Track Separation Detection for Streaming Media?

manavendra asks: "I have been using a couple of streaming audio rippers for about a week now (StreamRipper and StationRipper, most notably), but most of them seem to be afflicted with the same problem - inconsistent track separation. I've read about the Shoutcast Metadata Protocol, but I haven't properly understood how the silence-detection mechanism of track separation works. There have been users who have observed that since most tracks are skewed by a few seconds (depending upon the radio station), they advise adding provision to delay or advance the timing. Has anyone implemented a better mechanism, since basing breaks on silence detection seems dodgy in first place? Can someone can shed some light on the inherent problems of reliable track separation?"

Comments

Lets think about this

[TheRealMindChild]

How do YOU know the difference between two tracks? You talk like there HAS to be SOMETHING that identifies track seperation, but this simply is not true. I bet if you pop in Pink Floyd's: Dark side of the moon, you can't tell when it is the next track, without looking at the track indicator. This is because you look for a pause... an inconsistancy in the flow of sound, or perhaps a seperation of audio by silence. Eliminate these, and you have nothing to work with, but again, you can't count on these.