I searched through the forum, but did not see this exact issue (maybe I missed it somewhere, if so, apologies), or I do not understand if the other answers relate to this issue.
Several MP3 files are showing either incorrect time (00:01) or nothing in the Length field. When I play them (Winamp), the time elapsed is displayed correctly as the song plays, but the Winamp info display shows the same (incorrect) length as the tag in MP3Tag.
In the files that show no time in the length field, I notice that the Frequency, Codec, VBR and Mode fields are also blank. In the files that show the incorrect time, the frequency field is populated (44100), and all other fields are populated as well. The file size is shown for all, and ranges from around 400 kB to around 30 MB.
I would like to run a command that will populate the Length field with the correct time. I tried the Action - Format Value "LENGTH" %_length% command, which returns a "Formatted Tags in 0 of n tags " message. I suspect I am missing something simple here, but my Newby mind hasn't grasped it yet.
If the "technical part" of the media file has correct data, then the Mp3tag variable "%_length%" should display the correct data.
It may happen that some mediatype does not support this.
It may happen that a mediafile's technical data is corrupt.
It may help to re-encode or transcode this mediafile.
In general, and in particular, you do not need to set any user defined tag-field for a player indicating the technical data of the file.
The Media type is MP3, so I must assume that the technical data in the files are corrupt, or that they were not ripped correctly. Unfortunately I do not have access to the original source files, so I cannot re-encode them from the source files.
Please forgive what is probably a stupid question, but is it possible to either manually edit the technical data, or to re-encode the (corrupt technical data ) MP3 files as new (no longer corrupt technical data) MP3 files? I suspect not, and will probably have to live with the incorrect time (a minor annoyance). If it is possible, could you please point me in the general direction?
There are freeware utilties around that do just such checks:
mp3val
mp3diags
foobar2000
mp3val and mp3diags have an scan mode so that you can decide whether you want to fix files with problems.
Both programs have their virtues and you probably have to use both to get rid of all faults.
Hi,
The time difference in explorer and mp3tag is because you are update covers to mp3's you make them bigger ore smaller than you have this problem.
changing covers ok than you have to re-convert your files.
I do not think that it is true that adding or removing an embedded picture in a file effects the length of the audio part.
It influences the total size of a file.
But as tag data and payload data should be separate, any difference in play length can come only from players that do not interpret the tag part correctly or from corrupted header data.
Also, for files with variable bitrate sometimes a certain player uses calculations that are different from other programs. So differing lengths could be the result.
But if a file that shows no length at all - as the OP stated - then the file is seriously damaged and needs repairs.
Ways to repair files have been mentioned in this thread.
See also
Of course, the music file becomes larger in its entirety when you add a cover picture.
And of course the music file becomes smaller if you remove an embedded cover picture or replace it with a much smaller one. BUT:
You don't change the audio part of your music file if you add or remove a cover picture with Mp3tag.
If you add or remove a cover picture, you manipulate the metadata part of your music file.
The audio length will not be calculated from the metadata.
No.
Re-converting the entire mp3 music file to a new mp3 music file does not change the length of the audio part (assuming you don't use any special converting function as deleting silent audio parts and so on...)
I use Platinum Notes 4 to convert.
And it do's a good job on this problem in the time diference win 10 explore vs. Mp3tag.
And with 200k ons songs done by hand Year, cover, bmp, key (camelot), mood... i'm happy with my
music data base wat i started in the 80's to digitalize.
For bpm, key, mood... i use Mixed In Key 10.
