Question

Argh! Windows Media Player 11 ID3 Tags!

Asked by: Pugglewuggle

Hi,

I hate iTunes' interface - WMP is much better for me. HOWEVER - the problem I've always had with WMP is that it just makes changes to MP3 files' ID3 tags based on whatever the online media information database says - anything you enter manually is only stored in the WMP library - it's not actually written to the file! How do I make WMP write the information (even the stuff I enter manually aka override what WMP inserts) to the file so all files act the same across all my computers?

Thanks!

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Asked On
2008-11-24 at 00:46:00ID23930089
Tags

Microsoft

,

Windows Media Player 11

Topics

Windows Media Player Software MP3 Player

,

Software MP3 Media Players

,

General Multi-Media Software

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: QEMS2Posted on 2008-11-24 at 03:48:24ID: 23027442

I have had many problems with this, on media player 10 more so tho.
The only way I could find to rectify the problem was to right click on the file/album and choose open file location. Then on the file itself change what you need to (for me it was unknown artist files so i would add in the album and artist) then in media player delete the album form media player library and then scan again to add it back in. this time with all the correct details.  
Have you tried the zune software at all? it still runs on media player 11 runtime but still has the same issues that but when i edit the file zune normally auto detects the change and then sorts it out in the player for you so i dont have to delete and add again.
Hope this helps.

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-11-24 at 20:06:36ID: 23032331

That's exactly what I have to do too. It really is ridiculous to have to worry about this! It should "just work" like everything else.

I appreciate the comment, but unfortunately it doesn't really help... MS better fix this in WMP 12 or I'll be really quick to switch to Media Monkey (which I've tried before and it works nicely) - however I don't like the interface at all - WMP has a much better interface.

 

by: QEMS2Posted on 2008-11-26 at 01:40:43ID: 23040645

Totally agree dude, but I have just found the answer!!! believe it or not it was in the media player help file!!
I have just pasted the relevent section underneath for you:

* The information is added to the library. After some time (which varies depending upon how many changes you have made and whether the Player is performing any processor-intensive actions), the information is also added to the file. To force the Player to update the file immediately, click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Apply Media Information Changes.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 as necessary to fix the other attributes.

Note that some attributes, such as length, size, and bit rate, cannot be edited.

I tried editing the name of a file in media player than ran this APPLY MEDIA INFORMATION CHANGES  button and it did take a while to run (due to the size of collection probably) and it changed the file name of the mp3 file to it.

Finally, this has bugged me for ages too...hope this helps dude.

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-11-26 at 14:26:38ID: 23046345

You're freakin' awesome!

I don't understand why WMP doesn't just do this on the fly to each file! This is the equivalent of throwing 50,000 tax papers in a barrell and then sorting them at the end of the year instead of filing each of them when they come in!

Wouldn't it just be easier to do this as it's entered? Good lord! WTF does MS think some times?

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-11-26 at 17:04:29ID: 23047170

Also, where in the help did you find this?

 

by: QEMS2Posted on 2008-11-27 at 00:01:25ID: 23048204

Hi dude

this is where in the help file it is:

Go to library tab then choose help with using the library
choose use the player libraryy to organize your digital media collection
choose add or edit information
choose to add media information using the edit command

It does say that it will do it automatically over time but could take quite a while depending on what process' are being performed but this apply media that we have done is to force the info to update and sync.
This will make it so much easier and quicker than what I was doing before.
Thanks MS.LOL!

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-11-27 at 09:38:06ID: 23051332

Gotcha. Well, the process never actually finished... I downloaded and installed MediaMonkey and it cataloged my songs automatically and writes ID3 tags on the fly.  Also, it has an AMAZING lookup feature in the new version that is just awesome. The folder monitoring works instantaneously too. :-)

I'm saying this as a true WMP lover - MediaMonkey is better. I just don't like the interface though! And the premium version is $40... but that's why we have torrents. :-P

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-12-03 at 19:07:33ID: 23092377

Well, I guess I'll be using MediaMonkey until WMP12 comes out...

Thanks for the info!

 

by: QEMS2Posted on 2008-12-05 at 00:32:13ID: 23103223

Hi
I looked at media monkey at it does seem very good and instant when changing the song names, looks like it could be a good media player but I'm still going to stick with my zune software (I have a zune so makes sense).
Did you get media player to apply the changes for you in the end?

 

by: PugglewugglePosted on 2008-12-05 at 00:42:22ID: 23103264

Well, since MM's auto tagging is so much better than WMP (for the time being) I chose to go that way until WMP 12 is out. Since my main task is getting everything organized for real (even though WMP tricked me like 5 times before into thinking I had it all good) I'll use it until I get everything figured out.

I hate MM's interface... It drives me crazy. I love how WMP just works (with the exception of ID3 tags working like they should) and is easy to navigate.

I will say this though - MM's folder monitoring is AWESOME! I have about 40k songs on a network share (gigE network) and MM monitors it and makes changes instantly. Very impressive.

Lol... sorry.... got talking. Yes, WMP would have written everything fine (I started the process but the fact that all files are over a network choked it a bit).

Cheers!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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