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Why Metadata is the Key to the Digital Experience
With the invasion of the iPod and the rise of media servers from companies like ReQuest, Escient, Kaleidescape, Crestron and others, the quality of the user experience relies on accurate metadata.
Metadata tags provide the necessary artist, album, song, genre and album art that is displayed on user interfaces. The quality and accuracy of metadata is central to a positive user experience.
Installers need to consider the situation, for example, when a client is showing off his system to a friend only to be embarrassed by "The Beatles" spelled "Beetles," with no cover art to imagine the value of good metadata.
Installation Options Abound
Thousands of media servers are professionally installed every month by installers all over the world, and each of these servers can be loaded with music, movies or both.
Following the installation, integrators have three choices in migrating the client's collection to the server hard drive:
1. Do nothing and let clients suffer through it.
2. Preload the servers in-house, using PCs or robotic loaders (such the Kaleidescape Speed Reader by Mediatechnics).
3. Use a professional loading service like MetaRip, Ripping Revolution, TerraSan, or ReadyToPlay.
Examining these options, it's important to note that leaving the loading process to the client is risky. Installers who don't preload servers run the risk of developing frustrated and unhappy clients.
Loading a server is a tedious process that requires professional software tools and a modicum of expertise to achieve decent results.
There's no way that the average client could achieve professional results without dealer support. Every collection requires some grooming and manual entry of metadata to achieve accuracy.
For option No. 2, in-house loading by dealers is the primary method by which media servers get preloaded. These dealers typically use a PC running MusicMatch or some other "ripping" program that can be manually fed CDs by some poor soul.
Kaleidescape sells a robotic loader called the Speed Reader. Dealers can purchase a Speed Reader for approximately $5,000 and encode stacks of CDs and DVDs with minimal human effort.
Encode Center HD is a software solution available from Get Digital Data that converts the Speed Reader into an open platform device for loading all the major server brands. Encode Center HD is sold on a small USB hard drive that allows the Speed Reader to operate like any other Mediatechnics loader.
For non-Kaleidescape dealers, Encode Center is bundled with Mediatechnics loaders for purchase starting at $3,999.
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6 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
My previous and current employer both license AMG for meta data for our set top boxes. AMG has fairly wide coverage but the quality is not always great. Top tier loading companies like TerraSan do not rely solely on one meta data provider but use a combination of many resources to groom their customers data, the most important step being the manual QC done by hand.
I think it’s unfamiliarity that leeds to this mis-understanding. While GD3 is not the most recognised, it is amongst those who handle the data everyday. Unfortunately, manufacturers and some ripping companies fall prey to the “Bigger is Better” trapping of AMG and Gracenote who have Playstation and iPod as their models. GD3 is based on Professional Media Servers and delivering CEDIA level quality and support. After importing over a million disks
combined using and reviewing the data from all the providers mentioned, I can honestly say the consistancy and overall quality of GD3 as a metadata resource is noticably superior- especially on a touchpanel.
At MetaRip, we’ve been using GD3 exclusively for the past year based on several factors. With 2M music and 500K DVD/Blu-Ray titles, it’s got great coverage. New metadata is generated and supported by the professional ripping community with an emphasis on server-grade accuracy required by the CEDIA dealers for their clients. GD3 metadata is structured according to rules for consistency, which results in high coverage and reduces matching errors. This also makes it possible for servers to parse the data and present it according to their own rules. MetaRip, Terra-SAN, and other rippers around the world gather and submit GD3 metadata groomed to GD3 standards. This method of feeding the database results in unmatched quality. At MetaRip, we also scan all cover art at 1000 pixels (the new GD3 standard) for best performance on high resolution user interfaces. Watch out for GD3…it’s the next generation database.
Any one notice that ‘some’ fanboy mentions Terrasan and then 5 minutes later a Terrasan employee actually posts? That’s not obvious.
I’m surprised CEPro would allow such a one-sided article.
Am I the fanboy you speak of? I am a huge fan of Terra-SAN. When I worked at Kaleidescape, they bailed us out of many a jam, the perfect partner. I worked with a number of other ripping companies as well, some great, some bad. I now work at VUDU and AMG is our least favorite option for meta data, it’s just not that good. It should come as no surprise that someone from Kaleidescape & VUDU and someone from a ripping company would respond to the same CEPro article.
I don’t see why you would think an article on GD3 is one sided…Nick made mention of other ripping companies besides MetaRip.
I think the article makes a good point, that in the age of graphical user interface, clean metadata and cover art are essential to the user experience. But let’s be honest, GD3 metadata? A little self serving don’t you think? Companies like Gracenote and AMG are multi-million dollar data companies that have armies of people grooming their data. If the hardware or the digitization service isn’t using Gracenote or AMG, I would be wary.