CD-Text
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CD-Text is a rudimentary metadata format used on audio CDs, and is similar to the tags found in computer audio files. Unlike other CD metadata sources, the information is not in an external database, but is actually encoded on the CD itself, in the subcode channels.
Very few commercial CDs have CD-Text data, and quite often, the data they do have is erroneous, incomplete, or poorly formatted.
Reading and writing CD-Text is not universally supported by players, drives, and software.
Format
CD-Text data is stored in language blocks, with a CD being able to hold up to 8 blocks. Each block contains a number of "pack types", which are what defines the types of CD-Text information stored on the disc.
Pack types are as follows:
| Pack | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 0x80 | Title | String |
| 0x81 | Performer | String |
| 0x82 | Songwriter | String |
| 0x83 | Composer | String |
| 0x84 | Arranger | String |
| 0x85 | Message Area | String |
| 0x86 | Disc Identification | String |
| 0x87 | Genre Identification | Binary |
| 0x88 | Table of Contents | Binary |
| 0x89 | Second Table of Contents | Binary |
| 0x8d | Closed Information | String |
| 0x8e | UPC/EAN code of the album and ISRC code of each track | String |
| 0x8f | Block Size Information | Binary |
Pack types 0x8a–0x8c are reserved, so are not included in the above table.
Software support
The following software can read CD-Text:
- cdrdao
- dBpoweramp
- Exact Audio Copy
- foobar2000
- iTunes
- MusicBee
- PerfectRip
The following software can write CD-Text:
External links
- CD-Text on Wikipedia