[linux-audio-user] Mystery first "track" on many CDs?

[Shayne O'Connor]

Paul Winkler wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> I'm batch-ripping and encoding a lot of my CD collection to
> put on my mp3 player.  I've noticed that a number of CDs contain
> an apparently spurious first track that's apparently very short
> (about a tenth of a second) and contains no audible signal. 
> What the heck is the point of this track?
> 
> e.g.
> 
> $ sndfile-info track00.cdda.wav 
> 
> Version : libsndfile-1.0.11
> 
> ========================================
> File : track00.cdda.wav
> Length : 23564
> RIFF : 23556
> WAVE
> fmt  : 16
>   Format        : 0x1 => WAVE_FORMAT_PCM
>   Channels      : 2
>   Sample Rate   : 44100
>   Block Align   : 4
>   Bit Width     : 16
>   Bytes/sec     : 176400
> data : 23520
> End
> 
> ----------------------------------------
> Sample Rate : 44100
> Frames      : 5880
> Channels    : 2
> Format      : 0x00010002
> Sections    : 1
> Seekable    : TRUE
> Duration    : 00:00:00.133
> Signal Max  : 0 (-inf dB)
> 

is that the extra, hidden file that the record labels put on some cd's, 
in an effort to stop digital extraction of the disc? i can't remember 
too much about it, and i don't think they use this method much anymore.

shayne