What is the significance of the 'Y' in the track X of Y id3 tags?

[westofrome]

I just started using iTunes and imported a bunch of music, including music ripped by various rippers(EAC, CDEX, WMP) from CD, as well as some stuff downloaded from eMusic.

When I ripped my first CD using iTunes, I noticed that it would not play in track order when I tried to play it on my old Rio Carbon (and all other tracks did, including those freshly ripped using the latest WMP or freshly downloaded from eMusic).

Upon investigation of the tags, it seemed that the difference between all my other music and the one CD ripped by iTunes was that the latter had the Y field in "track X of Y" filled in. When I deleted that tag and re-transfered to my player it played fine.

So: what is the point of that tag? And why do the current versions of WMP, eMusic, etc, not apply that tag (and therefore not cause problems with the Rio?)

I plan to get an iPod and use iTunes; will the fact that I have tens of gigs of music ripped without the 'Y' tag cause problems for me in the future?

Thanks for your advice!

[Galley]

Some software, such as J. River Media Center uses it to determine if an album is "complete". For example if an album is said to contain 12 tracks, but it only has 11 associated files then that album is "incomplete".

[westofrome]

Hm...well, does iTunes use it at all? And if not, is there a way to disable it? Seems like it is making music less cross-platform compatible.

[Galley]

I've found that software that doesn't support it just tends to ignore it. i.e RealPlayer.

[cxc273]

You don't need to have the Y area filled out in order for iTunes to function properly.

A lot of folks use it because as you listen to an album, especially for the first time, that number, plus the track number (which you refer to as "X") gives them a good idea of how many songs will be left before the end.

If you're concerned about using the files on another MP3 player, you can certainly leave it blank. Adding it later or taking it out later is also not a problem.

[westofrome]

If you're concerned about using the files on another MP3 player, you can certainly leave it blank. Adding it later or taking it out later is also not a problem.

OK - but is there an easy way to leave it blank using iTunes? I'd like to use it to rip; I like the interface and the fact that I wouldn't have to import my music later...

[synecdoche]

I don't use that particular category, but I cleared it by doing a "select all," "edit info," and then clicking the tick box next to the entry field and leaving the field itself blank. (I just got rid of it because I like uniformity and this was faster than going through and ADDING it to all the ones that didn't have the information.)

[cxc273]

That's exactly how I'd advise westofrome to do it.

[westofrome]

Gotcha - after every rip, select all, get info, edit that tag as blank.

Not too big a deal, but I wish there was a way to direct iTunes to leave that tag blank automatically.

Thanks for all the help.

[booyah]

I think what Synecdoche meant was that you can select your entire library, right-click for info, and (BEING VERY CAREFFUL NOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE), check the "of Y" box, leaving the field itself empty. This will make the change for your entire library in one go. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE ANY OTHER CHANGES, though, as each change would affect your entire library.

[westofrome]

I think what Synecdoche meant was that you can select your entire library, right-click for info, and (BEING VERY CAREFFUL NOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE), check the "of Y" box, leaving the field itself empty. This will make the change for your entire library in one go. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE ANY OTHER CHANGES, though, as each change would affect your entire library.

I got what he was saying (I think). I just mean that you'd have to do this again for every new album you rip, since there isn't any way to preemptively prevent iTunes from filling in the tag. Or am I wrong about that?

[booyah]

Correct - yes. But depending on how urgently you need it updated, you could choose to update the whole library once a month, say.

[westofrome]

True, good point - I wouldn't need to keep track.

This board has been really helpful, thanks everyone.

[studogvetmed]

You can make the changes pre-rip. You can edit all tag information before ripping. Do it before the rip, then you don't have to do it after ;)