Thread: Can I change my Meta Data Editor?

I'm fairly new to Computer/Digital Audio and there are many things that I don't understand. I'm running the BluOs app on my Mac. My system consists of a Hegel 190, Dynaudio 34 speakers, Node 2i, and a REL subwoofer. I have approx. 500 cds rippped to FLAC files on my NAS using the XLD ripping software. The Bluesound app. has left me with dozens of albums without cover art in my library and nothing I've tried with the BluOs software has helped. I tried using Bliss as an editor but it didn't run well on my system so somebody suggested I try using MusicBrainz for my library. My question: Is there any way I can get MusicBrainz to see the FLAC files on my NAS? Can I switch from Bliss to MusicBrainz without having to re-rip my cds? I don't understand how the 3rd party editors interface with the BluOs app., XLD and my NAS. I hope this question is not too moronic to elicit a response. Thank you for your time. Bill

I have tried MusicBrainz & various other metadata editing apps.

Best so far, for me, in terms of interface and ease of use is Mp3tag - Mp3tag - the universal Tag Editor (ID3v2, MP4, OGG, FLAC, ...)

There is a trial period (7 days) so you can test it out.

If you have ripped using XLD, XLD should have fetched the metadata and album art from CDDB. Typically, the album art is embedded in each music file.

Since the main issue is the missing album art, use Explorer or Finder to look at the file directory of the album. The album art is stored as a “xxx.jpg” file.

Check the album art file name. If it is called anything other than “folder.jpg” (it could be “album.jpg”, “cover.jpg”, etc) then some apps may not be able to read or display it. That being the case, either rename or duplicate that file to “folder.jpg”

Refresh your app and see if the missing album art reappears. If so, all you need to do would be to rename the album art file for each album, not a new metadata editor.

Originally Posted by nicoludio

I have tried MusicBrainz & various other metadata editing apps.

Best so far, for me, in terms of interface and ease of use is Mp3tag - Mp3tag - the universal Tag Editor (ID3v2, MP4, OGG, FLAC, ...)

There is a trial period (7 days) so you can test it out.

If you have ripped using XLD, XLD should have fetched the metadata and album art from CDDB. Typically, the album art is embedded in each music file.

Since the main issue is the missing album art, use Explorer or Finder to look at the file directory of the album. The album art is stored as a “xxx.jpg” file.

Check the album art file name. If it is called anything other than “folder.jpg” (it could be “album.jpg”, “cover.jpg”, etc) then some apps may not be able to read or display it. That being the case, either rename or duplicate that file to “folder.jpg”

Refresh your app and see if the missing album art reappears. If so, all you need to do would be to rename the album art file for each album, not a new metadata editor.

Agree with this post. I have used MP3TAG for many years and highly recommend it. It is a free product (donations accepted) so the OP can try it out.

To the OP: Also, if all that you need to change/add is the album cover/art, you can look for the album in Amazon. If you right-click on the album cover, it will give you the option to save the cover (typically a .jpg file). If you save the jpg file in the directory where your album tracks are stored and save it with the name “folder.jpg”, the player that you are using might be able to display the cover/art.

Originally Posted by Hear Here

You were perhaps unfortunate in using a ripping software that didn't grab the album artwork. I ripped my 500 or so CDs using a clever devices called a RipNAS. This included dbpoweramp, plus it accesses 3 databases to collect other metadata, partly so check that each rip was bit perfect. Very few rips don't show the artwork, mostly very obscure albums or ones I'd ripped from a CD-R.

Certainly BluOS will show all artwork if it's held within the album's data folder on your NAS drive. How you add missing artwork I don't know but perhaps try to find the artwork by a Google search and copy & paste it into the album folder on your NAS drive - easy job using a Windows PC. May work - I've never tried, but I see no reason why not if the file type is correct.

Another perennial problem with metadata and particularly so with classical music is where the album ends up on your NAS drive folder structure. With "simple" music where there's an obvious "artist", the albums of that artist should be in the same folder. However because Classical is so much more complex, not helped by the record labels, you'll find your Beethoven material all over the place. Some may be where you want it - in a Beethoven folder - but other albums will be filed under Ludwig van Beethoven, or the conductor, or the orchestra, or the soloist, or the guy who sweeps the recording studio floor! You can get the metadata changed to suit you requirements, but it's a time consuming and possibly dangerous route if you make a mistake, so here's the easy alternative.

Go into the NAS drive's folder simply by using Windows' Control Panel and you'll soon spot the album folders that are wrongly filed. Use Cut & Paste to move entire album folders to your main Beehoven folder if it's been filed under Rattle or LSO or wherever. If it's an album with 2 piano concerto from different composers, copy & paste the files (plus the artwork) of one composer into say Brahms, then copy and paste the other composer's files plus artwork into say Schumann and lastly delete the copy that was probably found under the pianist. Then, when you go to Library within BluOS, you can see all your Beethoven under Beethoven. I have main folders of Classical, Non-Classical, World & Weird and a couple of others so I don't have Beethoven in the same master folder as Queen!

The metadata for Classical music is all over the place. I have had some multi CD collection where the metadata in one disc is in English and German on the other CD. When you have a large collection, unfortunately, Windows cut and paste does not cut it (been there, done that). That is where a purposely designed metadata software like MP3TAG comes into play ( there are others; but that is the one that I have used for many years). That is particularly important when you have already ripped hundreds of CDs.
You will be able to see your entire collection and change multiple albums at the same time (batch commands). For classical music, you will be able to add metadata you feel is important, like Composer (critical for classical music) to differentiate from Artist (orchestra/performer). In fact you can add a Conductor category if you wish.