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?"