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███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███
Choosing the right format for files is the most elementary issue. An here is why:
A] Not every file type is handled by Mp3tag
This can be overcome by switching to other file format
That means that for example every VOX in your possession would have to be converted to an MP3 [and deleted afterwards or kept together with MP3s, depending on your needs]. But in order to make such a switch without a tag data loss, you would need some proper software, so that the audio files would keep all of the tag fields intact. And that is an often issue. So beware what software is to be used for such a process and with what settings. Improper ones can simply ignore some tag fields, not coping them during the conversion process. And there is of course the issue of quality loss if going from a lossless format to a lossy one; and the issue of converting a lossy file to a lossless format, which will only make it bigger and not better in terms of quality
An alternative to that is to wait for the hypothetical upgrade of Mp3tag, that will add a new file type support. The last addition was done in April of 2016
B] Not every file type is handled by every hardware stereo equipment
This cannot be overcome without a change of hardware; or an update of software running it, if the device allows at all for such thing
C] Not every file type uses the same tag fields as the very popular MP3 format
This can be be overcome by process called mapping, done within Mp3tag itself [under the File > Options > Tags > Mapping]. Mp3tag comes with default settings containing few already mapped tag fields
But beware of this method. Because when using many formats / fields / actions, at some point there will be most likely a nasty surprise waiting to reveal itself, destroying apart an unified-tag-fields-construction. It can fall apart because of a poorly designed mapping and / or astounding differences in working of the same tag fields in other formats. What should work in theory and looks the same in settings, in practice can be processed differently depending on a format and / or audio player
For example Winamp [5.666] will not display values from DATE tag field written to a MP3 file and will not display values from YEAR tag field written in FLAC; because MP3s use natively YEAR and not the DATE tag, while FLACs use natively DATE and not the YEAR tag. So what this means is this: you can use YEAR or DATE tag for both MP3 and FLAC files in Mp3tag, but in Winamp values from one of these formats will not show up
D] Not every tag field is handled by every audio player
This can be overcome by switching to different audio player or switching to the usage of different tag fields
Both workarounds can be a hard choice, resulting in a lot of additional work. For example Winamp cannot display via its Advanced Tile Formatting tag fields other than those specified by the ID3v2 and Vorbis when playing MP3 and FLAC files [and probably also when reading other kinds of files]. So what this means is this: you can create your own tag fields in Mp3tag, but you will not see them in Winamp
███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███ Combo Compatible ███
These formats create a range of opportunities, for whatever reasons of distinction:
- MP3
- FLAC
- TTA
- WV
A combination like this gives a lossy but most popular format [MP3], two lossless ones [FLAC and TTA] plus a format that can store audio both in lossy and a lossless way [WavPack]. All four of them are handled by both Mp3tag and Winamp [5.666] without major issues. The only known problem is with the DATE field of the FLAC format, which [to avoid issues] should be not used at all. Also in regards to images [covers] attached to files of those four formats, compatibility between them has not been tested thoroughly. Other than that, data within these formats behave the same way: whatever you put in them is saved in tag fields exactly the way it was written down. So any format from this combo can have totally non standard values inside tag fields, which is sometimes impossible with some other formats
This combo should work as long as Mp3tag under the
File > Options > Tags > Mpeg
is set to for
Read ID3v1
Read ID3v2
Write ID3v2.3 UTF-16
Remove ID3v1
Remove ID3v2
Remove APE
and also when under the
File > Options > Tags > Ape, Mpc ...
is set for
Read ID3v1
Read APE
Write APEv2
Remove ID3v1
Remove ID3v2
Remove APE
███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███ Combo Non-Compatible ███
- APE
- WMA
Those formats do not behave exactly as those four listed above. For a reference, please read those two threads: /t/17672/1, /t/17714/1
███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███ Others ███
They may be of course other other file formats supported by Mp3tag [and even maybe Winamp], that better fill certain needs or work in a more user-friendly way with some third party software [like audio player other than Winamp]
███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███ Fakes ███
A need for additional file formats can be overcome alternatively with a neat "cheat", by simply changing extension of a FLAC file from ".flac" to ".flac2" or something similar or completely different. Such new "format" [bearing a non existing file format extension] will not be associated with any kind of software, so the operating system will ask the user in what software should it be opened from now on. Some software like BS.Player Pro [2.70], Media Player Classic [1.7.10.252] or VLC Media Player [2.2.4] should not have any problems with such fake FLACs. But for example Winamp [5.666] will not be able to handle them, until that format is added to it under the
Preferences > Plug-ins > Input > Nullsoft FLAC Decoder > Configure > Extensions
As for the MP3 format, Winamp should not have any problems with reading for example ".mp3-2" extension without additional settings of that kind. So a particular fake file format should be tested out in a particular software, before becoming a permanent part of your files
But of course there could be additional issues with such approach, when trying to play those fake formats on home stereo or car audio system; or when trying to convert them to other [real] formats. It will depend on the fact if the hardware / software will simply recognize ".flac2" as a FLAC format or ".mp3-2" as MP3 format. And most of all, right now Mp3tag itself has issues with processing formats which are not listed by default [for a reference please read this thread: /t/19223/1]
███ Unofficial Mp3tag & Audio Efficiency Guide 1.0.0 ███ Files Format ███ Color Branding ███
If all audio files are associated with one player, then all of audio files will most likely look the same, bearing one and the same icon. Which seems to be a logical and useful approach- until the user starts to come by many formats and loose time on distinguishing them by their 2-4 letter extensions. A scenario of errors coming out from mistaking one format for another can be averted- by implementation of color to your files extension. Users of image organizers / viewers like ACDSee [3.1] have such a distinction among their graphic files done with the default settings of their particular software, but unfortunately most of audio / video players do not have a similar user friendly approach
So here are the steps necessary, if one wishes to achieve color distinction for audio [or any other area of interest] files
1] Associate all audio files with that one player that you use the most often
2] Go to a site like the Icons DB [http://www.iconsdb.com], where a search for free icons can be done by tags. Choose one color at a time and download the same icon in couple of versions. So you should pick just one, but generate it in 3-5 different color versions
3] Use software like a freeware FileTypesMan by Nir Sofer [FileTypesMan - Alternative to 'File Types' manager of Windows] to change icons of files without the draggish task of going to the system's registry. But do this only for the most often used [worked on] audio file formats; just do not bother with formats that are "exotic" to you
This will result with more clear info presented not only in the Mp3tag itself, but also in your designated file handler [most likely the ordinary Windows Explorer]. There will be no more need to look at the end of files and read their extensions, because a simple glance will reveal what is their format
And why only 3-5 colors and not 15 or 26 [for those "exotic" formats]? If a person keeps its music only in for example MP3 and FLAC format and also edits only in FLAC and WAV format, then only 3 colors are needed [because there are 3 formats being operated upon]. Plus maybe 1 extra for some temporary files that a particular audio editor is creating [for example SFK by Sound Forge]. And all the other rarely seen / used files will be still shown with the same old icon that the audio player uses; so seeing the old icon will tell-tale right away, that this is some kind of audio file that is out of the normal range of operations [out of the usual interest]
Of course when using FileTypesMan, one can take some extra time to change also all those other audio format to some out-of-interest-color. And if more formats are used on a daily basis, then the user can simply download the chosen icon in as many colors as there are formats. But seeing in Mp3tag a list of files done with a wide palette will not be as that helpful as a list displaying only few colors
As an example, the "EG-0001 Color Branding - Mp3tag.gif" extension [http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=07138772167531118209] is a GIF file containing two screenshots, showing a comparison of the same files loaded to Mp3tag without the described color branding and after implementing such tweak to the operating system. It clearly shows the advantage of using [in this example 4] similar and yet distinctive icons instead of just one and the same default icon, assigned to audio formats associated with a given player [with Winamp in this case]
As an example, the "EG-0002 Color Branding - FreeCommander.png" [http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=07527695543966979732] is as a PNG file containing in one screenshot a digital composition showcasing the same aftermath of an audio editing situation / file handling in two version: without color branding [in the left panel] and with distinctive icons system put in place [on the right side]