WAV tag editor. Experts on Wave files only, please

[bobkatz@digido.com]

After a long search and struggle I have been able to prove that Slimserver DOES read the ID3v1 tags from Wav files and find a tag editor that works with them. And that yes, WAV files do support these tags. Contrary to another post in this forum, which is untrue.

I am a professional audio mastering engineer and I use the Transporter to play back and demonstrate uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz, 48, and 44.1 K files in the mastering studio, without having to access the computer, it's a great tool. AIFFs do not support ID tags to the best of my knowledge, so it has to be WAV. Converting to a lossless format is unnecessary and time consuming in my business, so I sought out to see if the original 24 bit WAVs could be tagged.

After googling and testing about 25-30 tag editors out of a gazillion, so far I've only found ONE that will read and write ID3 tags that Slimserver/Transporter will read and use. There are none I've found so far for the Mac that work with WAVs, only MP3s. So I've restricted my search to the PC.

A program from Samu Software (unlikely name) Professional MP3/WAV TAG Editor :

http://mural.uv.es/samecues/progs.htm

The site is in Spanish, but don't be afraid, the editor is in (mostly) English, and it works. Scroll down to "Professional MP3/Wav" editor and download.

Has anyone found ANY other tag editor that truly works on WAV files (16 and 24 bit) which has more features? It would be nice to have the features of Media Monkey. Media Monkey APPEARS to edit ID3 tags in WAVs, and it consistently displays them, but Slimserver only occasionally reads them, even after a full library scan. However, the tags edited in "Samu" are instantly read and available in Slimserver without needing a library scan. Just go to the Music folder and click on the file and from that point on the artist, genre, and other tags have been added to the Slimserver Library. Very nice.

Anyone have anything to add, like a great editor that actually works with Wavs?


Bob Katz, Digital Domain. Orlando Florida. www.digido.com

[bobkatz@digido.com]

I'm replying so that this thread will be in my subscriptions... sorry for the bandwidth!

[Eric Seaberg]

Bob, welcome to the list!! You know there's a Python utility available for converting DTS/AC3 files to WAV. I use this all the time for checking surround mixes at home on my Transporter. Works great!!

BTW, there was a thread going about VOLUME WARS somewhere. I pointed the thread to your site for info. Glad you're here!

[bobkatz@digido.com]

Bob, welcome to the list!! You know there's a Python utility available for converting DTS/AC3 files to WAV. I use this all the time for checking surround mixes at home on my Transporter. Works great!!

BTW, there was a thread going about VOLUME WARS somewhere. I pointed the thread to your site for info. Glad you're here!

Hi, Eric. Thanks! Just call me "Mr. Volume". But anyway, thanks for the info on Python... so you have to use a "wave" shell to pack the AC3, interesting... I'll remember that!

[Eric Seaberg]

SlimServer won't know what the raw AC3 file is, so it needs to be converted to something it will see natively. Actually, if there's bandwidth issues, the WAV file is re-coded to FLAC and streamed to the Transporter's digital out, converted from AC3/DTS on the receiver. I usually just keep the WAV file native since I'm running wired and don't have bandwidth problems.

I also just picked up Neyrinck's SoundCode for Dolby Digital and DTS to work within ProTools. This is a great, easy way to listen to rough mixes at home without having to burn to DVD.

The thread is here at http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19260.

[ceejay]

After a long search and struggle I have been able to prove that Slimserver DOES read the ID3v1 tags from Wav files and find a tag editor that works with them. And that yes, WAV files do support these tags. Contrary to another post in this forum, which is untrue.

Well, I'd certainly have been one of those that would have said "it won't work", so congratulations on finding a way to do what you want to...

One thing - it would seem likely that the WAV files you've done this to would be objected to by a lot of other applications, I guess that isn't a problem for you in this use though...

AIFFs do not support ID tags to the best of my knowledge, so it has to be WAV.

Really? Other people seem to have managed to tag these files. I'd have thought this was a more "standard" and hence reliable way of meeting your objecting of having tagged uncompressed files.

However, the tags edited in "Samu" are instantly read and available in Slimserver without needing a library scan. Just go to the Music folder and click on the file and from that point on the artist, genre, and other tags have been added to the Slimserver Library. Very nice.

Actually, they are being scanned - its just that BMF has a standard feature whereby it does its scanning stuff on any folder you browse to, this is a common trick for getting a single CD you've just ripped into the library.

Ceejay

[bobkatz@digido.com]

Well, I'd certainly have been one of those that would have said "it won't work", so congratulations on finding a way to do what you want to...

Hi, Ceejay

One thing - it would seem likely that the WAV files you've done this to would be objected to by a lot of other applications, I guess that isn't a problem for you in this use though...

Well, I have a dedicated server drive so it shouldn't be a problem. The ID3 tag appears to be pretty benign as well. Anyway, I don't know how to tag AIFFs. How are people adding tags to AIFF files?

Actually, they are being scanned - its just that BMF has a standard feature whereby it does its scanning stuff on any folder you browse to, this is a common trick for getting a single CD you've just ripped into the library.

Ceejay

Being a slimserver newbie I don't know what BMF stands for... sorry.

BK

[jeffmeh]

I believe BMF = "Browse Music Folder"

[Craig]

<Homer voice>
Wow Bob Katz
</Homer voice> :-)

Hi Bob,

I'd never heard of wav tags until you mentioned them either but I've checked and Steinberg's Wavelab 6 will write tags that my Sqeezeboxes can read.

Surely they gave you a free copy ;-)

Welcome aboard
Craig

[Havoc]

From what I understood of the .wav format is that it is more a kind of container than a simple file. there is the obligatory header and audio data, but a lot of other blocks are possible. So in theory you could add tags without interfering with normal playback.

Has anyone looked at the byte-level what happens?

Going to look at that application. This is a find!