A cue sheet has thirteen commands. Each one occupies its own line. For where they may appear, see contexts and order; for the values of their code arguments, see File types, track modes and flags.
FILE
FILE file-name file-type
Names the file that the INDEX commands of the following tracks read
from, and opens the file context. It may appear many times. The name must be quoted
if it contains a space. The type is one of the
file types. Example:
FILE "The Free Software Song.wav" WAVE.
TRACK
TRACK number mode
Starts a track and opens the track context. Parent: FILE. It may appear
many times, and should appear at least once. The number is from 1 to 99, usually
written with two digits, and each number must be one more than the previous. The
first may be above 1. The mode is one of the
track modes. Example:
TRACK 01 AUDIO.
INDEX
INDEX number mm:ss:ff
Marks a position in the current file. Parent: TRACK. It may appear many
times. The number is from 0 to 99, usually with two digits; its
meaning is set by its value.
The time is an offset from the start of the current file, with 75 frames per second.
The first index of a track must be 0 or 1, and each later index must be one more than
the one before. The first index in a file must be at 00:00:00. Example:
INDEX 01 00:02:00.
PREGAP
PREGAP mm:ss:ff
Sets the length of the track’s pregap. The audio is generated, and no data is read
from the file. Parent: TRACK. Once per track, before any
INDEX. Example: PREGAP 00:02:00.
POSTGAP
POSTGAP mm:ss:ff
Sets the length of the track’s postgap. The audio is generated, and no data is read
from the file. Parent: TRACK. Once per track, after all
INDEX commands. Example: POSTGAP 00:02:00.
FLAGS
FLAGS flag flag …
Sets the track’s sub-code flags, one
or more, separated by spaces. Parent: TRACK. Once per track, before any
INDEX. Example: FLAGS 4CH PRE.
CATALOG
CATALOG mcn
The disc’s Media Catalog Number: exactly 13 decimal digits, in UPC/EAN form. Disc
level, once, before everything else except REM. Example:
CATALOG 3203040601052.
ISRC
ISRC code
The International Standard Recording Code of the current track. Audio tracks only.
Parent: TRACK. Once per track, before any INDEX. Example:
ISRC DKKH50800101.
CDTEXTFILE
CDTEXTFILE file-name
Points to an external file of CD-Text information, conventionally with the
.cdt extension. Disc level, before the first FILE. The name
must be quoted if it contains a space.
TITLE, PERFORMER and SONGWRITER
TITLE text, PERFORMER text,
SONGWRITER text
CD-Text fields for the whole disc when placed at disc level (before the first
FILE), or for a track when placed inside it (before its
INDEX commands). The text must be quoted if it contains a space. A
TITLE is at most 80 characters; whether the same limit applies to the
other two could not be confirmed. Each may appear once per context. The same data can be
supplied through CDTEXTFILE. Example:
TITLE "Por Quem os Sinos Dobram".
REM
REM text
A comment. May appear anywhere, any number of times. Programs put metadata here by
convention; see non-standard
sheets. Avoid a REM with nothing after it, which some programs treat
as a syntax error.