[bside123]

I've just recently started using the Discogs Database in order to catalogue my vinyl LPs, as well as to do research on various album pressings, reissues, labels and credits. It's a pretty extraordinary resource. Many of you have already expressed that you are purchasing used vinyl through Discogs. However, as most of you well know, Discogs also operates kind of like Wikipedia, as it allows the member base to update the listings, issues, versions and album details.

Anyway, I've only begun to enter my own record collection into the database. This will prove to be a tedious and laborious process, but in the long run I believe it will be well worth it. In addition to having a comprehensive catalogue of my collection, the database provides oodles of info on all the various pressings. I've even submitted more than 20 new releases to the database that were not currently present. In this way it helps others.

Discogs allows members to become "Friends," which allows members to browse each others collections, share notes, updates, corrections and communications, etc. I was thinking that this might be a convenient way for AudioCircle vinyl lovers to share their records. It could be an immediate venue for buying, selling, trading, loaning, discussing and sharing each others records (duplicates, unwanted titles, special pressings, etc.), as it would allow "Friends" actually see and browse through each others collections.

What are others' experience with Discogs apart from making purchases? Whadya' think? Any interest in sharing Discogs user names, so that we can communicate through the Discogs Database? 

[DaveyW]

Hi Bside,
I started adding my discs to my DISCOGS collection a while back but soon realised it was going to take a very, very long time and gave up.
Pop/Rock is reasonably well covered, but even then I found many where my specific pressing was not included.
Classical is a different story, at least 30% of the recordings I tried to identify were not on the database at all and boy is it time consuming entering and submitting new discs, especially when there are no other pressings to copy across.
I agree it's a great resource and do plan to add my collection on the database but it's unlikely to be anytime soon and probably won't include my 700+ Classical discs.
Cheers
Dave

PS my DISCOGS moniker is the same "DaveyW"

[bside123]

Hi Bside,
I started adding my discs to my DISCOGS collection a while back but soon realised it was going to take a very, very long time and gave up.
Pop/Rock is reasonably well covered, but even then I found many where my specific pressing was not included.
Classical is a different story, at least 30% of the recordings I tried to identify were not on the database at all and boy is it time consuming entering and submitting new discs, especially when there are no other pressings to copy across.
I agree it's a great resource and do plan to add my collection on the database but it's unlikely to be anytime soon and probably won't include my 700+ Classical discs.
Cheers
Dave
PS my DISCOGS moniker is the same "DaveyW"

Hi Dave,
Yea... to add all of the albums is surely going to take a very, very long time...

As the idea of cataloging all of my records was daunting enough indeed, I pondered for over 3 weeks whether I was going to even take on the task. I finally decided to "bite the bullet" and get started, as I feel that in the long run it will really be worth it. So it's as they say... "one day at a time." I'll just simply chip away at it.

I was also surprised that in only 350 entries (so far), 24 of my pressings or titles were not already listed. That's 7%! In order to submit them... it could mean a lot more work. The counter argument to the tedious work is that if we all were to submit our pressings, again in the long run, it will be less work for us as we collect into the future. This is because we are the ones building the database, and we can capitalize on each others collections.

I've got to hand it to Discogs, as it represents a truly great tool. I also respect the challenge and the resistance to participate, as it is always very hard to build something up! The database will need to be built... even for those who simply want to use Discogs as a commercial site for buying and selling. Overtime, this could prove to be a phenomenal site.

Anyway, these are my positive, theoretical thoughts about it today. I'll check back in later after I: 1) get tired of sorting through all my albums (clean & dirty) 2) get tired of reshelving those same albums 3) get tired of trying to read all of the fine print on the discs and the jackets of those albums 4) get tired of database searches and trying to figure out other's entries for those same albums, and 5) my fingers get tired of key entries... then I'll let you know just how good of an idea it all was... 

In the meantime, I'll enter you as a Discogs "friend" and look at your ABBA collection! 

[DaveyW]

In the meantime, I'll enter you as a Discogs "friend" and look at your ABBA collection! 

  Damn! I've been rumbled - there's at least one of theirs in there.

Hey! I've just checked out your collection - some great stuff 

Your post has spurred me on - Will probably do as you say, try and get back into it, a bit at a time - plenty to go.
Cheers,
Dave

[bside123]

"And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep." I'm just getting started!

[Jlappy]

hey bside123,

i took the discogs plunge last winter (i think) and it was a lot of work, yet well worth it since you can download your collection as a spread sheet.      I have about 90% of my collection in.   DaveyW is right about the classical, I still have a small stack 10-15 lps & 10-15 cds that i'm 'whittling away' on, yet what a pain conductors, sympathies, and musicians  . . .  rock groups are so much easier . . .  yet, overall i like the discogs community , there is a professional 'archival' demeanor that most of the folks have. 

my discogs id is lappy57.

cheers,

Jim

[DaveyW]

Blimey Jim - You've done great getting that lot in DISCOGS.
My vinyl collection stands at around 1700, plus CD's, with only 150ish in the Dogs - I've got a lot of catching up to do 

I see you've got Belly's Star 
Tanya Donelly really hit the mark with this

Cheers
Dave

[bside123]

I'm now up to 415 entries.... and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep... 

[Jlappy]

Hey Bside & Dave,

keep it up!  I was obsessed last Dec-Jan  , i made a number of mistakes (in some submissions), yet it was a good stratifying feeling when i had about 90-95% of my collection in, i've got a few 100 or so lps/cds to go. 

Bside -  on your    Stone The Crows - Teenage Licks

Dave - on your  White Spirit – White Spirit

cheers,

Jim

[DaveyW]

I was obsessed last Dec-Jan  , i made a number of mistakes 

Ha! Me too - Boy is it clunky - I got put on a "contributor improvement programme"  after being given conflicting advice on how to enter the Classical performers 
This really put me off - the ban has now been lifted so am ready to go again.

Dave - on your  White Spirit – White Spirit

Yes! A NWOBHM Classic - I love this album.
I've also got the 2005 CD re-release with a 2nd CD full of Bonus Tracks & Demos 

Given your musical tastes there's probably a few others that might have you reaching for the "drool" smiley 

Maybe just the inspiration I need to kick start this again 

Cheers,
Dave

[bside123]

505 entires, still counting, and miles to go before I sleep... 

[Jlappy]

505 entires, still counting, and miles to go before I sleep... 

Hey bside,  hang in there friend .  . .  557  today    . . . it can become an obsession, but don't let it get to you. 

[bside123]

Hey bside,  hang in there friend .  . .  557  today    . . . it can become an obsession, but don't let it get to you. 

Still going... 615... and mile to go before I sleep...

[SteveRB]

Hey, your thread got me started on Discogs.

I'm having a little trouble with releases. A lot of my collection is manufactured and released in Canada. I'm not sure how to copy the existing info and update the release/ catalog number and country of origin... any help?

discogs name: stevenarrow

(I've added about 1% so far...)

[bside123]

Hey, your thread got me started on Discogs.
I'm having a little trouble with releases. A lot of my collection is manufactured and released in Canada. I'm not sure how to copy the existing info and update the release/ catalog number and country of origin... any help?
discogs name: stevenarrow
(I've added about 1% so far...)

The process for copying and updating is simple:
1) click on the existing title most closely resembling the release you want to submit.
2) click on the the "edit" tab, which should be on the right hand side of album's title page.
3) click on the "copy to draft" tab, which should be part way down the new page, after whatever history has been posted.
4) click on "yes, copy the release" when prompted.
5) this will save the existing release as a "draft" in your files.
6) click on "edit/submit" tab
7) now you can change the draft to suit your needs in any fashion to detail the release your are submitting, i.e., change the country, version, pressing, etc.
8 ) preview and submit your updated version of the release.
9) you'll have to add the cover art again.

Hope this helps. I've actually learned a lot by going through my record collection piece by piece. I still have a very long way to go to add my entire inventory, but so far it's been worth it. There's some really interesting information on these records: artists, producers, versions, let alone the history and time period lessons.

[SteveRB]

I did this procedure, but it seemed to make a new copy of the release. Is there a way to add it to the master release?

[bside123]

I did this procedure, but it seemed to make a new copy of the release. Is there a way to add it to the master release?

Yes, this does make a new release. If you have a version (release) that is not in the data base, because it differs from the others (country, cover, label, reissue, different catalogue number, etc.), it is regarded as a new (another) release of the album. It's my understanding that new members, such as ourselves, are not authorized to add new releases to the master. However, I keep getting notifications that my new releases are being added to the master list, so somebody(s) is watching and making continual adjustments to the database. Maybe others know how this works better than me. 

[SteveRB]

I figured it out -- save the release as a draft and copy the release number at the end of the address in the browser bar. Then click to edit the master release and add the new release number to the list...

its a lot of clicks but works.

[bside123]

Yea! After I wrote you, I figured it out as well.... I guess others have been entering my submissions for me. I tend to this myself in the future. Thanks!

[SteveRB]

excellent --

feel free to friend me: stevenarrow