The method
- Record the displayed title, credited artist and medium or platform. Save the consulted page address when available. Treat live, remix and version labels as stated information rather than assumptions.
- Add release details and available identifiers. Separate what appears on the medium from data found in a database. A duration difference raises a question but does not alone identify a different take.
- Keep listening observations in a personal field: introduction, instrumentation or a passage to revisit. Preserve both references when comparing versions instead of replacing one with the other.
Your recording grid
Use these columns to keep information about your own project. The sheet is blank; you can print it and fill it in.
Fictional worked example
In a fictional example, one listening comes from an album and another page is marked live. Keep two entries pending clarification rather than merging them under one title.
The record to keep
Retain references and metadata consultation dates. Your opinion may change but remains distinct from identification.
What this method can establish
The sheet certifies neither attribution nor distribution rights. A metadata database grants no permission to reuse a recording.
Useful questions before you start
Do identical titles mean the same version?
Compare recordings, releases and available information before merging them.
Is a duration difference enough?
Treat it as a clue and seek other references before claiming a different recording.
Supporting documentation
Documentation consulted on
An editorial method, a fictional example and references for further reading.