Extended Database Glossary

Database Glossary [http://discogs.versitio.com/help/database/submission-guidelines-glossary]

◾ Add Release Form
◾ Alias
◾ ANV
◾ API
◾ Artist
◾ Artist Name Variation - (See ANV).
◾ Artist Page
◾ [BAOI]
◾ [Buddyvoter]
◾ [C&C] - (See Voting).
◾ [cb4]
◾ CIP
◾ [Comicogs] - (See [Discogs]).
◾ [Contributor]
◾ [Creative Commons (CC0)] - (See Public Domain).
◾ [Credit]
◾ [Discogs]
◾ [Draft]
◾ [DQR] - (See [PDQR]).
◾ Editor
◾ [EI / Entirely Incorrect] - (See Voting).
◾ Fair Use - (See Public Domain).
◾ Forum
◾ Field
◾ [Filmogs]
◾ [Gearogs] - (See [Discogs]).
◾ Group
◾ Guidelines
◾ Help Section
◾ Label
◾ Label Page
◾ [LCCN]
◾ [LNV]
◾ [Main Artist]
◾ [Mass Edits / Mass Updates]
◾ Master Release
◾ Matrix Number
◾ Merge Release
◾ Moderation
◾
◾ [MR] - (See Master Release).
◾ [Music Gear] - (See [Discogs]).
◾ [NAI]
◾ [NMiC / NmiC / NmC] - (See Voting).
◾ [NMaC / NMC] - (See Voting).
◾ [Ogger]
◾ [OP]
◾ [OS]
◾ Page
◾ PAN
◾ [PDQR]
◾ [Pixogs]
◾ Primary Artist Name - (See PAN).
◾ [Projects]
◾ [Public Domain]
◾ [QSG] - (See [Quick Start Guide]).
◾ [Quick Start Guide]
◾ Rank
◾ Rankhunter
◾ Release
◾ Release Page
◾ Release Submission Guide - (See Guidelines).
◾ RSG - (See Guidelines).
◾ [Run out]
◾ [Special Artist(s)]
◾ [Staff]
◾ Submission
◾ Submission Folder
◾ Submitter
◾ [SR]
◾ Track
◾ [Track Artist]
◾ Tracklist
◾
◾
◾ [V1 V2 V3 V4]
◾ Voter
◾ Voting
◾ [VinylHub]
◾ Websubmitter

*[Box] brackets = [additional common , abbreviations and acronyms]

Related Topics

Add Release Form
This is how the data is added and updated for the release information in the Discogs Database. The Add Release Form is at the heart of the database, as artist and label pages are also created from the information entered into this form.

Alias
A name that an Artist goes under, used when an Artist has two or more names, including 'stage names'. An artist's real name(s) is sometimes listed as an 'Alias' of a more commonly-known stage name. See also ANV. (Guidelines)

ANV
Short for 'Artist Name Variation', a special field where we can put variations in an Artist's name, such as spelling variations, shortened names, nicknames, initials, and different language variations. This feature is objective and indicates exactly what is printed on the Release, including misspellings. ANV is for minor variations (for example, John Smith, J. Smith, John S. etc), whereas Alias is for used for fundamentally different names (for example, John Smith, John Doe). (Guidelines)

API
Application Programming Interface - please see http://discogs.versitio.com/help/api

Artist
Any single person or group of people that present themselves as a musician, composer, writer, or other actively involved party in the creative process of making a Release. All Artists get their own Artist Page on Discogs. More information is available in the Guidelines, in the Artist Section and the Updating An Artist Profile section.

[Database Guidelines 18. Updating An Artist Profile]

Artist Page
Is a Page containing the Releases that form the discography of the Artist, plus additional biography and Artist images. More information is available in the Guidelines, in the Artist Section and the Updating An Artist Profile section.

[Database Guidelines 18. Updating An Artist Profile]

[BAOI]
The Barcodes And Other Identifiers section can be used to enter Barcodes, SID codes and more. (Guidelines)

[Buddyvoter]
A term used when a of a group is suspected of Voting on Submissions on his friends (buddys). (Guidelines)

[Discussion] I too want to be a buddy voter (May 2013)

[cb4]
Means 'correct before'.
Sometimes left as comment by another Submitter in the Submission history to describe the Voting-status the submisson has been before the next edit was done.
Be careful - The specification 'cb4' based of the understanding of confidence.
There exists no real voting-history in the release submission history. Finaly it is not possible to check if the submission has been really voted 'correct' before.

CIP
Contributor Improvement Program - see http://discogs.versitio.com/help/database/contributor-improvement-program

[Discogs] s in Contributor Improvement Program (CIP)

[Contributor]
When a enters a new release or data, they are termed a contributor.

[Discogs] Contributing to Discogs
[Discogs] Contributor List

[Credit]
Credits on a Release can be entered in the Main Credit section or in the ExtraArtists section. (Guidelines)

[Discogs]
Derived from dis-cog-ra-phy (n., pl. dis-cog-ra-phies.):

1. The study and cataloguing of phonograph records.
2. A comprehensive list of the recordings made by a particular performer or of a particular composer's works.

Discogs has some cognate websites:

[Pixogs]

[Filmogs]
A database for films. The Filmo.gs database is currently running in beta testing.

[Gearogs]
A music gear database for Hi-Fi, DJ and studio equipment. The Gearogs database is currently running in beta testing.
[Gearogs] Equipment Example Korg Kaoss Pad (KP3+)

[Comicogs]
A database for comics. The Comicogs database is currently running in beta testing.

[VinylHub]

[Discogs] About Discogs
[Discogs] Of Service
[Discussion] Curious...how do you pronounce Discogs? (February 2014)
[Discussion] RYM vs. Discogs (December 2012)
[Discussion] Discogs has a new site (August 2014)
[Website] Filmo.gs
[Website] Gearogs
[Website] Comicogs
[Website] VinylHub

[Draft]
A Draft is a preliminary version of a new Release.

How do I add a new version of the same realease?
1. Find the version you want to copy
2. When viewing it: hit the "history/edit" link in the upper right corner
3. Hit the "Copy to draft" link
4. Open the copied draft
5. Edit it to fit your copy ( to remove any credits or other info that are not printed on your copy)

You can (and should!) save your work at any time, by clicking "Save Draft" (the button for this is top right). This will put your work so far in your Draft Releases Folder.

You can also Copy To A Draft and add the draft to your Collection.
This procedure is advisable if the release which you want to add to your collection is NOT Eligible For The Database. The Draft will show on the Collection Page, but not on artist or label pages.

If a Submission of yours is Removed, you will find it under your draft releases folder, with the vote details regarding why it was removed in the history.
Releases are removed because they were considered not suitable for the database.

The term Draft will also be used as item status in in your Marketplace Inventory.
Items listed as "Draft" are newly submitted to the database, and may require edits to confirm accuracy before being marked for sale.
You may also click next to the listing to highlight, then choose "Delete." You can find an explanation on how to managing your Marketplace inventory Here.

[Discogs] Quick Start Guide
[Discogs] Blog: Copy To Draft And You: Partners In Freedom
[Discogs] Draft Folder
[Discogs] ineligible Draft Example
[Discogs] ineligible (removed) Draft Example
[Discogs] Marketplace Managing Inventory

Editor
A former role on Discogs, an Editor was given more powers than s to vote on more complicated or far reaching Submissions such as Merge Releases. Editors retained all the powers they had when they were s, and could continue in this role concurrently with their role as an Editor. Editors are now Voters.

[Note] Known editors have been: xdefenestratorx

Forum
Discuss & ask questions at http://discogs.versitio.com/forum

Field
Any text input box on site. For example; the box at the top of this page is the "search field", and the area where you enter the artist name on the Add Release Form is the "artist field".

[Filmo.gs]
A database for films initiated by the Discogs founder Kevin Lewandowski.
The Filmo.gs database is currently running in beta testing.

[Discussion] Discogs has a new site (August 2014)
[Website] Filmo.gs

Group
created and run discussion pages at http://discogs.versitio.com/groups

Guidelines
Also referred to as the 'Release Submission Guide' or 'RSG', this part of the help documentation attempts to outline best practice for entering information into the Discogs database - (More)

Help Section
The Main Help Page linked to with the 'Help' link at the top right of every page, contains the Help Forums, the help documentation including the Database Guidelines, help for marketplace s, and general explanations about the different aspects of the site.

Label
Any entity or branding that is associated with releasing audio content. Labels get their own page on Discogs, where we can list their biography and discography. The term can be tricky to define, especially where multiple businesses or brands are involved in the Release. (Guidelines)

Label Page
Contains the list of Releases that form the discography of the Label, plus additional label information and label images.

[Database Guidelines 19. Updating A Label Profile]

[LCCN]
LCCN means Label, Company, & Catalog Number.
LCCN describes the Label, Company, & Catalog Number Section within the Release Page (Editor View).

[LNV]
Short for 'Label Name Variation', a special field where we can put variations in an Label's, Companie's or Studio's name, such as spelling variations, shortened names, nicknames, initials, and different language variations. This feature is objective and indicates exactly what is printed on the Release, including misspellings.
This feature does not exist yet.

[Discussion] Any chance we could have an ANV-style field for companies? (March 2014)

[Main Artist]
The artist at the top of a release page is the main artist for the Release. This is considered to be the artist or artists named on the front cover of the release, or otherwise billed as such.
It does not necessarily have to be the release performer. (Guidelines)

Mass Edits / Mass Updates
The term Mass Edits or Mass Updates will be used for the same type of edit over many Releases.

[Database Guidelines 14. Updating Information]
[Discussion] Mass Edit -- Guideline and Protocol (October 2014)
[Discussion] Getting approval for mass edits (March 2014)

Master Release
Master Release is a display function that gathers two or more matching Releases together. It can be thought of as a folder that holds two or more Discogs releases. An example would be gathering several versions of an album, such as Michael Jackson - Off The Wall. (Guidelines)

[Database Guidelines 16. Master Release]

Matrix Number
This is a number etched into the runout groove of a vinyl record that is used during the manufacturing process to identify the acetates and stampers used in making the record. Commonly, the matrix number is the catalog number modified with an 'A' and 'B' or '1' and '2' afterwards. However, the matrix number can also have no relation to the catalog number. Also, the run out groove information can contain other numbers that are not the matrix number. Ask in the Database Forum if you need help in interpreting a specific example.

[Database Guidelines 5. Barcodes & Identifiers]

Merge Release
A function that merges two Releases which are the same (duplicate entries), into just the single Release Page.

[Database Guidelines 17. Merge Release]

Moderation
The former process by which a Release is checked through by s, to see if any errors are present, as prescribed by the Guidelines. This process still happens on the site, although the term 'voting' is used instead, as the s were turned into Voters.

A former role where a trusted who is given the power to vote on Submissions. s are now Voters.

[Music Gear]
A planned database for Hi-Fi, DJ and studio equipment.

[Discussion] Discogs has a new site (August 2014)

[NAI]
NAI means Not Actual Item.
This description is to be used to describe an item that Violates Discogs Marketplace Listing Policy.
It is against Discogs Marketplace policy to list items for sale that are not the same as the item represented on the release page (commenting on differences is not acceptable). You can review the policy on Selling Unique Releases for more information. You can find an explanation on how to report Listing Violations such as "Not Actual Item" Here.

[Discogs] Selling Music
[Discogs] Listing Violations
[Discogs] Blog: Reporting Listing Violations

[Ogger]
Derived from Discogs. The term Ogger (pl. Oggers) is sometimes used to describe a Submitter.

[Discussion] Poll: Discogs s, what are we called?! (March 2013)
[Discogs] Contributor List

[OP]
OP means Original Poster. A who starts a Forum or Group topic.

[OS]
OS means Original Submitter. A who starts a release Submission.

Page
Discogs has Pages for Artists (Artist Page), Releases (Release Page), and Labels (Label Page). Additional non-database pages exist for other functions, such as the Home Page, Forum Pages, and the Help Topics.

PAN
Short for 'Primary Artist Name', this is the main 'root' name of an artist in the database. For example, Lee Perry.

[PDQR]
Means 'Previous Data Quality Rating'.
Sometimes left as comment by another Submitter in the Submission history to describe the Voting-status the submisson has been before the next edit was done.
e.g.: PDQR: Correct
Be careful - The specification 'PDQR: correct' based of the understanding of confidence.
There exists no real voting-history in the release submission history. Finaly it is not possible to check if the submission has been really voted 'correct' before.
[DQR] Means 'Data Quality Rating'.
Sometimes left as comment in the release submission history to record the current voting-status as substitute for the voting-history.
e.g.: DQR: Complete and Correct [name]

[Pixogs]
Pixogs.com is a Discogs related domain where static assets (images, JavaScripts, etc) are stored on.
If you are accessing a page that has many images on it, you'll see pixogs.com in your status bar.

[Discussion] What is s.pixogs.com February 2013

[Projects]
Here you can see the current projects of the Discogs staff: Engineering Blog

[Public Domain / Fair Use / Creative Commons (CC0)]

Discogs stores and publishes information on publicly available audio items, under the fair use laws.
Source: http://discogs.versitio.com/help//copyright-infringement

If a copyright owner has given the copyright to the public, those works can be held under public domain.
Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the former copyright owner.
This is done by stating on the website that the public may use the work without permission or payment.
Therefore, no written permission is required to use them.

In mid-August 2007, Discogs data became publicly accessible via a RESTful, XML-based API and a license that allowed specially attributed use, but did not allow anyone to "alter, transform, or build upon" the data. The license has since been changed to a public domain one. Prior to the advent of this license and API, Discogs data was only accessible via the Discogs web site's HTML interface and was intended to be viewed only using web browsers. The HTML interface remains the only authorized way to modify Discogs data.*

Discogs data is made available under the CC0 No Rights Reserved license:
http://creativecommons.org/about/cc0
Source: http://discogs.versitio.com/data
The source data comes from Submissions contributed by s who have ed s on discogs.versitio.com.

[Wikipedia] Public Domain
[Wikipedia] Public Domain in the U.S.
[Wikipedia] Discogs (US)*
[Website] United States Copyright Office
[Website] United States Copyright Office FAQ
[Website] Copyright Law of the United States of America / § 107 . Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use
[Website] University of Texas Libraries / Crash course in copyright
[Website] Copyright & Fair Use / The Public Domain / Stanford University Libraries
For a detailed analysis of public domain rules and issues:
[Website] The Public Domain: How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More, by Stephen Fishman (Nolo).
[Note] It should also be noted that outside the United States of America will be subject to their own national law(s).

[Quick Start Guide]
A short form of the Guidelines, useful for new s. (Quick Start Guide)

[Discogs] Contributing to Discogs

Rank
A number that is calculated based on the amount of Submissions and edits a has done.

[Note] You receive three rank points for every full submission, and one rank point for every edit, image, and review.
[Discogs] Contributing to Discogs
[Discogs] Contributor List
[Discussion] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (April 2008)

Rankhunter
A term used for s who submit many minor updates, inferring that they do this simply to increase their Rank.

[Discogs] Contributor List

Release
When release information is submitted to the database, it become a release. 'Release' is also a broad term for any audio product that is made for general public consumption, this is the fundamental thing that Discogs catalogs using Release Pages.

Release Page
A page containing the information for a Release, for example, http://discogs.versitio.com/release/1

[Database Guidelines 14. Updating Information]

[Run out]
Run out information is often stamped in the run out grooves of records.
Vinyl run out etchings can also contain mastering engineer / mastering studio / pressing plant information (often as initials), and extra text.

[Database Guidelines 5. Barcodes & Identifiers / Matrix / Run-Out information]
[Discussion] Common runout groove etchings: how to list them Version 5
[Discussion] Common runout groove etchings: how to list them Version 4
[Discussion] Common runout groove etchings: how to list them Version 3
[Discussion] Common runout groove etchings: how to list them Version 2
[Discussion] Common runout groove etchings: how to list them Version 1
[List] Messages on run-out grooves
[Website] Alphanumeric strings and Manufacture codes in vinyl runout etchings
[Website] Dead wax inscriptions
[Website] Steve Hoffman.tv Forum - The pressing plants and their codes (last permalink - Update Aug 17, 2013)

[Special Artist(s)]
The Discogs database used some placeholder artists for different reasons. Those placeholder are called Special Artist(s). The following placeholder are used as generic pages when the credit isn't for a specific artist:

◾ Various can be used when there are several different artists on a release, and no one is billed as the main artist.
◾ Unknown Artist is to be used for music releases which are not credited to an artist.
◾ No Artist should be used as an artist on releases where there is no musical artist performing, such as radio / TV ments, movie samples, blank tracks, sound effects, and so on.
◾ Traditional - Used for traditional songs that are credited as such on the release. Only to be used for composition type credits.
◾ Folk - Used for folk songs that are credited as such on the release. Only to be used for composition type credits.
◾ Anonymous - Used for artists who are credited as 'anonymous' on the release.

[Database Guidelines 2. Artists / Special Artists]

[Staff]
A Team Of People who lead Discogs.

Submission
When a enters data into Discogs, it is called a submission.

Submission Folder
The display showing a s Submissions - (note it is titled simply 'Submissions').

Submitter
When a s enters a Release or edit, they are termed a submitter.

[SR]
Support Request
https://discogs.versitio.com//new

Track
An individual musical work or piece of audio that is separated from other works on a Release in some way. On Discogs this generally means each individual numbered / lettered track listed on a releases sleeve.

[Track Artist]
The track artist is the main artist of a track. It does not necessarily have to be the track performer. (Guidelines)

Tracklist
A selection of tracks listed together in a list. Specifically on Discogs, is the list of tracks that feature on a Release.

Anyone who uses the site.

[Discussion] How many women use Discogs? (July 2014)
[Discussion] You know you have a Discogs addiction when.. (September 2012)

An a who uses the site has signed-up for on Discogs. All s are free. See the Help Section for more information.

[V1 V2 V3 V4]
The data in Discogs comes from submissions Contributed by s who have ed s on the web site. The system has gone through 4 major revisions.

Version One (V1)

All incoming Submissions were checked for formal and factual correctness by privileged s called "s", or "mods" for short, who had been selected by site management. Submissions and edits wouldn't become visible or searchable until they received a single positive vote from a . An even smaller pool of super-s called Editors had the power to vote on proposed edits to Artist & Label data.

Version Two (V2)

This version introduced the concept of "Submissions limits" which prevented new s from submitting more than 2-3 releases for Moderation. The number of possible submissions by a increased on a logarithmic scale. The purpose of this was two-fold: it helped keep the submissions queue fairly small and manageable for s, and it allowed the new to acclimatise themselves slowly with the many formatting rules and Guidelines of submitting to Discogs. Releases required a number of votes to be accepted into the database - initially the number of votes required was from 4 different s but in time the amount was decreased to 3 and then 2.

Version Three (V3)

Version 3 launched in August 2007. Submission limits were eliminated, allowing each to submit an unlimited number of updates and new entries. New releases added to the database were explicitly marked as "Unmoderated" with a top banner, and updates to existing items, such as releases, artists, or labels, were not shown (or available to search engines or casual visitors) until they were approved by the s.

Version Four (V4)

This system launched on 10 March 2008. New Submissions and edits currently take effect immediately. Any time a new release is added or old release edited, that entry becomes flagged as needing "votes" (initially, "review," but this term caused confusion). A flagged entry is marked as a full yellow bar across a release in the list views and, like version three, a banner on the submission itself – although, initially, this banner was omitted.

Any item can be voted on at any time, even if it isn't flagged. Votes consist of a rating of the correctness & completeness of the full set of data for an item (not just the most recent changes), as assessed by s who have been automatically determined, by an undisclosed algorithm, to be experienced & reliable enough to be allowed to cast votes. An item's "average" vote is displayed with the item's data.

The Ranking system has also changed in Version 4. In Version 3, Rank points were only awarded to Submitters when a Submission was "Accepted" by votes. While in Version 4, Rank points are now awarded immediately when a submission is made, regardless of the accuracy of the information and what votes it eventually receives, if any.*

The latest version changes (particularly Version 3 to Version 4) have experienced a lot of criticism by former submitter / .
These changes were often part of controversial discussions. Some of them are linked below.

[Website] Wikipedia / Contribution System*
[Discussion] Welcome to Discogs v4 [Webarchive] (March 2008)
[Discussion] Sign here if you want V3 back... (March 2008)
[Discussion] teo / nik: Suggestions to make v4 work (March 2008)
[Discussion] Roll of Honour (March 2008)
[following]
[Discussion] Roll of Honour [The OGS Book of Records] (March 2008)

Voter
The current role for s who have been trusted to check and rate Submissions based on their correctness. Voters replaced Editors and s during the Version 4 changes. The Editors and s formed the starting group of Voters, which are now augmented by automatically selected new Voters - Read more information in the Voting Guidelines.

[Note] How to become a voter?
Voters are selected automatically. Be active on the site, make good quality submissions, know the guidelines, help others, and make good corrections to existing entries, and you will be selected. More information about this is at the Voting Guidelines page.
[Discussion] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (April 2008)

Voting
When a Voter checks new information entered to the database, they can vote on the correctness of the information.

[Possibly votes to tag the current correctness of a submission could be:

◾ C&C / CC.........= Complete and Correct
◾ C / C-Vote.......= Correct
◾ NMiC / NmiC / NmC= Needs Minor Changes
◾ NMaC / NMC.......= Needs Major Changes
◾ EI...............= Submission is Entirely Incorrect]

[Database Guidelines 20. Voting Guidelines]
[Image] submission select vote

[VinylHub]
A database for Record Shops initiated by Discogs founder Kevin Lewandowski started in August 2014. The mission of VinylHub is to document every physical record shop.

[Discussion] Discogs has a new site (August 2014)
[Website] VinylHub
[Website] VinylHub Forum
[Website] similar website / competitive product VinylHunt.com

Websubmitter
A term used when a is suspected of submitting items from another internet site, rather than having the item in their hands. Discogs only allows Submissions made from the real item, for the sake of accuracy. (Guidelines)

[Discussion] The websubmitters these days... (August 2014)

Related Topics

◾ Release Submission Guide
◾ Commented Submission Guide
◾ [Discogs] Contributing to Discogs
◾ [Discogs] Quick Start Guide
◾ [Discogs] Of Service
◾ [Discussion] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (April 2008)