Adding Albums
Adding records to DeepGrooves
Use Add when you want to put a record into your Collection. If you do not own the record yet, add it to Wishlist instead so DeepGrooves can treat it as something you are hunting for.
The web app gives you several add paths:
| Path | Best for |
|---|---|
| Search or Discover | Finding a known album, release, or pressing in the DeepGrooves catalog |
| Barcode scan | Quickly checking a physical copy by barcode |
| Connected-service import | Bringing in many owned or wanted releases you already track elsewhere |
| Manual add | Adding records that are not easy to find online, private pressings, test pressings, local releases, or anything you want to enter yourself |
Search first when you can
Search is usually the fastest way to add a known commercial release. DeepGrooves searches its catalog first and can bring in title, artist, year, label, country, catalog number, format, artwork, and pressing identity where available.
- Open Discover or the add/search flow.
- Search by artist, title, barcode, or catalog number.
- Open the result that most closely matches your physical copy.
- Compare country, label, catalog number, year, and format before adding.
- Choose Add to collection.
If the search results are too broad, add more release details. If the search results are too strict, try a memorable title phrase, catalog number without punctuation, or artist plus title. See Album Search for deeper search tips.
Manual add
Manual add is for records you want to enter yourself. It is also useful when catalog data is incomplete, the record is too obscure, or you only want a quick owned-copy record now and can clean it up later.
Only Title and Artist are required. Everything else can be filled in now or edited later.
Identity fields
Use these fields to identify the album or work:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Title | The album title as you want it shown in your library |
| Artist | The main artist, band, or Various Artists |
| Year | The release year you want to use for sorting and browsing |
| Genre | The main genre for browsing, stats, and recommendations |
When you type an artist, DeepGrooves may show matching artists already in the catalog. Choosing a match helps keep spelling and artist grouping consistent.
Pressing and release fields
Use these fields to describe the specific record in your hand:
| Field | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Label | Helps identify the release and pressing |
| Catalog number | Often the fastest way to tell pressings apart |
| Barcode | Useful for future matching and store lookup |
| Country | Helps distinguish country-specific pressings |
| Format | LP, CD, cassette, 7-inch, or other format |
| Artwork URL or upload | Gives the record a cover image when you have one |
Do not worry if you do not know every pressing detail. You can save the record and come back later.
Copy and ownership fields
Use these fields for your personal copy:
| Field | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Media condition | Condition of the record or disc |
| Sleeve condition | Condition of the cover or sleeve |
| Purchase price | What you paid |
| Purchase location/source | Where you bought it |
| Storage location | Quick free-text location, separate from the structured Vault |
| Notes | Personal notes, condition details, or anything not captured elsewhere |
Collectibility flags
Use collectibility flags for details that matter to you as a collector:
- First pressing
- Limited edition
- Promo
- Autographed
- Colored vinyl
- Edition number
- Color variant
These flags can help with Smart Collections, exports, value review, and future cleanup.
Duplicate warning
Before saving a manual record, DeepGrooves checks for likely existing album/work matches. A warning does not always mean the record is truly a duplicate. It may be:
- the same record already in your Collection,
- another copy you intentionally own,
- a different pressing of the same album,
- or a catalog match that only looks similar.
If the existing match is the same album/work you want to use, choose Use this match. That creates your owned record using the existing catalog identity instead of making a new album/work.
If this is truly a different album, or the suggested match is not useful, choose Create separate record. This keeps manual add flexible for obscure releases, variants, and records that only look similar.
Saving on mobile
On small screens, manual add fields stack into one column so labels and controls do not squeeze together. The save and cancel actions stay at the bottom of the screen while you scroll.
If you entered information by mistake, choose Cancel. DeepGrooves asks before discarding unsaved changes.
After saving
After a manual add, DeepGrooves opens the new album detail page. From there you can:
- review the saved record,
- open Edit to add more copy details,
- add folders,
- assign Vault storage,
- add runouts,
- update value and condition,
- or remove the record if it was added by mistake.
Troubleshooting
I cannot save
Make sure both Title and Artist are filled in. If a required field is missing, DeepGrooves shows the field that needs attention.
The duplicate warning looks wrong
Treat it as a review cue, not a verdict. Compare title, artist, year, label, country, catalog number, and format. Use the match when you want another owned copy tied to the same album/work. Create a separate record when the suggested catalog match is not the right identity.
Artwork is missing
You can save without artwork. Add an artwork URL, upload a local image, or edit artwork later from the album detail/edit flow where supported.
I only know some details
Save what you know. Manual records are meant to be improved over time.
Related topics:
- discogs-search
- discogs-import
- barcode-scanner
- album-editing
- collection