'''Cue sheets''' are used to provide index information for a large audio file. They are generally used in conjunction with either extracting from, or burning to, [[Compact Disc|CD]]. Cue sheets have the file extension ".cue", and are simple plain text files.

The cue sheet may contain [[metadata]] (e.g.: '''TITLE''' and '''PERFORMER''' statements), but must contain information regarding the file(s) referenced by the cue sheet ('''FILE''' command) and the '''TRACK''' and '''INDEX''' points within the file. INDEX points are specified using the '''MM:SS:FF''' format, where MM is the number of minutes, SS the number of seconds, and FF the number of frames (there are seventy five frames to one second).

The cue sheet has become popular thanks to [[EAC]] users who rip [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|Audio CD]]s to one image file, with an accompanying cue sheet. [[EAC]] can create four different cue sheet layouts, three for use with separate track files (a cue sheet may reference more than one file), but the single file cue sheet is most likely the more popular.

Cue sheets can be used when writing data to discs, as well as [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|Audio CD]]s. This document focuses solely on the audio-related commands.

== The Background ==
The cue sheet format was invented by Jeff Arnold of [http://www.goldenhawk.com/ GoldenHawk Technology] for use with his [[DAO]] ('''D'''isc '''A'''t '''O'''nce) and [http://www.goldenhawk.com/ CDRWIN] applications. The format has since been adopted as the ''de facto'' standard, and is used by various other applications, including [[foobar2000]]. The official cue sheet specification is widely accepted to be Appendix A of the [http://www.goldenhawk.com/ CDRWIN] User's Guide.

The name is taken from the '''SEND CUE SHEET''' command, when a cue sheet describing the disc layout must be sent to the drive before writing starts in SAO write mode. The drive writes to the disc, using the cue sheet information to generate the P and Q subchannel data, and to retrieve the format and block size of the data transfered with the '''WRITE''' command.

Text adapted from [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=42485 a post by Martin H].

== Cue Sheet Commands ==
The following commands are detailed in the Appendix A of the [http://www.goldenhawk.com/ CDRWIN] User's Guide:
* CATALOG
* CDTEXTFILE
* FILE
* FLAGS
* INDEX
* ISRC
* PERFORMER
* POSTGAP
* PREGAP
* REM
* SONGWRITER
* TITLE
* TRACK

=== Most Often Used ===
;FILE
:The FILE command specifies the file that the cue sheet is currently referencing. Valid file types are WAVE, MP3 and AIFF, although other formats, e.g.: lossless formats like [[WavPack]] and [[FLAC]], can also be used under the WAVE file type.
;INDEX
:A number between 00 and 99. Index points are specified in MM:SS:FF format, and are relative to the start of the file currently referenced. INDEX 01 commands specify the beginning of a new track. INDEX 00 commands specify the pre-gap of a track; you may notice your [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|Audio CD]] player count up from a negative value before beginning a new track - this is the period between INDEX 00 and INDEX 01.
;PERFORMER
:At top-level this will specify the CD artist, while at track-level it specifies the track artist.
;PREGAP
:Used to specify the length of a track pre-gap, in MM:SS:FF format.
;REM
:Used to record comments in a cue sheet. This command is often used to store additional meta data to TITLE and PERFORMER, e.g.: the date or genre of the disc.
;TITLE
:At top-level this will specify the album name, while at track-level it specifies the track name.
;TRACK
:A number between 01 and 99, indicating the track number.

=== A Few Examples ===
'''A standard single file cue sheet'''
<pre>
REM GENRE Alternative
REM DATE 1991
REM DISCID 860B640B
REM COMMENT "ExactAudioCopy v0.95b4"
PERFORMER "My Bloody Valentine"
TITLE "Loveless"
FILE "My Bloody Valentine - Loveless.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Only Shallow"
PERFORMER "My Bloody Valentine"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Loomer"
PERFORMER "My Bloody Valentine"
INDEX 01 04:17:52
</pre>
The cue sheet above, created by [[EAC]], shows the first two tracks of a standard single file cue sheet. Note the use of REM commands to record additional [[metadata]], in the format '''REM <TAG> "<value>"'''. The '''PERFORMER''' and '''TITLE''' commands at the top of the cue sheet detail the [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD]] artist and album name respectively. The '''PERFORMER''' and '''TITLE''' commands at track-level specify the track artist and title.

TRACK 02's INDEX 01 entry does not state that the track is 4m 17.693s long, but that the beginning of the track is 4m 17.693s into the file (so TRACK 01 was in fact 4m 17.693s long). If TRACK 02 was 3m long exactly, TRACK 03's INDEX 01 value would be 07:17:52.

Also note the file reference specifying a relative path to the file (references can also be absolute) and the file type: [[WAV|WAVE]].

==== A single file cue sheet with a TRACK 01 INDEX 00 hidden track ====
<pre>
PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
TITLE "Silent Alarm"
FILE "Bloc Party - Silent Alarm.flac" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Like Eating Glass"
PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
INDEX 00 00:00:00
INDEX 01 03:22:70
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Helicopter"
PERFORMER "Bloc Party"
INDEX 00 07:42:69
INDEX 01 07:44:69
</pre>
The cue sheet above shows the first two tracks of a single file cue sheet for a disc with a hidden track at the start. Note that TRACK 01 INDEX 01 starts at 03:22:70 (3m 22.933s) instead of 00:00:00 as in the first example, and most cue sheets. The INDEX 00 index on TRACK 02 displays the more usual behaviour, being two seconds before INDEX 01.

As the INDEX 00 is on TRACK 01 you will not normally see the usual countdown from a negative value that you might see from an INDEX 00 command on a subsequent track. To listen to this track on a [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|Audio CD]] player you will need to start the disc playing and press rewind, to rewind, essentially, from 3m 22s into the disc back to the true beginning.

Also note that the file referenced is [[FLAC]], but the [[WAV|WAVE]] files type is used. For [[MP3]] files the file type "'''[[MP3]]'''" should be used, for [[AIFF]] you should use "'''[[AIFF]]'''", but for all other types "'''[[WAV|WAVE]]'''" is used.

==== Multiple files with corrected gaps ====
<pre>
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 01 - Gangsters.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Gangsters"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 02 - Rudi, A Message To You.wav" WAVE
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Rudi, A Message To You"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 00:00:00
INDEX 01 00:00:28
</pre>
This mutiple file cue sheet, created by [[EAC]], has gaps prepended to the next track. This method allows users to retain gaps, but by prepending the gap to the next track each track may begin with silence, which makes playback less satisfactory.

==== Multiple files with gaps left out ====
<pre>
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 01 - Gangsters.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Gangsters"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 02 - Rudi, A Message To You.wav" WAVE
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Rudi, A Message To You"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
PREGAP 00:00:28
INDEX 01 00:00:00
</pre>
This mutiple file cue sheet, created by [[EAC]], has removed the gaps, but artificially recreates silence between tracks using the PREGAP command. This is fine if the gap was silence, but unsatisfactory if it contained audio.

==== Multiple files with gaps (Noncompliant) ====
<pre>
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 01 - Gangsters.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Gangsters"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Rudi, A Message To You"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 02:47:74
FILE "The Specials - Singles - 02 - Rudi, A Message To You.wav" WAVE
INDEX 01 00:00:00
</pre>
This mutiple file cue sheet, created by [[EAC]], has gaps appended to the previous track, and is a favourite among users who rip to track files but wish to retain gap information. This format allows the user to retain gaps, but in a position in the track file that does not hinder playback. Unfortunately, this format is non-compliant, so applications that adhere to the specification, like [[foobar2000]], will not be able to read it. [[EAC]] will obviously read these cue sheets, as will the [[Compact Disc|CD]] burning application [[Burrrn]].

Note that INDEX 00 of TRACK 02 is set while still referencing the first FILE.

==== Single file version of the cue sheet used above ====
<pre>
FILE "The Specials - Singles.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Gangsters"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Rudi, A Message To You"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 02:47:74
INDEX 01 02:48:27
</pre>
For reference, the cue sheet used in the examples above in single file format.

== Example Cue Sheet ==
<pre>
REM GENRE Ska
REM DATE 1991
REM DISCID D00DA810
REM COMMENT "ExactAudioCopy v0.95b4"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
TITLE "Singles"
FILE "The Specials - Singles.wav" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "Gangsters"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Rudi, A Message To You"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 02:47:74
INDEX 01 02:48:27
TRACK 03 AUDIO
TITLE "Nite Klub"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 05:41:50
INDEX 01 05:42:27
TRACK 04 AUDIO
TITLE "Too Much Too Young"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 08:53:47
INDEX 01 08:54:37
TRACK 05 AUDIO
TITLE "Guns Of Navarone"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 10:59:20
INDEX 01 11:00:17
TRACK 06 AUDIO
TITLE "Rat Race"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 13:20:55
INDEX 01 13:20:67
TRACK 07 AUDIO
TITLE "Stereotype"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 16:29:67
INDEX 01 16:30:30
TRACK 08 AUDIO
TITLE "International Jet Set"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 20:19:27
INDEX 01 20:20:20
TRACK 09 AUDIO
TITLE "Do Nothing"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 24:30:70
INDEX 01 24:32:27
TRACK 10 AUDIO
TITLE "Ghost Town"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 28:23:30
INDEX 01 28:23:42
TRACK 11 AUDIO
TITLE "Why?"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 34:21:37
INDEX 01 34:21:47
TRACK 12 AUDIO
TITLE "Friday Night, Saturday Morning"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 38:16:50
INDEX 01 38:16:55
TRACK 13 AUDIO
TITLE "War Crimes"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 41:50:07
INDEX 01 41:51:00
TRACK 14 AUDIO
TITLE "Racist Friend"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 45:50:55
INDEX 01 45:51:72
TRACK 15 AUDIO
TITLE "Nelson Mandela"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 49:35:55
INDEX 01 49:38:22
TRACK 16 AUDIO
TITLE "(What I Like Most About You Is Your) Girlfriend"
PERFORMER "The Specials"
INDEX 00 54:11:00
INDEX 01 54:12:40
</pre>

== Useful Applications ==
=== Playing ===
* [[foobar2000]]

=== Splitting ===
* [[ACDIR]]: http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/xoops/modules/mysoftwares/tc_2.html
* CUE Splitter: http://www.enfis.it/downloads.php?cat_id=1
* CueProc: http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/xoops/modules/mysoftwares/tc_6.html
* [[foobar2000]]: http://www.foobar2000.org/
* pcutmp3: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=35654
* [[shntool]]: http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shntool/
* WavSplit: http://tangerine.uw.hu/prog/

=== Joining ===
* CueMake: http://www.synthetic-soul.co.uk/files/cuemake/
* [[CueTools]]: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=41476
* [[foobar2000]]: http://www.foobar2000.org/
* [[shntool]]: http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shntool/

=== Creating ===
* CD Wave: http://www.milosoftware.com/cdwave/
* CueMaster: http://cuemaster.host.sk/
* [[CueTools]]: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=41476
* [[foobar2000]]: http://www.foobar2000.org/
* [[Goldwave]]: http://www.goldwave.com/
* [[shntool]]: http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shntool/
* Wave Repair: http://www.waverepair.com/

=== Other ===
* TBD

== See Also ==
* [[Gap settings]]
* [[EAC CUE Sheets]]

== External Links ==
* Wikipedia article: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cue_sheet_(computing)|en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cue_sheet_(computing)]
* The Goldenhawk website: [http://goldenhawk.com/ goldenhawk.com]

CUETools

2008-11-18T16:12:21Z

Gchudov:

CUETools

2008-11-18T16:11:33Z

Gchudov:

{{Software Infobox
| name = CUETools
| screenshot = [[Image:Cuetools193.jpg|578px|CUETools 1.9.3]]
| caption =
| maintainer = [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showuser=2227 Moitah],[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showuser=59035 Greg Chudov]
| stable_release = 1.9.1
| preview_release = 1.9.3
| operating_system = [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| use = [[Wikipedia:Encoder/Decoder|Encoder/Decoder]]
| license = [[Wikipedia:GNU General Public License|GNU GPL]]
| website = [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233 Hydrogenaudio]
}}

'''CUETools''' is a tool for [[lossless|lossless audio]]/[[Cue sheet|CUE sheet]] format conversion. The goal is to make sure the album image is preserved accurately. Lossless disc image must be lossless not only in preserving contents of the audio tracks, but also in preserving gaps and CUE sheet contents. Many applications loose vital information upon conversion, and don't support all possible CUE sheet styles. For example, [[foobar2000]] looses disc pre-gap information when converting an album image, and doesn't support gaps appended (noncompliant) CUE sheets.

==Supported formats==
Supports [[WAV]], [[FLAC]], [[ALAC]], [[APE]] and [[WavPack]] audio input/output.
Audio must be 16-bit, 44.1kHz samples stereo (i.e. [[Wikipedia:Red Book (audio CD standard)|CD]] PCM).
Supports every imaginable [[Cue sheet|CUE sheet]] style (embedded, single file, gaps appended/prepended/left out).

==AccurateRip support==
Since version 1.9.2, CUETools can verify album images using [[AccurateRip]] database. ARCue and TripleFLAC were an inspiration. The unique feature of CUETools AccurateRip verification is offset detection. Rip that was made without offset correction can still be verified against the database, offset can be found and corrected.

Sample log:

[Disc ID: 000d44e3-005781a4-6b09df03]
Track [ CRC ] Status
01 [4a3fc0dd] (00/118) No matches
02 [a9382641] (00/118) No matches
03 [ebf74add] (00/116) No matches
Offsetted by -738:
01 [fd79d20e] (08/118) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #1
02 [a0b20dcc] (08/118) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #1
03 [44bacfd7] (08/116) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #1
Offsetted by -265:
01 [b5d7e187] (05/118) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #4
02 [29867165] (05/118) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #4
03 [380c013d] (05/116) Accurately ripped as in pressing(s) #4

==Command line options==
* CUETools.exe /verify <filename> - verify an image using AccurateRip database.
* CUETools.exe /convert <filename> - convert an image to the default output format.
* CUETools.exe <filename> - open CUETools dialog, with input file set to <filename>.
* ArCueDotNet.exe <filename> - console version of AccurateRip verification.

==Supported platforms==
CUETools is a [[Wikipedia:.NET_Framework|.NET]] application, written in [[Wikipedia:C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]. Binaries are available for 32 bit (x86) and 64 bit (x64) Windows versions. .NET Framework 2.0 and Visual C++ 2005 SP1 runtime are required.
Users report they have been able to use it under linux, using [[Wikipedia:Mono (software)|Mono]], but in this scenario only WAV audio is supported, as other codecs are not yet ported to C#.

==External links==
*[http://moitah.net/ Moitah's website] - Currently hosts stable (outdated) version 1.9.1;
*[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=50113 Original thread] - Original discussion;
*[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=66233 1.9.3 Development Thread] - Latest development version;
*[http://cuetoolsnet.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/cuetoolsnet/ SVN repository]
*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/cuetoolsnet Sourceforge project page]
*[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en .NET Framework 2.0 (x86) download]
*[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=200B2FD9-AE1A-4A14-984D-389C36F85647&displaylang=en Visual C++ 2005 SP1 runtime (x86) download]

[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Encoder/Decoder]]