# Matrix Number Tag
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 3, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700 "2019-03-03T00:52:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@johnmillsjr](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/johnmillsjr)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/1 "2019-03-03T00:52:17Z")
Hello Folks,
I am beginning to sort my music by recording session.
I want to tag my songs with their matrix numbers.
What would be the best id3 tag for doing so?
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### Author:  [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2019, 9:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/2 "2019-03-03T09:58:12Z")
I have never heard of a "matrix number" for recording sessions before.
Maybe you can give us an example?
Unfortunately, the official ID3 website is actually not reachable.
Maybe you can find your tag in [this documentation](https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122412/http://id3.org/d3v2.3.0).
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### Author:  [@poster](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/poster)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/3 "2019-03-03T13:30:17Z")
> [@LyricsLover](#):
>
> I have never heard of a "matrix number" for recording sessions before.
> **[Matrix number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_number)**
>
> A matrix number is an alphanumeric code (and on occasion, other symbols) stamped or handwritten (or a combination of the two) into the run-out groove area of a phonograph record. This is the non-grooved area between the end of the final band on a record's side and the label, also known as the run-off groove area, end-groove area, matrix area, or "dead wax".
> A matrix number is intended for the internal use of the record manufacturing plant, but they are also studied and documented by record col...
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/4 "2019-03-03T15:03:33Z")
> [@johnmillsjr](#):
>
> What would be the best id3 tag for doing so?
I would say: one that is displayed by your collection managing program.
Clearly, there is no dedicated field for the matrix number, so you have to either "misuse" one or create a user-defined one.
As the matrix number is not strictly a number but alphanumeric, any field that relies on pure numbers or special formats should not be used.
So, year, track, releasetime, disc number would best be left aside.
A better choice may be to misuse UNSYNCEDLYRICS - but probably you cannot search for the contents of that field.
To sum it up: there is no best choice for all players.
You find a list of supported tag fields in the help:
> **[Tag Field Mappings – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/mapping/)**
>
> Overview of all available tag fields, their names in Mp3tag, and how they are mapped to the internal structures of the different tag formats. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/5 "2019-03-09T18:19:11Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> > [@johnmillsjr](#):
> >
> > What would be the best id3 tag for doing so?
>
> I would say: one that is displayed by your collection managing program.
> Clearly, there is no dedicated field for the matrix number, so you have to either "misuse" one or create a user-defined one.
> [...]
Exactly. I had to take the same approach with different data [[Mapping of tag fields - is it really needed at all?](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/mapping-of-tag-fields-is-it-really-needed-at-all/19791)]
One important tip for your system: come up with a donation for a lack of such data. At some point you will run at vinyls hat are clear of it- and if you do not enter any data on that account, how will you know in the future if here really was no data or you simply forget to write it down or the data got somehow deleted from a file?
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### Author:  [@esumsea](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/esumsea)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/6 "2022-04-09T15:02:17Z")
I would be interested to hear what people used to enter this information. I am now in the process of looking for the best masters of my music and sometimes albums will have identical lable, catalogue, country and barcodes but the distinction will be found in the Matrix. So the information is useful, not so much for searching, but to identify what recording exactly you have. But maybe this can be handled with musicbrainz ID tags? Maybe Musicbrainz have figured this out and their id tags can be used instead. I will do some research and hopefully find something useful to report back.
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### Author:  [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/7 "2022-04-09T18:20:41Z")
It is highly unlikely that any current players would display this data in a meaningful way, if at all. But I believe this is more about a library management side than one of playback.
I would simply create a custom field (I.e. MATRIX) and use that to store your info. You can search it at any time within mp3tag if you are looking for specifics at that time.
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### Author:  [@esumsea](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/esumsea)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/8 "2022-04-09T18:24:00Z")
Thanks MotleyG! You are right, I am just using it as an information field for library management and release identification. I don't need to sort or search for this, I just need the information when I access the files. So I did just what you suggested. If this field becomes regularly defined in the future, I will just map or transfer it. I appreciate your feedback.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/matrix-number-tag/44700/9 "2026-02-09T12:27:57Z")