When track lengths don't match

What it is

Sometimes the release you picked and recording uploaded don't line up: the song lengths in the listing can't be made to fit the music in your file. Rather than hand you cuts that look finished and land in the wrong places, we stop and show you this card. Your recording is untouched, and the way forward is yours to pick.

How we use the track lengths

We cut a recording by finding the quiet between songs, then checking what we found against the album's tracklist — how many tracks, in what order, and how long each one runs. The lengths are a guide: when a cut looks doubtful, they help us place it. When the lengths and the music disagree and nothing in the recording explains why, we can't trust either one to place the cuts, so we ask you.

Why this happens

• The wrong release or pressing. Pressings of the same album can differ — a song swapped, an edit that runs longer, an extra track. The listing describes a record that isn't quite yours.
• A live album. Applause, talking and banter between songs are part of your recording, and the listing may not count them the way the audio does.
• Sides recorded in the wrong order. We read the recording start to finish. If side B went in before side A, the lengths fall in the wrong places. Some older double albums were made for record changers — sides A and D on one disc, B and C on the other. Record those in playing order and tick the "A/D and B/C double album recording" box.
• The album isn't in the databases. The closest match is a different record, so its lengths can't fit yours.

What to do

• Proceed anyway. We set the listed lengths aside and cut from the audio alone. The tracklist still names and tags your files. Every cut opens zoomed out, so plan to play each one and fine-tune it by ear. This is usually the quickest way to your files.
• Select a different release. Back to the search results, to pick a pressing that matches yours more closely.
• Start over. Back to the beginning, for a new recording or a new search.

If your album isn't listed anywhere, the Custom button on "What album is this?" lets you name it yourself — the artist, the title, how many tracks, and song lengths only if you know them.

What we never do

We never stretch, trim or alter your recording to make it fit a listing, and we never quietly cut a tracklist we don't believe in. Everything happens on your Mac; the only thing that leaves it is the lookup of the album's listing.

Still need help? hit us up.