Okay, about the question of trading based on an extraction of the audio CD, yes it is preferred that you do keep a data CD (or a data DVD) of the original FLAC/SHN fileset. The problem with the audio CDs is that they don't have the error correction of the data discs, so if your disc gets badly scratched, odds are very good that the files ripped from the audio CD won't perfectly match the originals, while if it was a data CD (or data DVD), your disc would have to be in much worse condition before you'd have problems with the files off the disc not matching the originals (and in that case, you'll be getting corrupted file error messages while the disc copies).

Many traders prefer to trade with those that will send them data discs instead of audio CDs--some will even outright refuse to trade with those who don't store their original filesets on data discs!


As for your numbered questions:

1. Yes, the first thing it was recorded to is the master, regardless of what kind of media it is.

2. Optical (i.e. digital transfers) are preferred where possible, i.e. if the original source was digital, it should be transferred digitally. Analog transfers should only be used if the original source was analog.

3. Okay, here's the point that's going to get confusing--the very first audio CD-R in the lineage is referred to as a master, even though it was not what the show was recorded to. The copy made from the master CD-R would be the first gen CD-R, and so forth.