coverartarchive.org
We use a database called musicbrainz to provide track, album and artist information when we rip a CD. This database refers to a second database at coverartarchive.org (CAA) which contains album art.
In recent weeks CAA has been slow or stopped working at intervals in the UK. That has caused problems ripping CDs and/or finding cover art.
If you look at musicbrainz.org - the musicbrainz homepage - it should look like this
But when CAA is not working the pictures are blank.
We are working on a long term solution but in the interim we have made two changes
1) We have modified the B3 software so it does not hang up if CAA isn't working. Allowing you to rip without cover art and add the art later.
2) We have created an experimental version of the B3 software that uses a VPN to get the images from outside the UK
You must do a regular web upgrade to get 1). This new software then allows you to install 2) the experimental software using
Settings & Tools -> Maintenance -> Experimental Upgrade
Let me know how you get on using the forum or by email.
If it works well and CAA is not fixed then I will roll this out on B2 and Helix
Martin Brennan
Update 12th February 2026
See today's experimental software release here