Cannot write tags to M4A files

Mac
1

Continuing the discussion from "Cannot write tags to file x in folder y" error:

Same problem here. To all questions above: no. It's not the file, because other files from the same album don't give this error. (Audirvana is able to edit the tag.)
This error occurs with a lot of files, mainly Apple Lossless Audo (m4a). But on the other hand, many m4a files do not cause any problems. It's also not the settings of the MacBook, because they are the same for all files in the album.
Please no further questions, just a solution.

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2

Can you try this command via Terminal.app while Mp3tag being closed:

defaults delete app.mp3tag.Mp3tag SecurityScopedBookmarks

After that, load the folder (not the individual files) via ⌘O and see if the issue persists.

3

Thank you for your swift response. Unfortunately it doesn't work.

6

OK, then the error has some kind of mysterious cause. Could you try and see if Console.app (set to streaming) produces any details on that error?

BackLog is another option, where you can set the process to Mp3tag and include all events that are not directly created by this binary.

The idea of this is to gather some information on what's causing the issue (as it doesn't seem to be related to secure bookmarks).

Maybe one additional question: are the files on your local Mac or on any external medium?

Thanks!

7

Hi,

I purchased MP3TAG today to clean up some tags, as it was highly recommended on the macOS app store. Unfortunately I immediately ran into this inability to save attribute edits with the first m4a file I tried. I'm trying to do something quite simple - sync up the filename and the song's title.

I tried the "defaults delete" command above but it didn't help. My file is locally resident on macOS.

If you are interested in pursuing this, perhaps the place to start would be for me to send the problematic file to you. Let me know!

Thanks.

8

Yes, please send me the file (or a link to it via) Help → Send Feedback with the steps you've performed to sync the filename and the song's title and the format strings you've used.

9

Have sent as requested. Unfortunately the music file is 9.2 MB and so the email bounced. Do you have (say) a public Dropbox I can put the file in?

12

You can just use your DropBox and send me a direct link (please no invite, I don't have a Dropbox account) or use another cloud service to share the file.

13

OK I'll do that when I get a chance.

It will be a OneDrive link rather than a DropBox link.

14

Email with OneDrive link has been sent to you. Thanks again.

15

The file has invalid or incomplete data at the end, which cannot be identified as a valid MP4 atom.

Mp3tag follows the approach of trying to not silently updating invalid files, which could in turn lead to more invalid or even loss of data.

It looks like the file has been purchased via iTunes and later manipulated by an app that caused the issues with the invalid data. Can you re-download the file and try with the original?

16

Thanks for the very fast feedback! Yes I'll re-download from iTunes and report back.

17

Your hunch was correct! I redownloaded the song from iTunes and I was able to edit it to change the title of the song.

The iTunes metadata said I purchased this song 12 years ago (before streaming was a thing) so who knows what utility munged the metadata during that time.

Thanks for taking the time to figure this out - much appreciated!

Dave Ings

18

12 years! Glad you still have access to the original and happy it's working now. Thanks for taking the time to provide the example file and try all the things.