request to preserve info files

I've noticed two recent bittorrents whose sources may have passed through this server - 7/12/81 and 7/18/81. Each have had original info files which were not passed onto the bittorrent. That is not a fair way to share the music. I and others expended some effort to create original info files and maintain them with shn sets. They serve as a marker for that music set. There are many people who have downloaded those shn sets and know them by that info file marker. They and me have now downloaded or may download these new bittorrents to see if these are something new. We get disappointed to find it is the same thing and a wasted effort all because the original info files were discarded. This is inconveniencing some big collectors who generously help spread sources.

We ask that in sharing this music that you keep these info files intact with the shn sets. We don't mind the creation of more versions of info files with more or better improved information. But we want to see the original info file markers included and want to see some acknowledgement of the original info files in the information describing the bittorrent so we don't get them over and over again. We like to share the music but want to avoid the duplicate downloads caused by losing original information markers.

Comments

[Jeff DeWitt]

It's cool, Jeff. After i hit post, i did reconsider my comment about using the md5 to identify shows. You are correct. Of course, many people burn to audio and do not preserve the shns and checksums so they have nothing to compare it to. The nfo files are the way to go.

Anyway...no hard feelings. Thanks for your contributions as well.

Cheers!

[Jeff]

You did offer better content in your info file, but I disagree that the md5 is commonly used to identify shn sets. Everyone I know uses the info file first. If the info file is unique enough and matches, they expect the md5 files would match and they go no further. Most don't want to read md5 files except as a last resort. CD track layout and filenames usually are only good for telling you there is something different but not the same because of standard naming conventions and similar show tracking. A similar problem occurs when someone has done the shn to flac conversion and dropped the original md5 files. If the info file matches, that should be good enough to know it's the same lossless music. To me the info file markers are all we have in the dylan community to identify a lossless set.

In the grateful dead lossless world, they have assigned a number to each lossless set, weeded out all the duplicates, and have the info and md5 files on the internet. Still the first thing most do is look at the info file to see if it is what they have. I'd like to see a similar system in place for dylan where the community has identified all the versions, fixed the flaws, documented, and provided ways for people to get them.

Maybe I've overreacted in my recent postings on your info file changes, but your torrent came at a time when many others all at once were just dropping the info file completely and I was not happy with that.

I do notice we are getting torrents with better upfront documentation now. Of course it just may be fewer torrents.

I am glad you intend to preserve info files in the future. I do appreciate the effort you take to spread the music.

[Jeff DeWitt]

I guess i am the "guilty" party here, Jeff. Of course, my purpose was only to provide *more accurate and comprehensive* information on source, lineage, disc times and such and i had no intention of confusing downloaders. While i revised and improved (in my view at least) the text files, i left the original shns and md5 in tact, which commonly serve to identify sets.

Frankly, i don't see this as such a big deal, at least not to the extent that warrant the posting of critical comments in this regard in at least three public forums that i've seen; comments which are almost suggestive of some sort of devious "agenda".

Nonetheless, i will henceforth include all original info files in sets that i download from this server and share via BT.

It's all about sharing.

Cheers!