FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

**ChristinaS** · May 15, 2005, 07:31 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Download and install the codec "Tag from file name" from Codec central. But the file name must contain the separator character to separate the fields you want or you'll never get them. The use dMC with this pseudo-codec to re-tag the files.

I would try to figure out why your Explorer is shutting down on right click.

You can also enable viewing id tags in Explorer View > Choose Columns and then if you select the detail view you should what if anything you have in the id tags.

**gustavog** · May 15, 2005, 10:35 PM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Thanks! My FLAC files were not having tags. But using the File to Tag pseudo-codec I promptly built them and now everything is fine.

**trusted-1** · July 25, 2005, 12:16 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Originally posted by ChristinaS

Download and install the codec "Tag from file name" from Codec central. But the file name must contain the separator character to separate the fields you want or you'll never get them. The use dMC with this pseudo-codec to re-tag the files.

I would try to figure out why your Explorer is shutting down on right click.

You can also enable viewing id tags in Explorer View > Choose Columns and then if you select the detail view you should what if anything you have in the id tags.

Having the ID3 created from the file name may only be a workaround.

I have flac files from an Escient Fireball that have ID3v2.3 tags (with cover art) (no ID3v1 tags) and have the same problem. It is not Explorer that crashes, it is the GetPopUpInfo.exe that crashes (if it is turned on).

None of my conversions to MP3 using Lame are successful.

Question: Should this conversion be possible with the cover art and be transferred directly to an iPod with Sveta?

Since this was the whole reason for buying Sveta, I sure hope so...

edit: Right clicking on the flac file and selecting [edit tag] crashes MusicConverter.exe every time. This is on every flac file from the Fireball.

Thanks,
Trusted-1

**NoOne** · July 25, 2005, 05:38 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

trusted-1, the FLAC spec states that the only ID format allowed is Vorbis (as used by the .ogg format). ID3 tags are invalid and probably the reason why dbpoweramp can't find them. The device you are talking about is probably not using FLAC to it's proper specifications.

**Spoon** · July 25, 2005, 06:53 PM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

I believe that ID3v1 was once valid for flac (a number of versions back), dbpoweramp will read id3v1 in a flac file, and write them if told to through dmc configuration.

**NoOne** · July 26, 2005, 02:29 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Hmm, you learn something knew everyday. haha.

**trusted-1** · July 26, 2005, 06:15 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Thanks for the tip(s).

I'll call Escient Tech support tomorrow and see if I can determine exactly what their tag is supposed to consist of and report back.

So if I select [vorbis] in the dMC configuration, under flac/Tag Creation, if I select Vorbis Comments, I should get the proper tag in the iPod including the cover art?

Or is cover art not part of the Vorbis tag spec?

Thanks,
Trusted-1

**trusted-1** · July 26, 2005, 06:32 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Originally posted by NoOne

As I mentioned in another thread, ID3 tags are not supported by the FLAC format. Only Vorbis (as used by the .ogg format) are to be used. The device you are talking about was probably not meant to have files pulled from it and therefore not following the FLAC standard completely.

The Fireball has backup & restore functions as well as the ability to mount it's drive as a read only network drive. There is a choice of flac or mp3 (320 to 128 CBR) Wanting the best quality possible, flac seems a better choice but it makes getting the music on an iPod a real challenge.

Although I don't know what the Escient flac tags are precisely, I do know that they are tagged in such a way that 'Abander TagControl 2' recognizes the tag as an ID3v2.x and shows the cover art when you edit the tag. However, all of this is moot if dMC does not (will not) add the cover art to the new tag in the converted file.

Is this an oversight? Will this be supported in future revisions or is it just not possible?

Is there a way to convert/transfer these flac files with embedded cover art work to an iPod?

Thanks,
Trusted-1

**NoOne** · July 26, 2005, 07:19 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

How many albums are we talking about here? If it isn't too many, iTunes works well as a mass tagger for album art to MP3's (I honestly don't know too much about Sveata, having just started using DMC recently). There is a program here that will scan Amazon.com for the album and (automaticly, if you wish) put them in the ID3 tags. You need to have iTunes installed though.

**LtData** · July 26, 2005, 11:34 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Cover art is not supported in the tagging of any files right now. If you convert a file with cover art embedded, dMC can't put the cover art into the new files.

**trusted-1** · July 28, 2005, 08:52 PM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Originally posted by LtData

Cover art is not supported in the tagging of any files right now. If you convert a file with cover art embedded, dMC can't put the cover art into the new files.

Here is an answer from one of the engineers at Escient:

Originally posted by Escient Engineer

Several things to note here.

1) iTunes does not do FLAC and we don't do AAC Lossless (we really need to).

2) MP3 is the most common codec and MUST be used when sharing files between and iPod and FireBall.

3) We are currently storing ID3v2.3 and ID3v1.1 tags on exported CIFS files. dbPowerAmp and others may or may not be looking for the correct tags. Some programs have the ability to modify the defaults. Some FLAC programs expect Vorbis or Ogg style tags which we are switching to in the next release.

4) There is no standard for FLAC tags, and this is really where the confusion is. We are storing the cover my means of ID3v2.3 tags. ID3v1.1 doesn't even support cover art, and most tag editors look for ID3v1.1 tags.

5) FireBall's MP3 encoder is very good. It would be hard to find a better one on a PC. I always recommend using FireBall to rip, tag, and encode audio files since it is one of the better encoders out there and it automatically supplies cover art.

[added by Trusted-1: Not to mention that you can put 400 CDs in the changer attached to the Fireball and have it automatically rip them (via spdif) and tag them while you go about your business elsewhere]

So the question I have is: If you can attach an ID3v2.3 tag to a FLAC file, why can't dMC read it and re-write it on the resulting MP3?

The Escient tech who forwarded my question to engineering said he is using FooBar and it converts the ID3 tags correctly (although I am waiting to confirm that the cover art is preserved as well) but being able to do this with a direct transfer to the iPod would be enough of a plus to use dMC/Sveta for the purpose.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Trusted-1

**Spoon** · July 29, 2005, 08:54 PM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

dBpoweramp can read id3v2 in FLAC Files, it can be set to write these tags to FLAC files also. Hold the mouse over the FLAC file, on the popup does it show the ID Tags?

I don't think foobar can transfer cover art, could be worng though.

**trusted-1** · August 09, 2005, 01:39 AM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

Originally posted by Spoon

dBpoweramp can read id3v2 in FLAC Files, it can be set to write these tags to FLAC files also. Hold the mouse over the FLAC file, on the popup does it show the ID Tags?

I don't think foobar can transfer cover art, could be worng though.

Spoon,

Thanks for the update.

The Fireball's FLAC files consistantly crash the GetPopUpInfo.exe every time you "roll over" the file in explorer and causes this message [GetPopupInfo.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.] This happens whether the file is local or viewed on the Fireball as a mapped network drive.

Will the ability to re-write the cover art information in the converted ID3v2 tags be implemented soon?

Is this shortcoming only related to FLAC files or any format converted?

Can I Email or send you a copy of one of these files to determine the cause of this problem/error?

[edit] I just viewed these file with Abander Tag Control v2.5 and the ID3v2 tag is on the FLAC files and they include the cover art.

Thanks,
Trusted-1

**Spoon** · August 09, 2005, 06:54 PM

Re: FLAC to MP3 - No ID tags!

If you can send a small flac file:

dBpoweramp: Email Illustrate

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/email.htm

Album art support in dbpoweramp is quite a long way off.