Version 4.1 (modified 2002/09/13)
Chapter 0: Prologue
[0-1] Welcome to the alt.music.bootlegs FAQ
[0-2] Copyrights
[0-3] Do's and Don'ts
[0-4] Credits [Updated]
[0-5] History [Updated]
[0-6] Where can I find the latest version of this FAQ?
[0-7] What if something is wrong on this FAQ?
Chapter 1: Legal and General
[1-1] What is bootlegging?
[1-2] What is alt.music.bootlegs? [Updated]
[1-3] Which laws apply to bootlegging?
[1-4] Where can I find out more about legal issues?
[1-5] Which bands allow taping?
Chapter 2: Trading, Buying and Selling
2.1: Trading
[2-1] Where can I find traders that have such-and-such-band? [Updated]
[2-2] I've never traded with anyone before. How should I phrase an email to someone I want to trade with?
[2-3] I'm new to this. How do I get started? [Updated]
[2-4] What's a B+P?
[2-5] What's a 2 to 1 trade?
2.2: Buying and Selling
[2-6] Why will some people not sell bootlegs?
[2-7] Where is a good bootleg store in XXXXXXXX?
[2-8] Where is a good online bootleg store?
[2-9] What is a fair price to pay?
2.3: Bad Traders
[2-10] What is a Bad Trader? [New]
[2-11] How can I avoid Bad Traders? [Updated]
[2-12] How long should I wait before posting someone as a bad trader?
[2-13] What information should I include when posting someone as a bad trader?
[2-14] What information should I not include when posting someone as a bad trader?
Chapter 3: CD-Recordable
[3-1] What is Disc-At-Once (DAO)? Track-At-Once (TAO)?
[3-2] I've heard that burning at high speeds can cause errors. Why is this?
[3-3] Which CDRs are the best? [Updated]
[3-4] How long will CDRs last?
3.1: Standalone CD-Recorders
[3-5] What is the difference between PC CD-recorders and standalones?
[3-6] What is the best model of standalone CD-recorder?
[3-7] What are the best kind of discs to use? [Updated]
[3-8] What is SCMS? [New]
3.2: PC CD-Recorders
[3-9] What is "on the fly"/"off the fly" recording? Which should I use? [Updated]
[3-10] What is the best model of CD-recorder?
[3-11] How do I extract perfect WAV files from a CD? [New]
[3-12] How do I perfectly copy a CDR? [Updated]
[3-13] How do I avoid adding SCMS protection to CDs? [New]
Chapter 4: Other Formats
4.1: DAT
[4-1] Does anyone trade DAT?
[4-2] Where can I find DAT traders?
4.2: MiniDisc
[4-3] Does anyone trade MiniDiscs? [New]
[4-4] Is MiniDisc lossy?
[4-5] How does ATRAC work? Is it the same as MP3? [Updated]
[4-6] Which brand of MiniDiscs has the best sound quality? [New]
[4-7] What is MDLP? [New]
4.3: Cassette
[4-8] Does anyone still trade cassettes?
[4-9] Where can I find cassette traders?
[4-10] What is the best way to dub tapes?
4.4: MP3 Files
[4-11] What are MP3 Files? [New]
[4-12] What are the advantages and disadvantages of trading MP3 files? [New]
[4-13] How can I listen to MP3 files? [New]
[4-14] How do I convert MP3 files into another format? [New]
[4-15] How do I make MP3 files? [New]
[4-16] Where can I find MP3 traders? [New]
[4-17] Is there anything else I should know about MP3 files? [New]
[4-18] How can I tell if a CD is MP3 sourced? [Updated]
4.5: SHN Files
[4-19] What are SHN files? [Updated]
[4-20] What are the advantages and disadvantages of trading SHN files? [New]
[4-21] How can I listen to SHN files? [Updated]
[4-22] How do I convert SHN files into another format? [Updated]
[4-23] How do I make SHN files? [New]
[4-24] Where can I find SHN traders?
[4-25] What are MD5 files?
4.6: Video Tape
[4-26] What is NTSC? What is PAL? What is SECAM? [New]
[4-27] How can I convert between PAL, NTSC and SECAM? [New]
[4-28] How do I copy a video? [New]
[4-29] How do I copy a video without using SCART? [New]
4.7: VCD
[4-30] What is a VCD? [Updated]
[4-31] How do I copy a VCD? [New]
[4-32] How do I create a VCD? [New]
4.8: Rarely Used Formats
[4-33] What are OGG files? [New]
[4-34] What are RM/RA/RAM files? [New]
[4-35] What are ASF/WMA/WMV files? [New]
[4-36] What are FLAC files? [New]
[4-37] Does anyone trade DVDs? [New]
Chapter 5: Packaging
5.1: Artwork
[5-1] Should I send artwork with my bootlegs?
[5-2] How do I make artwork? [Updated]
[5-3] Where can I find artwork for XXXX? [Updated]
[5-4] How many pixels by how many pixels for CD artwork? [New]
[5-5] What image format should I use when making artwork? [New]
5.2: Mailing
[5-6] What is the postage rate from XXXX to YYYY?
[5-7] What's the best way to wrap CDs securely? [Updated]
[5-8] Why do people tell me not to use fibre-mailers?
[5-9] Should I send by priority mail? First class mail? etc?
[5-10] Are there any special considerations when sending things internationally?
[5-11] What is an International Reply Coupon? [New]
[5-12] I sent some CDs weeks ago, but the other guy is claiming not to have received them. What should I do? [New]
Chapter 6: Basic Bootleg Management
[6-1] Why should I keep track of which bootlegs I have?
[6-2] How should I keep track of which bootlegs I have? [Updated]
[6-3] What information should I include? [Updated]
[6-4] How should I grade quality?
[6-5] What do those letters under Source such as SB, AUD, FM, etc, mean?
[6-6] Should I include my "rules"?
[6-7] Should I include a list of people I've traded with?
[6-8] What should I do with my list?
[6-9] How often should I post my list?
[6-10] Crossposting?
Chapter 7: Taping
[7-1] What equipment should I use?
[7-2] What are the advantages and disadvantages of DAT and MD?
[7-3] Where are the best venues to tape?
[7-4] How should I sneak it in? [Updated]
[7-5] Where should I put the microphones while recording? [Updated]
[7-6] Any other taping tips?
[7-7] Can I get a soundboard patch?
[7-8] What happens if I get caught?
[7-9] Should I tape in Mono or Stereo? [New]
[7-10] What else should I know? [New]
Chapter 8: Audio Editing
[8-1] What audio editing tools should I use? [Updated]
[8-2] How can I get rid of the gaps from CDs burnt in TAO mode? [Updated]
[8-3] Why is that such a complicated process?
[8-4] How to I transfer a recording from another format (DAT, MD, Cassette, Vinyl, etc) to CDR?
[8-5] There's a lot of hiss on my recording. How do I fix that?
[8-6] How can I remove small pops and clicks from the recording?
[8-7] What are some general tips and tricks?
[8-8] What does "Clipping" mean?
Chapter 9: The alt.music.bootlegs Newsgroup
[9-1] What is a newsgroup?
[9-2] How do I access newsgroups? [Updated]
[9-3] Are there any special considerations when posting messages to newsgroups?
[9-4] Are there any special considerations when posting messages to alt.music.bootlegs in particular? [Updated]
[9-5] How long has alt.music.bootlegs existed? How long do you think it will last?
[9-6] What other newsgroups might be of interest to me?
Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Questions
[10-1] Isn't that piracy? [Updated]
[10-2] What is the difference between an Outtake and a Demo?
[10-3] Where do soundboard shows come from? [New]
[10-4] What's a filler?
[10-5] What is a "generation"?
[10-6] What is Mono? What is Stereo? What is Joint Stereo? [New]
[10-7] What is FTP? [New]
[10-8] Further Reading [Updated]
Maintained by Toby Inkster <>
Written by James Eades <> / Toby Inkster <> / Jeff Kuhn