 200- (different).
08:45 200- examples:
08:45 200- - Some_Artist-Crappy_Music-2004-GRP not released by GRP
08:45 200- - Another_Artist-Lots_of_Noise-CDM-2004-GRP was ripped from TV or
08:45 200- downloaded from a paysite
08:45 200- - Madonna-Something_New-2004-GRP really containing some tracks by
08:45 200- Marilyn Manson
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 10. A bad rip/release must be reported by either 3 independent people
08:45 200-
08:45 200- (from different groups) or the group which released it.
08:45 200- If you re-release something that hasn't been nuked/marked yet then add
08:45 200- this info to your nfo-file. Otherwise it will get nuked as dupe.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 11. Quality
08:45 200-
08:45 200- current minimum bitrate is 160kbit
08:45 200- it's not allowed to re-release something in 192kbit (or higher) because
08:45 200- a previous release was only 160kbit.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 12. Promos/Advances
08:45 200-
08:45 200- If a release is considered not to have every track from the source then
08:45 200- it must be labelled as a promo and can be duped by any legitament retail
08:45 200- release that DOES contain all tracks. The legitament release can be
08:45 200- identified by the CAT number, or more suitable proof.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Promos do not have to contain track listings, they are promotional
08:45 200- material, they are not considered legitament releases, and are still
08:45 200- governed by quality rules.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- If you release a promo when the retail is already out then you must
08:45 200- provide proof that this promo is real to make sure this is not a
08:45 200- selfmade "promo".
08:45 200-
08:45 200- to reduce amount of fakes (starting on 2005-03-14):
08:45 200- ALL promos/advances must either have cover scans or be VBR/Lame+preset
08:45 200- (any Lame version, any preset, 3.90.3/APS recommended).
08:45 200- A one track promo single release must include cover scans even if it is
08:45 200- VBR/Lame+preset already.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 13. Re-encodes are strictly forbidden.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 14. Don't add duplicate nuke requests unless it differs from the original.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 15. FREE MP3s
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Free MP3s that are legally available on the net (artist / record company
08:45 200- allows it) in acceptable quality are NOT allowed to release.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- 16. SOURCE
08:45 200-
08:45 200- The tracks of a release must all be from the same source and have the
08:45 200- same quality/bitrate. Taking tracks from other scene releases or internal
08:45 200- group releases of other groups is strictly forbidden.
08:45 200- If the source is not CDDA or vinyl (tv,radio,web,whatever,..) then it
08:45 200- must be either part of the dirname (-TV-, -RADIO-, -WEB-, etc.) or
08:45 200- mentioned in your NFO file.
08:45 200-
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Notes:
08:45 200- - When dupe checking input partial text of the release name in the search
08:45 200- field, do not search for the entire album name that you have, because it
08:45 200- may have already been released under something slightly different.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- - Radio rips that were recorded via the radio tuner can be duped by a
08:45 200- source that is superior in quality AND if there is proof of mastering
08:45 200- involved, for example, removing commercials and commentary.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- - Releases with an apparently incorrect year may not be nuked. However
08:45 200- the year should be correct of course. Keep in mind that a lot of sites
08:45 200- nuke for fake year when it's incorrect. (The Year in dirname is not the
08:45 200- year when you released it but when the record company/artist published
08:45 200- it!)
08:45 200-
08:45 200- - If a release labeled as "advance" is identical to the retail version
08:45 200- then the advance turns into a retail release. This means then it is not
08:45 200- allowed to dupe it and it counts as retail for ALL rules. If the retail
08:45 200- is different then of course it's allowed to release it.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- - We tolerate typos if it still is readable and either artist or title is
08:45 200- 100correct.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- - For webrips (bought online) we assume that they are made from a digital
08:45 200- source. So duping them for better quality (rule 1, exception 2) is not
08:45 200- allowed.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Nukerequest/Re-Rip info for older releases:
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Our rules started on 2000-09-17. To describe which of the older releases
08:45 200- are allowed to re-release or nukerequested here are some notes how we
08:45 200- handle these older releases:
08:45 200-
08:45 200- before RIAA:
08:45 200- RIAA rules started 1. february 1999. Releases before 1999-02-01 are taken
08:45 200- as is. This means we just accept the nuke-status and you are not allowed
08:45 200- to re-release a group-release that has been accepted. To count as
08:45 200- "group-release" it needs at least a groupname, artistname and
08:45 200- track/albumname. If it has these attributs and it's not nuked then it's
08:45 200- valid.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- RIAA time:
08:45 200- With exception of rule 7 the RIAA-rules were active from 1999-02-01 to
08:45 200- 2000-09-17.
08:45 200- You are allowed to request nukes for releases made during RIAA period
08:45 200- according to the RIAA rules except rule 7.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- There was a 64-char limit for dirnames during RIAA time. However sites
08:45 200- usually didn't nuke releases that had longer dirnames.
08:45 200- Since this rule (RIAA-rule #7) was ignored by a lot of sites/groups we
08:45 200- will not nuke any releases because of that rule. However if the sites
08:45 200- nuked it we will not unnuke it. In other words: we don't touch it. If
08:45 200- it's nuked you are allowed to re-release it, if not then not. No
08:45 200- nukerequests allowed.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- general:
08:45 200- There was no bitrate limit until 2000-09-17.
08:45 200- Releases before that date that have been accepted (were not nuked) here
08:45 200- or on the sites can *NOT* be nukerequested or re-ripped because of the
08:45 200- bitrate !
08:45 200-
08:45 200- An incomplete tracklist here is *NO* reason for a nukerequest or re-rip.
08:45 200- That we didn't scan it completely doesn't mean it was released incomplete.
08:45 200- We started on only one site and had some problems with the scan-script
08:45 200- first. If you want to re-release something because you are sure it was
08:45 200- incomplete then you must give proofes in your nfo.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- The mix-exception that it's allowed to re-release something when the
08:45 200- first release was single tracks and not one file with cue (rule 1.3)
08:45 200- does *not* count for releases before 2001-05-08. Releases before that
08:45 200- date are not allowed to re-release as single track.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- The dupe-rule that we dupe for whole releases and not for single tracks
08:45 200- always has been used (even if it wasn't written down) so it counts for
08:45 200- ALL releases even the very old ones.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- That a self-made release is only allowed when it's possible to see that
08:45 200- in the NFO starts on 2003-07-15.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Listing non-cd/vinyl source is mandatory since 2004-10-11.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- Rule 3.2 (bootleg tag) and VBR/coverscan part of rule 12 started on
08:45 200- 2005-03-14.
08:45 200-
08:45 200- change-log:
08:45 200- 09-17-2000 - first version
08:45 200- 12-31-2000 - changed rule 1,11
08:45 200- 05-08-2001 - updated rule 10, added rule1/exception 3, added rules 12-15,
08:45 200- added notes
08:45 200- 11-15-2001 - changed exception of rule 7
08:45 200- 09-16-2002 - added exception to rule 3
08:45 200- 01-14-2003 - changed exception of rule 7, added note to rule 1
08:45 200- 02-05-2003 - added rule 15
08:45 200- 02-05-2003 - added exception to rule 6
08:45 200- 03-21-2003 - added Nukerequest/Re-Rip info
08:45 200- 04-02-2003 - changed wording of rule 4 to make clear that one-track mixes
08:45 200- with lots of artists don't need artistname in filename
08:45 200- 05-17-2003 - added exception to rule 4, added rule 16
08:45 200- 07-15-2003 - rules 6 changed (selfmade rels in nfo)
08:45 200- 09-28-2003 - added "retail" to rule 7 to make sure it does not count for
08:45 200- advance/promos
08:45 200- 09-28-2003 - "promo proof after retail" sentence added to rule 12
08:45 200- 12-14-2003 - added "advance" note
08:45 200- 12-23-2003 - added "decimal" to rule 3
08:45 200- 10-11-2004 - added explanation to rule 9 (fakes), rule 16: listing
08:45 200- non-cd/vinyl source is mandatory now, typo note and webrip
08:45 200- note added
08:45 200- 12-14-2004 - fake year notes added
08:45 200- 03-03-2005 - added bootleg info to rule 3 (3.2), start: 2005-03-14
08:45 200- 03-03-2005 - added VBR + cover scan info to rule 12, start: 2005-03-14
08:45 200-