# Separating merged recordings with multiple AcoustIDs for each version **URL:** \ **Category:** MusicBrainz\ **Tags:** recording, acoustid, splitting\ **Created:** [May 3, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369 "2025-05-03T23:50:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ernstlx](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/ernstlx/32/27258_2.png) [@ernstlx](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/ernstlx)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369/1 "2025-05-03T23:50:34Z")
_Looks like there is no way to actually move an AcoustID: [Move AcoustID to a different recording](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/move-acoustid-to-a-different-recording/192659)_ I like to separate recordings of different lengths, currently mixed in one recording. Of course, I can re-submit an acoustID to a newly created recording. Unfortunately, this is only one of several valid acoustIDs for the respective version and not the most common one. It’s from a vinyl and its fingerprint is not similar enough to go to the same acoustIDs as submitted by CD and digital media versions. AcoustIDs for the wrong version would have to be unlinked and it’s probably not possible to re-link them to the new recording. Or is it? It’s about: [Recording “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Horslips - MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/recording/414b19bb-0d7c-493a-bd68-3170463a722a) and the subsequent track [Recording “Ride to Hell” by Horslips - MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/recording/c76b6c9a-77dd-4410-94eb-985b4e9b5ec1) - a different split of tracks without obvious start/end point. Half of the releases split early (0:36/4:06¹), the other half late (0:55/3:46¹). Because of the equal number of short and long tracks, the median length of both recordings is the one of the respective short version… ¹) _the second track is the last on the album and contains a lot of appended silence_ Original vinyls (according to printed track lengths) and early CDs split late. Later releases split (more reasonable) early. _(Some vinyl fingerprints = very similar to fingerprints from my files, also show an early split.)_ Should I, nevertheless, separate the recordings and lose valid AcoustIDs and metadata (for the present)? Or should I better leave it as is? Or is there a better way to do this? ---
**Author:** ![PacCeggowk9oc](https://community.metabrainz.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@PacCeggowk9oc](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/PacCeggowk9oc)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369/2 "2025-05-04T00:30:55Z")
> AcoustIDs for the wrong version would have to be unlinked and it’s probably not possible to re-link them to the new recording. Or is it? In theory you could submit the correct fingerprints manually via [Web Service | AcoustID](https://acoustid.org/webservice#submit) but that’s not a very practical solution. ---
**Author:** ![ernstlx](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/ernstlx/32/27258_2.png) [@ernstlx](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/ernstlx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369/3 "2025-05-04T00:54:59Z")
> [@PacCeggowk9oc](#): > > In theory you could submit the correct fingerprints manually Where can I get the fingerprint? I only know the consecutive number under which they are stored. I haven’t got any files to calculate fingerprints (except my vinyl rips). ---
**Author:** ![PacCeggowk9oc](https://community.metabrainz.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@PacCeggowk9oc](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/PacCeggowk9oc)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369/4 "2025-05-04T01:22:12Z")
Uh, I thought you could get them from the web service, but that only gets you the fingerprint ids not the full fingerprints. They’re only embedded in the web page that shows the fingerprint image, but not in the format needed to submit them. I guess a “clone recording” function would be useful for cases like this. ---
**Author:** ![IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/ivandobsky/32/11785_2.png) [@IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/IvanDobsky)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2025, 9:26am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/separating-merged-recordings-with-multiple-acoustids-for-each-version/758369/5 "2025-05-04T09:26:36Z")
Agree that a “Move AcoustID” would be good. Or even “Clone AcoustIDs” as I also do edits like you are describing.. As there is no real way to save AcoustIDs in situations like this, I try and split in a way that preserves the most data, especially knowing I am about to add one or two back. The main thought is that hopefully fresh good data will return.