M4A codec dropping tags

[seguraf22]

Hello, I've recently had this issue come up on windows 10 21H1 (build 19043.1165) where on dbpoweramp 17.3 using any of the m4a encoders ends up with the final file dropping all artist, title, year tags but leaving replay gain and other tags alone. Ive not had this issue before until this week, tried clean installing and using the reset tool to clear out the registry settings with no luck. I tried a few different songs that I know worked before and still having the issue. If I use another codec such as opus it converts fine like before so not sure why m4a is having issues. Here's a picture of the tags being dropped between the flac source and m4a output.

With FDK encoder:

Splitting Command Line:"C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\CoreConverter.exe" -dbcmd="C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\dBTC87C.tmp"
->->  [dBCoreConverter::ReaddBCommandFile]
<-<-  [dBCoreConverter::ReaddBCommandFile]
Decodes  [clDecoder::Get]
BatchID  [clDecoder::Set]
->->  [cldBCodecHandler::LoadEncoder]
  Loading Encoder 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a FDK (AAC).DLL'
<-<-  [cldBCodecHandler::LoadEncoder]
BatchID  [clEncoder::Set]
->->  [dBCoreConverter::StripCoreConverterCmds]
<-<-  [dBCoreConverter::StripCoreConverterCmds]
SendRawUnCompressed  [clEncoder::Get]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
NeedHQAudio  [clEncoder::Get]
Decode As  [clDecoder::Set]
->->  [clDecoder::Open]
  Opening file 'D:\Users\user\Music\Backlog\Sunshine & Tomorrow\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.flac' for read access: Opened
  Init FLAC: 
  Reading Meta Data: 
   contained 18 tags:
			replaygain_album_gain: -15.06 dB
			replaygain_album_peak: 1
			replaygain_track_gain: -15.56 dB
			replaygain_track_peak: 1
			iTunNORM:  00008CAA 00008CAA 0000FFFE 0000FFFE 00024CA8 00024CA8 00000000 00000000 00024CA8 00024CA8
			artist: EASTGHOST
			title: Sunshine
			album: Sunshine & Tomorrow
			Disc: 1
			genre: Electro
			composer: Ryan J. Akeley
			bpm: 0
			length: 255
			isrc: NLRD51632492
			Year: 2020-04-30
			ORGANIZATION: bitbird
			Track: 1
			Album Artist: EASTGHOST
  Contains picture block, size (bytes): 101777 type: 3
  ->->  [clDecoder::ReadIDTags]
  <-<-  [clDecoder::ReadIDTags]
  ->->  [clDecoder::FillAudioProps]
	Encoder: FLAC Mutagen 1.45.1
	Sample Count: 11,286,844
	ID Tag: Vorbis Comments
	Contains: Album Art, ReplayGain, ID Tag [Vorbis Comments]
  <-<-  [clDecoder::FillAudioProps]
  ->->  [clDecoder::FillAudioInfo]
    Uncompressed WFX (sent to db): Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
    Audio Length: 255937 mili-seconds  56092931 bytes  2116 kbps
  <-<-  [clDecoder::FillAudioInfo]
  Creating Decode Buffers: Created
<-<-  [clDecoder::Open]
SendOverReplayGainTags  [clEncoder::Get]
->->  [clEncoder::BeginConversion]
  Converting to 'D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a' encoder settings ' -cli_encoder="C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a FDK (AAC)\fdkaac.exe" -cli_cmd="-m 5 -p 2 -G 0 --ignorelength -S -o {qt}[outfile]{qt} - " -selection="0,4" -cli_cmd_sf0=" -p 2 -G 0" -selection_sf0="0,0"'
  Using Encoder 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a FDK (AAC)\fdkaac.exe'
  Command Line '-m 5 -p 2 -G 0 --ignorelength -S -o "D:\Users\user\Desktop\FSPROJ~1\FSMUSI~1\SUNSHI~1.M4A" - '
  Input Wave Format:Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
  Output Wave Format:Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
  Passing Wave Header: Yes
  Using StdInput Pipe: Yes
  dBpoweramp Writing Tags: Yes
<-<-  [clEncoder::BeginConversion]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
Encoding To: m4a FDK (AAC)
Encoder Cmd Line:  -cli_encoder="C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a FDK (AAC)\fdkaac.exe" -cli_cmd="-m 5 -p 2 -G 0 --ignorelength -S -o {qt}[outfile]{qt} - " -selection="0,4" -cli_cmd_sf0=" -p 2 -G 0" -selection_sf0="0,0"
============= CONVERSION BEGIN =============
============= CONVERSION END =============
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
->->  [dBCoreConverter::CloseDecoder]
->->  [clDecoder::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder::Close]
->->  [clEncoder::EndConversion]
  Running program after conversion 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a FDK (AAC)\' Command Line: 
  Program completed
<-<-  [clEncoder::EndConversion]
  File Size Check : 7689743 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
  File Size Check (before ID Tags Written): 7689743 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
  ->->  [dBCoreConverter::IDTagWriter]
Decodes  [clDecoder_M4A::Get]
IDTags  [clDecoder_M4A::Set]
Writing ID Tags to m4a:  [clDecoder_M4A::WriteTheseTags]
Encoding Tool: fdkaac 1.0.0, libfdk-aac 4.0.0, VBR mode 5
iTunSMPB:  00000000 00000800 000002C4 0000000000AC393C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
replaygain_album_gain: -15.06 dB
replaygain_album_peak: 1
replaygain_track_gain: -15.56 dB
replaygain_track_peak: 1
iTunNORM: 00008CAA 00008CAA 0000FFFE 0000FFFE 00024CA8 00024CA8 00000000 00000000 00024CA8 00024CA8
artist: EASTGHOST
title: Sunshine
album: Sunshine & Tomorrow
Disc: 1
genre: Electro
composer: Ryan J. Akeley
bpm: 0
length: 255
isrc: NLRD51632492
Year: 2020-04-30
ORGANIZATION: bitbird
Track: 1
Album Artist: EASTGHOST
_albumart_1_Front Album Cover:   [DATA] FF D8 FF E0 00 10 4A 46 49 46 00 01 01 01 00 60 00 60 00 00 FF DB 00 43 00 06 04 05 06 05 04 06 06 05 06 07 07 06 08 0A 10 0A 0A 09 09 0A 14 0E 0F 0C 10 17 14 18 18 17 14 16 16 1A 1D 25 1F 1A 1B 23 1C 16 16 20 2C 20 23 26 27 29 2A 29 19 1F 2D 30 2D 28 30 25 28 29 28 FF DB 00 43 01 07 07 07 0A 08 0A  [clDecoder_M4A::WriteTheseTags]
  <-<-  [dBCoreConverter::IDTagWriter]
->->  [clDecoder_M4A::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder_M4A::Close]
->->  [aacstream::clDecoder_M4A::Close]
<-<-  [aacstream::clDecoder_M4A::Close]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
  Conversion completed in 3.5 seconds x72 realtime encoding
  File Size Check (core converter exit): 7794716 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
->->  [clDecoder::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder::Close]

With itunes QAAC encoder:

Splitting Command Line:"C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\CoreConverter.exe" -dbcmd="C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\dBT5AA1.tmp"
->->  [dBCoreConverter::ReaddBCommandFile]
<-<-  [dBCoreConverter::ReaddBCommandFile]
Decodes  [clDecoder::Get]
BatchID  [clDecoder::Set]
->->  [cldBCodecHandler::LoadEncoder]
  Loading Encoder 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a QAAC (iTunes).DLL'
<-<-  [cldBCodecHandler::LoadEncoder]
BatchID  [clEncoder::Set]
->->  [dBCoreConverter::StripCoreConverterCmds]
<-<-  [dBCoreConverter::StripCoreConverterCmds]
SendRawUnCompressed  [clEncoder::Get]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
NeedHQAudio  [clEncoder::Get]
Decode As  [clDecoder::Set]
->->  [clDecoder::Open]
  Opening file 'D:\Users\user\Music\Backlog\Sunshine & Tomorrow\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.flac' for read access: Opened
  Init FLAC: 
  Reading Meta Data: 
   contained 18 tags:
			replaygain_album_gain: -15.06 dB
			replaygain_album_peak: 1
			replaygain_track_gain: -15.56 dB
			replaygain_track_peak: 1
			iTunNORM:  00008CAA 00008CAA 0000FFFE 0000FFFE 00024CA8 00024CA8 00000000 00000000 00024CA8 00024CA8
			artist: EASTGHOST
			title: Sunshine
			album: Sunshine & Tomorrow
			Disc: 1
			genre: Electro
			composer: Ryan J. Akeley
			bpm: 0
			length: 255
			isrc: NLRD51632492
			Year: 2020-04-30
			ORGANIZATION: bitbird
			Track: 1
			Album Artist: EASTGHOST
  Contains picture block, size (bytes): 101777 type: 3
  ->->  [clDecoder::ReadIDTags]
  <-<-  [clDecoder::ReadIDTags]
  ->->  [clDecoder::FillAudioProps]
	Encoder: FLAC Mutagen 1.45.1
	Sample Count: 11,286,844
	ID Tag: Vorbis Comments
	Contains: Album Art, ReplayGain, ID Tag [Vorbis Comments]
  <-<-  [clDecoder::FillAudioProps]
  ->->  [clDecoder::FillAudioInfo]
    Uncompressed WFX (sent to db): Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
    Audio Length: 255937 mili-seconds  56092931 bytes  2116 kbps
  <-<-  [clDecoder::FillAudioInfo]
  Creating Decode Buffers: Created
<-<-  [clDecoder::Open]
SendOverReplayGainTags  [clEncoder::Get]
->->  [clEncoder::BeginConversion]
  Converting to 'D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a' encoder settings ' -cli_encoder="C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a QAAC (iTunes)\qaac64.exe" -cli_cmd="--tvbr 127 - -o {qt}[outfile]{qt}" -selection="0,14,0,0"'
  Using Encoder 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a QAAC (iTunes)\qaac64.exe'
  Command Line '--tvbr 127 - -o "D:\Users\user\Desktop\FSPROJ~1\FSMUSI~1\SUNSHI~1.M4A"'
  Input Wave Format:Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
  Output Wave Format:Format Tag: 1  Channels: 2  Bits per Sample: 24  Samples Per Second: 44100  Bytes Per Second: 264600  Block Align: 6  CB Size: 0
  Passing Wave Header: Yes
  Using StdInput Pipe: Yes
  dBpoweramp Writing Tags: Yes
<-<-  [clEncoder::BeginConversion]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
Encoding To: m4a QAAC (iTunes)
Encoder Cmd Line:  -cli_encoder="C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a QAAC (iTunes)\qaac64.exe" -cli_cmd="--tvbr 127 - -o {qt}[outfile]{qt}" -selection="0,14,0,0"
============= CONVERSION BEGIN =============
============= CONVERSION END =============
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
->->  [dBCoreConverter::CloseDecoder]
->->  [clDecoder::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder::Close]
->->  [clEncoder::EndConversion]
  Running program after conversion 'C:\Program Files\dBpoweramp\encoder\m4a QAAC (iTunes)\' Command Line: 
  Program completed
<-<-  [clEncoder::EndConversion]
  File Size Check : 11125017 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
  File Size Check (before ID Tags Written): 11125017 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
  ->->  [dBCoreConverter::IDTagWriter]
Decodes  [clDecoder_M4A::Get]
IDTags  [clDecoder_M4A::Set]
Writing ID Tags to m4a:  [clDecoder_M4A::WriteTheseTags]
Encoding Tool: qaac 2.71, CoreAudioToolbox 7.10.9.0, AAC-LC Encoder, TVBR q127, Quality 96
iTunSMPB:  00000000 00000840 00000284 0000000000AC393C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
replaygain_album_gain: -15.06 dB
replaygain_album_peak: 1
replaygain_track_gain: -15.56 dB
replaygain_track_peak: 1
iTunNORM: 00008CAA 00008CAA 0000FFFE 0000FFFE 00024CA8 00024CA8 00000000 00000000 00024CA8 00024CA8
artist: EASTGHOST
title: Sunshine
album: Sunshine & Tomorrow
Disc: 1
genre: Electro
composer: Ryan J. Akeley
bpm: 0
length: 255
isrc: NLRD51632492
Year: 2020-04-30
ORGANIZATION: bitbird
Track: 1
Album Artist: EASTGHOST
_albumart_1_Front Album Cover:   [DATA] FF D8 FF E0 00 10 4A 46 49 46 00 01 01 01 00 60 00 60 00 00 FF DB 00 43 00 06 04 05 06 05 04 06 06 05 06 07 07 06 08 0A 10 0A 0A 09 09 0A 14 0E 0F 0C 10 17 14 18 18 17 14 16 16 1A 1D 25 1F 1A 1B 23 1C 16 16 20 2C 20 23 26 27 29 2A 29 19 1F 2D 30 2D 28 30 25 28 29 28 FF DB 00 43 01 07 07 07 0A 08 0A  [clDecoder_M4A::WriteTheseTags]
  <-<-  [dBCoreConverter::IDTagWriter]
->->  [clDecoder_M4A::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder_M4A::Close]
->->  [aacstream::clDecoder_M4A::Close]
<-<-  [aacstream::clDecoder_M4A::Close]
Communicate  [clDecoder::Get]
Communicate  [clEncoder::Get]
  Conversion completed in 3.3 seconds x76 realtime encoding
  File Size Check (core converter exit): 11227954 bytes   Filename: D:\Users\user\Desktop\FS Projects\FS MUSIC\Sunshine - EASTGHOST.m4a
->->  [clDecoder::Close]
<-<-  [clDecoder::Close]

[Spoon]

Re: M4A codec dropping tags

One of the m4a files, right click on it >> Edit ID Tags

The artist is missing there?

[seguraf22]

Re: M4A codec dropping tags

Yeah, it's straight up dropping artist and title tags on any of the m4a encoders, qaac or fdk. Here's a video of me taking a flac source with tags, and converting to m4a with no dsp or anything on a fresh install: https://puu.sh/I5b9u/260a2bfd60.mp4 I didn't see anything wrong in the logs and reinstalling didnt fix it so not sure what's going on. Never had this issue before so no sure if a windows update somehow borked it or something.

[Spoon]

Re: M4A codec dropping tags

Uninstall dBpoweramp, full system restart (shut down), then reinstall dBpoweramp.

[seguraf22]

Re: M4A codec dropping tags

Hello, sorry for the delay, have been busy. I did the full uninstall, ran the reset program to clear out the registry keys, rebooted, installed the latest 17.4 build, rebooted again just to make sure, and tried converted a .flac to .m4a using qaac encoder. Same issue as before, Title, Artist, Album and year tags were dropped on the encoded file. I can send some more logs if you'd like to try to pinpoint the issue.

[Spoon]

Re: M4A codec dropping tags

Please upload the converted m4a file to dropbox and the source flac file and personal message me a link.