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Unable to write metadata back to media files.
I went to edit the metadata of a recently added track to my library and I get the following error: "Songbird was unable to write the metadata back to the file media file...".
I looked to see what the permission was for the file and it says that I am the owner and that I have read and write permission. Not sure what to do next?
Songbird .7
Ubuntu 8.04
I looked to see what the permission was for the file and it says that I am the owner and that I have read and write permission. Not sure what to do next?
Songbird .7
Ubuntu 8.04
I’m indifferent
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Inappropriate?What's the file extension of the song? This problem only occurs for me if the name of the file for the song is "Somesong.m4p". I believe that the "p" means that the song is protected, therefore, you can't write back to the file.
If you do try to write back to a .m4p file, you will get the error message you mentioned. But the changes will take effect in Songbird, at least they have for me.2 Comments
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You are correct, .m4p is a protected audio file format. It's considered an AAC audio file (protected). I would think that you would not be able to edit the metadata unless you are using an Apple program, like iTunes.
However, I don't think that's ncjasen's problem. I receive the same error with varying file formats, including .mp3 and .wma so I'm inclined to believe the problem might be with Songbird. -
Ah. Thanks for the info.
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Inappropriate?I get the message even though the metadata still gets edited properly. It's just an annoying message that must be closed each time. Please make it go away!
I’m annoyed.
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Inappropriate?I have some flac files with this exact issue.
They are not read only
I am the owner
I cannot save metadata info
I tried renaming them to see if they had the wrong extension by accident and when I do they they will not even play.
I’m flustrated
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Inappropriate?Works for me for mp3 files .. not for m4p (protected) -
Inappropriate?Same problem with .m4a files (non-protected). I have full read/write access to the audio files; still, the error message pops up. And the meta data really isn’t changed in the files themselves.
This is on Mac OS X 10.5.5, Songbird 1.01 Comment Add a comment
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Exact same problem. Vista 64 SP1. Songbird 1.0.0, Build 860 (20081124135419) Meta Data blank
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Inappropriate?Same problem in XP with m4a files. The files are not read-only. The metadata does not show up in the actual file.
I’m worried
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Inappropriate?Same problem for m4a files in Vista 64-bit for me. As with DCI_Japan, it appears as though the metadata is being updated correctly. (I'm dragging album art from the last.fm pane to the main album art pane).
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Inappropriate?Same problem in XP with m4a and wma files. The files are not read-only. The metadata does not show up in the actual file.
I’m anxious
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Inappropriate?@All: After trying to lump your issues into one neat and tidy bug I was informed that it just can't be done.
According to Q/A Queen Ali:
This topic has a few different problems in it:
- We can't write metadata if the file is read-only
- We can't write metadata if it's a DRM-protected file (m4p)
- We can't write metadata for wav files, period.
- For wma, we can't write, period. We just don't support it yet. See Bug # 13683
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Inappropriate?@Laura
I think in most cases, including mine, the problem is with *.m4a files and the files are NOT read-only.1 Comment Add a comment
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and wma
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Inappropriate?Yes, TheAlteredState, that is indeed the case. Thanks for looking in to it Laura.
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Inappropriate?Ok, I'll toss this back to QA and see what they have to say. Thanks all!
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Inappropriate?Write access to my m4a files, but I'm unable to change any meta data. Mp3s still work. Ubuntu 9.04 with Songbird 1.1
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Inappropriate?Same here for Songbird 1.2 beta 2 on OSX: full permissions, no DRM, editing works under iTunes => Songbird says it cannot write...
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?After editing metadata using Mp3Tag, when I come back to songbird, it says that the metaata can not be edited, how can i change that to make the data editable
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
metadata can not be edited, How to change that.
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?Deary me mateys wot on earth is "metadata". Nearest guess for me is the numbers that come up on the gas meter when I puts a shilling innit. For sure when I press the last button him up there will tell me what it was. Until then I will just keep pressing buttons hoping for the best and that yous wise guys brains won't explode from all the trash you worry about and try and worry me, but tis water off a ducks back cos I only want ter lissen to the music an watch the pitchers. Give yous guys all a tip, try the telly, less buttons and more noise and pitchers and they all repeat everything in case you don't get it first, second and third time round. Saw one guy get off a chopper seven times in five minutes and didn't trip up even once! Blimey now THAT IS summat to write about.
I’m inconflubabbulated
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Teeheehee
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Inappropriate?So if the files are an ACC or MP4 file, then you cannot edit the metadata tags? WTF is that? This probably seals the no deal for Songbird for me.
I’m disgusted, then I'm confused.
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And I Quoteth:
"@All: After trying to lump your issues into one neat and tidy bug I was informed that it just can't be done.
According to Q/A Queen Ali:
This topic has a few different problems in it:
We can't write metadata if the file is read-only
We can't write metadata if it's a DRM-protected file (m4p)
We can't write metadata for wav files, period.
For wma, we can't write, period. We just don't support it yet. See Bug # 13683" -
Then goodbye songbird ;)
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G'day,
1) MP4's are a video container. I'd imagine when video support is added later this year more will be done in that department. If you mean M4P, thats a DRM'ed media file. And many players don't even support playing them.. The best option is to decrypt them to M4A's, because otherwise you will possibly always have issues playing them (especially if Apple closes the ITMS store).
2) I assume you mean AAC/M4A? Metadata writing for AAC will be added in Songbird 1.3/Jackson 5 :D In fact, its already available in the nightly builds (but I wouldn't trust metadata writing in a developer version of Songbird).
More info is available in:
http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Releases...
Hope that helps -
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The problem isn't "OH MY GOD I CAN'T TAG MY FILES". The problem is that it's harder and it's more a hassle.
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Inappropriate?I have the same problem with OGG files on Ubuntu 8.10 and Songbird 1.2.0. In version 1.1, I didn't have this problem.
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?G'day,
Just an update, Songbird will be adding significant new Metadata writing features to Jackson 5 apparently.
1) Ogg metadata writing should support album art writing finally (although, ogg tagging should mostly work in 1.2 anyway, can't remember though).
2) M4A metadata writing will work (Album art, tags, etc). This one is pretty major, especially for itunes users.
3) ASF read/write of metadata should work (not sure who this will help, because I haven't seen anyone use ASF for ages).
As mentioned though:
1) M4P probably wont work (they are protected). It might though. Either way, they are DRM'ed, and not sure why you would buy improperly tagged songs off a music store.
2) The WAV file format doesn't officially support ID3 tags (can't support something which isn't possible). Any player that is out there tagging WAV files is probably doing it in a strange way (I looked it up in google, and there was discussion about dumping them at the end).
3) Read only file metadata writing is obviously not going to work that easily ;)
4) Not sure whats happening with WMA writing.. In the future I'd imagine.
More info is available at:
http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Releases...
I’m excited about m4a support finally
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iTunes songs are known to be mistagged. However, I still can't understand how people buy compressed audio.
Well, it's their choice. -
Inappropriate?Regardless, there are many unofficial ways to decrypt M4P (which converts them to M4A, without any quality loss). Not sure about the legality of doing so, but it will then allow any media player to use them, instead of itunes based ones, free them from ITMS (so if ITMS ever goes down your files are still accessible), and Songbird's AAC tagging will work.
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I don't know if it's illegal like they may sue you and stuff, but it certainly isn't permitted.
And if iTMS goes down, the M4P files won't block themselves or anything, not like they're "calling home" every once in a while. -
What I mean is that if it goes down permanently. AT least one companies digital store went down in the last year, and once it goes down, if you ever lose the keys on your computer, you lose the files too.
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Sorry for discussing every point of yours, but have you remembered that iTMS is the largest music dealer *in any format* in the US? And Apple sells iPods and iPhones too, so I don't think it'll go down for economic problems.
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This comment was removed on 08/05/09.
see the change log -
Obviously in 5 years time it may change, but I don't really think Apple would stand there watching how everyone loses their songs.
And yeah, FairPlay sucks. That's why Apple removed all the FairPlay-ed songs from the iTMS and replaced them with higher-bitrate, no-DRM songs. You may "upgrade" your DRM-ed songs to "normal" ones at the iTMS, but they're Apple, so they're charging some cents for it. -
This comment was removed on 08/05/09.
see the change log -
I don't see how it relates that iTunes didn't work on 64bit Vista and the OSX Leopard thing, to DRM.
And by the way, I'm not justifying their acts or anything; in fact, I despise their common unethical activities. -
Inappropriate?Yeah.. anyway, point is I'm trying to pass is that:
1) If you use M4P files you generally need itunes.
2) M4P files probably wont be supported on anything except ipods
3) You are at a tiny risk of losing access to the files completely (I agree its unlikely the store will go down, but still).
If you decrypt them, they will work on any M4A compatible portable media players, and you can dump itunes completely. Also, decrypting to play them on another portable media player would possibly be considered "fair use"..
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Inappropriate?I'm having the same problem. Ubuntu 9.04 with OGG files.
It might be a permissions problem with Ubuntu, dunno how that works, I used a DEB from getdeb.com. Either that, or Songbird still has issues with OGG file metadata.
I’m frustrated
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G'day,
Ogg metadata writing was apparently disabled in 1.2 due to problems (can't remember where I heard that though, and can't find proof, but it seems pretty vivid in my mind).
Major work is going into Metadata support in 1.3/Jackson 5 (due august), which will support it fully, as well was M4A writing and other metadata writing formats. Transcoding and other features will also be added that release..
Hope that helps. -
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Inappropriate?Can you write metadata to .ogg files? as I can't at the moment and was wondering whether it was just my files, or .oggs in general.
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G'day,
I currently don't have any ogg's (I converted them ages ago to flacs or re-ripped them). However, I think there was a serious corruption issue, in 1.2, so its been disabled (it would be good if a developer could confirm this).
In 1.3 though (due August), it will DEFINITELY work and be re-enabled.
I might be wrong, so a developer should back me up. -
Inappropriate?It has to do with the rights on Vista. Solution : Open an Edit-program as administrator, then open the file, change the metadata and save it.
Most files files don't need the administrator-status, but some do ... I don't know why, maybe because the files have been edited before when the program was running in administrator-status.1 Comment Add a comment
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I'm sorry, have you at least read the rest of the thread?
It happens EVERYWHERE, ANYTIME, on Vista, XP, Linux, etc. -
Inappropriate?Seeing as no "official 1.3.0 announcement" has been made, you can grab an EXTREMELY close to final release copy from the repositories. It should fix this problem for most people (as M4A and ogg metadata writing should work properly).
Although I'm not a developer, and not hired by POTI. But many of us champs have been using the nightly 1.3 versions for AGES now (without problems). Just stay away from the 1.4 nightlies at the moment (they totally corrupt your profile).
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Inappropriate?Hi
I found that it is perhaps due to extra metadata in the tag, in my case I believe the entries iTunNORM and iTunSMPB.
If I load the file into another tool (Kid3 works, Easytag might too) and remove the tag, save the file, then Picard can do it's work. I presume Songbird is the same (Ihavent used that Im on Fedora Linux)
-sj200449@blueyonder.co.uk7 Comments Add a comment
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For the thousandth time, this is a problem isolated to Songbird.
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No it isnt and what happend to your previous troll
"I'm sorry, have you at least read the rest of the thread?
It happens EVERYWHERE, ANYTIME, on Vista, XP, Linux, etc. " -
I'm sorry, you have mistaken the meaning of trolling. Trolling doesn't mean "being rude". Besides, with "everywhere, anytime", I meant Songbird, READ THE THREAD.
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In the rest of the thread they say it's a Songbird problem being fixed for the next release. They don't say it's a problem about the AAC/M4A format.
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Actually, I can confirm that the main reason is actually due to the lack of metadata writing in Songbird..
OGG writing got disabled in 1.2 because of corruption issues. M4A writing never existed and got added in 1.3.0 (which may not be officially released, but works fine, unless you apparently use MSC/device support).
Mp3 metadata writing has worked for a long time (although, it writes to ID3 2.4 tags because earlier versions don't support album art). So some people think it "screws up their metadata", which isn't true. Its just some people's applications aren't up to date to read the new version.
Some people may have problems due to other issues, but in most cases, support simply hasn't been implemented. Using 1.3.0 or trunk (1.4.x alpha) should fix the problem though. -
Thanks for the info Andrew, interesting. I shall check the Picard/Banshee/Musicbrainz apps currently in Fedora 11 and see if they use 2.4 tags which I thought they did.
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Thanks for the info Andrew, interesting. I shall check the Picard/Banshee/Musicbrainz apps currently in Fedora 11 and see if they use 2.4 tags which I thought they did.
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Inappropriate?Opensuse 11.1,
Version: Songbird 1.2.0, Build 1146
File type ogg
It does work with MP3 in the same folder as the OGG
I’m a bit disappointed with G
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G'day, you may wish to give 1.3.0 (final) from http://developer.songbirdnest.com/bui... or 1.4 nightly a try. Ogg should work there, but it was disabled for 1.2.0 because of corruption issues.
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Inappropriate?Sweeeeeeeett
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