When adding stuff to discogs collection, how do you know if you have the right version?

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by colby2415, Mar 27, 2017.

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  1. colby2415

    colby2415 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Canada
    Not sure if this is the right place to be asking this but I am curious. I decided to start cataloging my vinyl on discogs so I know what I have, etc. But I am curious about one thing. How do you know if you found the right version on the site? For example, there is one album that has many versions that have the same catalog # as mine. There is slight variations in the photos of the labels though, so maybe I should find the one that looks exactly like mine. But even then, do I know if I have the right version? Checking the etchings is a pain in the butt as well, and usually they are the same as well. Any ideas?

    Thanks
     
  2. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I went through this a few months ago.

    I checked a few things. First I made sure I was at least looking at versions with the same cat number and also the same country as my copy.

    Then I compared photos of covers and labels and matrix details (when available on the site). I know it's a pain to check each of your copies but you kind of have to do that when there are multiple listings with different details.

    Sometimes there aren't that many details on Discogs and in those cases I tried to find the closest match and then entered a few comments on my copy in the notes section about my copy.

    You can also contribute by submitting information and photos of your copy. A lot of times your copy is the right copy just with a variation of some sort. e.g. -1A instead of -1B in the matrix.

    Also, be prepared to find out that not all your records are listed at all on Discogs. I have about 125 out of 1200+ records that did not have a listing. So I made a separate listing in Excel of those and as I get the time I'll submit them into Discogs.

    Another to be aware of, once you add your copy if the details change in the database you'll get an email in your Discogs inbox. That might be annoying or that might be helpful. I'm on the fence lol. Not sure if you can turn it off but even so I'd probably leave it to get updates
     
    tmtomh likes this.
  3. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    Actually, if an item of mine doesn't match exactly, I just let it slide. Nobody cares about the database except me, as long as I'm alive, and once I'm dead, my son plans on bringing in someone to look over, and buy the vinyl portion.
     
    tmtomh likes this.
  4. rl1856

    rl1856 Forum Resident

    Location:
    SC
    It is very hard to narrow down a pressing using the discogs database. I frequently list LPs under 1 or more pressing descriptions to be sure I am covered. If one sells, I pull the others.... Lots of errors, omissions and confusion in the user contributed data. But their site is useful in a way.
     
  5. tmtomh

    tmtomh Forum Resident

    Eddie is quite wise (as often is the case!). Because discogs is such a great resource, they typically have many pressings in the database, which means you need to view and compare multiple similar versions to the one you own, if you are intent on adding the exact right one to your collection. He's also right that catalogue number and country are the best starting point, because you can easily rule out a bunch of candidates that way just from the Master Release page - leaving you with relatively few entries that you have to go through more carefully.

    There's also sometimes a question about which matrix/pressings should be listed as variations within an entry, versus as separate entries. So that can be confusing.

    As for adding entries to the database - which anyone with a decent-sized collection will almost certainly have to do - I found there's a little bit of a learning curve there, but it's quick and easy once you've completed your first one. The only thing to remember is that once you've added an entry, you have to take an extra step to associate it with the Master Release
     
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  6. scotto

    scotto Senior Member

    I'm fairly new to Discogs, but definitely have a love/hate relationship with the site. It can be fun to submit your own stuff, but frustrating to wade through 127 different submissions of an album just to find one that matches yours. I also hate how the sellers (I'm assuming) add the vaguest submissions with little to no info so it's easier for them to link to their sale items.
    And there's that whole weird voting/ranking thing--it's like Lord of the Flies playing out in a record shop.
     
  7. SixOClockBoos

    SixOClockBoos The Man On The Flaming Pie

    I make sure I open up all possible options and then I check the runout to see the etchings and marks and see if there is anything that gives away what version it is like a triangle etched in the groove.
     
  8. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    When researching Discogs, after following the above steps (entering the record catalog number, country, label and matrix details), what is the next step/quickest way to research if you get 2 or more results/hits (with pictures of albums similar to your copy)?

    I'm afraid the answer is, just click on each one, and review...but that can be time consuming.
    Isn't there another "sub-filter" ....?
     
  9. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    Is there a Discogs formatting/layout wherein viewing comparable items (with the same catalog numbers) on the same page, at the same time, is feasible? (For example, an Excel-type listing?)
     
  10. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    There is an advanced search function but I didn't really use it much. I basically clicked on each one but to make my job easier I would sort the listing by country so I, at least, had all the various listing for a specific country grouped together. I only did this for titles with a long list of entries. It took me a while to find my copy of Electric Ladyland.

    At times I felt they'd gone overboard with trying to list every single variation on a label or cover :)
     
    lightbulb likes this.
  11. Kevin j

    Kevin j The 5th 99

    Location:
    Seattle Area
    I don't. I added everything from an excel spreadsheet and, for the most part, just guessed when I wasn't sure which version I had. I usually just went with the most popular/most owned version. Now, when I play a record, I check to see if my assumption was correct. If not, I change the entry.
     
    lightbulb likes this.
  12. SixOClockBoos

    SixOClockBoos The Man On The Flaming Pie

    As in for narrowing down which version you have, I think you can there are options to narrow your search down such as only putting in the country the release is from, but I don't mess around with those.
     
    lightbulb likes this.
  13. Galley

    Galley Forum Resident

    Even using the "Find Your Version" option will still results in numerous choices.
     
  14. mwheelerk

    mwheelerk Sorry, I can't talk now, I'm listening to music...

    Location:
    Gilbert Arizona
    I haven't done a lot of transactions on Discogs but I'm absolutely counting on the accuracy of the listing by the seller. So far no problems.
     
  15. Erik Tracy

    Erik Tracy Meet me at the Green Dragon for an ale

    Location:
    San Diego, CA, USA
    Discogs noob here, too.

    I'm not interested in selling or buying, just trying to get a close appraisal value for my collection.

    I've noticed that the value can vary quite a bit for the same catalog listing, but different Matrix/Runout.

    So, if I can't find an exact match, how much should I obsess with trying to getting a match, or is close enough good enough?
     
  16. Jeff Kent

    Jeff Kent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mt. Kisco, NY
    I recently noticed a few albums that I was 99% positive I added, but they were gone. Has this happened to anyone else? I've also gone back and added things that weren't there the first time I looked.
     
  17. colby2415

    colby2415 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Canada
    I haven't noticed this, and I really hope this isn't true. I create an spreadsheet to compliment my discogs collections (with the links to each release) in case anything every happened to the site. But if a release gets deleted I am not sure what happens, maybe it disappears like in your case. Also, discogs allows people to submit their own releases if they can't find one that matches which could explain why you saw more the second time around
     
  18. Jeff Kent

    Jeff Kent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mt. Kisco, NY
    I tried adding a relates or two and found it to be more trouble than it was worth.
     
  19. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    :shrug: Everything looks hard until you know how to do it.

    @colby2415 Sometimes you encounter a matrix variation, such as 2A1 instead of 1B3. All you do, because you know they're the same mastering/pressing plant, is add the matrix as variant 2 or post the different matrix in your sales ad. If something completely different you add your release or find another pressing where the matrix looks very similar and info. is the same.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2017
  20. Jeff Kent

    Jeff Kent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mt. Kisco, NY
    Agreed, I thought it would be easier and got frustrated so I gave up. I was trying to add a US release of an existing European release. I probably did something wrong.
     
  21. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    Jeff, I can help if you want to PC me. It won't be fast but you'll fully grasp it in the end.
     
  22. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    You have a few options. You could add your copy either as a separate different version type entry or you an add your matrix details to an existing copy if the rest of the details match. Sometimes, it's just a matter of a matrix variation. I've had some instances where matrix details matched one entry, but the label design matches another entry with different matrix details. In that case I added the matrix variation to the one that matched the label and for the other entry I just added a comment to say it's also been pressed with a different label variation and include a link.

    But you don't have to go as far as adding details if you don't want. There were many cases where I didn't bother and just added the copy that was listed into my collection. It can be a lot of work constantly adding details or contributing new releases so I save that for entries that are more likely to benefit for the additional information.
     
  23. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Usually when something you have in your collection is changed you get an message in your inbox. You should've received some sort of message saying it was deleted or in dispute or whatever the reason.
     
  24. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    The site doesn't have the best interface to add details or new submissions IMO. It could be better and considering how much money they apparently make, it would be nice if they invested in a redesign of sorts. On the other hand, it's free so I shouldn't complain!

    I've found that after a few attempts you can work through the quirks quickly.
     
    Dave likes this.
  25. greelywinger

    greelywinger Osmondia

    Location:
    Dayton, Ohio USA
    Recently I have been adding some Japanese vinyl pressings to my collection (Singles & LPs).
    I have noticed that discogs only lists the Japanese stock/commercial copy & I have the Japanese WLP.
    I just at the letters WLP to my notes. Though a few release are not on there at all.
    I was hoping I wouldn't have to add them myself.
    I would like to familiarize myself with how to add a release to discogs before I actually do it.
    Don't want to put in the wrong info.


    Darryl
     
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