Hey all,
If i'm playing an MP3/FLAC file with VLC or any media player and i make a change to the metadata (title etc.) in mp3tag and save it, all while the file is playing in VLC, will i damage/corrupt the file in any way?
No-one can guarantee that you don't.
It is never a good idea to let more than program access a file at the same time.
Is it obvious when a file is corrupted? Is there a way/program to tell?
If you suspect that something like a corruption happened, see this collection of tools that also look at the audio part.
I get around this with the following workflow:
- In MP3Tag, Double click to open a file in your media player
- Open Actions Dialogue box (ALT + 6)
- Use check boxes to apply metadata (assumes you've got all of your metadata options set up as actions in MP3Tag)
- Hit stop on your media player
- Go back to MP3Tag, and click OK on your actions dialogue box
hmmmm so it seems like 2 programs cant access the same file at the same time to avoid file corruption
WMP blocks a file when it plays the file so MP3tag cannot modify it.
Probably a "dirty read" is possible but as soon as it comes to writing, problems are almost certain.
If I play MP3 file in Winamp 5.666, I can safely edit tags in it via Mp3tag- because MP3s are apparently loaded 100% to that player. Proof: I can move that file around / delete it, at no pop up window will show up; and unless the playback reaches the end of such tampered with file or I press STOP, I can replay such moved / deleted file without sweat
This however does not work for other formats- to my despair
More about locked files by means of playback: