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THE FILE FIELD GUIDE
.cue

Audio / Disc Cue Sheet

Audio

CUE describes tracks, timing and referenced audio/disc images. It does not contain the audio itself; keep it with the payload named by FILE.

Main use
Describe track boundaries and disc layout
Data type
Text data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

CUE-capable player / Exact Audio Copy

Preserve the original and inspect a working copy in a compatible application.

  1. Inspect the target named in FILE.
  2. Keep the sheet and payload in their expected layout.
  3. Open CUE in a compatible app and test track boundaries.
Inspect the received file and its requirements

Establish dependencies and settings before proceeding.

  1. Identify audio-CD versus data-disc use.
  2. Match payload type and filename.
  3. Do not treat INDEX fields as ordinary decimal seconds.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • No audio: check the referenced payload.
  • File missing: inspect moved/renamed paths.
  • Boundaries wrong: verify the matching release.
  • Garbled titles: check text encoding and player settings.

CUE + payload → separate tracks

  1. Load the payload and export the required track ranges.
  2. Reopen the output and check it against the preservation points in this guide before handoff.

Gaps, pregaps and disc metadata may be lost.

Why retain the sheet

For a single-file album, CUE supplies track boundaries; re-encoding can affect alignment.

Source for these steps：Exact Audio Copy · Features of EAC / VideoLAN · VLC playlist format definitions

Worked example: checks before handoff

Example: retain FLAC and CUE together and test first track, transitions and final track.

Source for these steps：Exact Audio Copy · Features of EAC / VideoLAN · VLC playlist format definitions

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format / methodPurpose and preserved information
.cueDescribe track boundaries and disc layout
M3UA list of playback locations/order.
CUE + payload → separate tracksGaps, pregaps and disc metadata may be lost.

Handling and security

Confirm rights to the media and inspect references.

Questions and answers

Rename to MP3?

It does not create audio.

Do I need BIN?

Yes when FILE references a BIN payload.

Is it an image?

It may describe a referenced disc image.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
Audio / Disc Cue Sheet
Steward / specification
Exact Audio Copy
MIME type
Consult the producer or delivery system. The extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

  • Software documentationFeatures of EAC

    CUE track/index information.

    Exact Audio Copy · Link checked：
  • Software documentationVLC playlist format definitions

    Implementation listing M3U, PLS, CUE and other playlists.

    VideoLAN · Link checked：