MP4 Tagging Corrupts File

jheddings · 10th November 2004, 14:46

I have been having problems trying to edit tag in M4A files. After making a change to the tag, the file becomes unreadable (Winamp will not play it, nor will another player like iTunes).

These are files that I ripped from my own CD's. Tried on multiple files.

DJ Egg · 10th November 2004, 15:16

If you ripped them with iTunes then you should only edit the tags with iTunes.
If you rip them with Winamp then you won't have this problem :/

Potential solution:
Use the audiocoding.com or rarewares in_mp4.dll instead.

jheddings · 10th November 2004, 15:23

Is this true even for files that I have ripped personally (i.e. they have no DRM)?

What about files that I have bought from iTunes and run through hymn?

jheddings · 10th November 2004, 15:27

Sorry, one more nagging question: Is this true if the file is ripped from any player other than Winamp? I was planning on using Poikosoft's Easy CD-DA Extrector from now on...

DJ Egg · 10th November 2004, 16:00

You're safe with MP3, OGG, and other formats.
You'll only have problems with M4A ripped with iTunes, because apparently iTunes adds some proprietry non-standard crap into the code/headers.

jheddings · 10th November 2004, 18:18

Figures... My whole library, infected.

I'll give it a rip with Easy CD-DA Extractor and post if there are any problems.

Thanks...

PatrickNeil · 18th November 2004, 20:52

Hey, does anyone know a way to fix this? I've messed up a bunch of m4a's that I can't get back. Nothing can play or convert them now.

Patrick

jheddings · 18th November 2004, 21:08

I don't think there's any way to recover. Using other rippers (I'm using Easy CD-DA Extractor) doesn't seem to have this problem, though.

Hopefully someone comes up with something.

DJ Egg · 19th November 2004, 01:44

Solution? Don't use iTunes to encode m4a/aac. Or if you do, then don't try to edit the tags with any other program, because only iTunes supports the non-standard crap that they put in the headers (though some other players might support it, in particular by those who are up Apple's arse) ;-)

Note: You might have better luck using the 3rd-party audiocoding.com in_mp4.dll instead of the default Nullsoft one :/

peaceofcake · 30th November 2004, 01:11

Maybe we could use one of the popular tagging programs to store the tag data into the filenames, then use another program to, demux, I think that's what it's called, the files, then rewrite the tags into them. This would get rid of the itunes crap.
I hope they fix the dll though, since my main tagging program, tag&rename, doesn't corrupt the files. I wonder if Apple did this deliberatly to force people to stay with iTunes, since they'd think the other programs had bugs when they try to switch away from iTunes.

CraigF · 30th November 2004, 12:49

tag&rename says it supports itunes tagging, so i assume you should be able to trip the tags with that. no idea if its possible or not since i never have, and never will, buy drm audio.

peaceofcake · 2nd December 2004, 04:06

Tag&rename works fine with itunes m4a files. I haven't tried it on any drm files though.

Headspikez · 22nd December 2004, 22:59

Quote:

Originally posted by PatrickNeil
Hey, does anyone know a way to fix this? I've messed up a bunch of m4a's that I can't get back. Nothing can play or convert them now.

Patrick

Heya, I ran into the same problem with lame as Apple m4a tag renaming nonsense. Just use the tag and m3u program here: http://www.777soft.com i managed to fix a few songs such that i can listen to them again! w00t

Thank god the rest of my files are still mp3, always best...never fails! ;-)

WinaMP 4 EVER !
Apple can suck it.

shootthemonkey · 24th December 2004, 19:03

Quote:

Originally posted by DJ Egg
Note: You might have better luck using the 3rd-party audiocoding.com in_mp4.dll instead of the default Nullsoft one :/

This worked well for me. You might want to keep a backup of in_mp4.dll though, just in case.

The Yoyo Man · 4th January 2005, 22:58

I ran into the same problem. I ripped audio CD's to M4A files, using iTunes 4.7. Then I used Winamp 5.08 to change the tag information for a few files. Those files could no longer be played by any player.

However, after some experimentation this is what I found. If I use Mp3tag V2.27 to modify ALL the files that I ripped with iTunes 4.7, I can then use Winamp, iTunes, or Mp3tag to update the tag information and the files are not corrupted. I can still play the files with any of my players. Apparently, Mp3tag rewrites the tag info in such a way that Winamp can work with it.

If you use Winamp to change the tag info BEFORE using Mp3tag, the file will corrupted. Unfortunately, Mp3tag could not recover the file once it was corrupted.

Sure wish I found a way to recover the corrupted files. Hopefully, someone will, SOON.

superbob · 12th March 2005, 18:49

Hello

I had also the problem of playing m4a files from iTunes

I got a solution to play iTunes m4a files, even if their tags have been edited with winamp

I've posted a subject in this forum explaining that, see:

A temporary solution for iTunes M4A Playing

superbob

mccaffjt · 31st January 2009, 14:12

Could you send one of the corrupt files to me?

I think I have the solution to the problem (to recover the file even after it is corrupted), but need to test to make sure -- if it works, I'll add the feature to mp3-boss (an audio organizer plugin for winamp).

You can send the file to:
mccaffjt (at) newsguy (dot) com

Also, do you know if this problem is still happening a lot, or has something been done so it happens less frequently?

Thanks,
John
http://www.mp3-boss.com

DJ Egg · 31st January 2009, 14:23

This issue was fixed 3 years ago.

10th November 2004, 14:46	#1
jheddings Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 63	MP4 Tagging Corrupts File I have been having problems trying to edit tag in M4A files. After making a change to the tag, the file becomes unreadable (Winamp will not play it, nor will another player like iTunes). These are files that I ripped from my own CD's. Tried on multiple files.

10th November 2004, 15:16	#2
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 35,972	If you ripped them with iTunes then you should only edit the tags with iTunes. If you rip them with Winamp then you won't have this problem :/ Potential solution: Use the audiocoding.com or rarewares in_mp4.dll instead. Playlist -\|- Twitter

10th November 2004, 16:00	#5
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 35,972	You're safe with MP3, OGG, and other formats. You'll only have problems with M4A ripped with iTunes, because apparently iTunes adds some proprietry non-standard crap into the code/headers. Playlist -\|- Twitter

19th November 2004, 01:44	#9
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 35,972	Solution? Don't use iTunes to encode m4a/aac. Or if you do, then don't try to edit the tags with any other program, because only iTunes supports the non-standard crap that they put in the headers (though some other players might support it, in particular by those who are up Apple's arse) ;-) *Note: You might* have better luck using the 3rd-party audiocoding.com in_mp4.dll instead of the default Nullsoft one :/** Playlist -\|- Twitter

12th March 2005, 18:49	#16
superbob Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4	How to play 'corrupted' m4a files Hello I had also the problem of playing m4a files from iTunes I got a solution to play iTunes m4a files, even if their tags have been edited with winamp I've posted a subject in this forum explaining that, see: A temporary solution for iTunes M4A Playing superbob

10th November 2004, 15:23	#3
jheddings Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 63	Is this true even for files that I have ripped personally (i.e. they have no DRM)? What about files that I have bought from iTunes and run through hymn?

10th November 2004, 15:27	#4
jheddings Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 63	Sorry, one more nagging question: Is this true if the file is ripped from any player other than Winamp? I was planning on using Poikosoft's Easy CD-DA Extrector from now on...

10th November 2004, 18:18	#6
jheddings Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 63	Figures... My whole library, infected. I'll give it a rip with Easy CD-DA Extractor and post if there are any problems. Thanks...

18th November 2004, 20:52	#7
PatrickNeil Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 95	Hey, does anyone know a way to fix this? I've messed up a bunch of m4a's that I can't get back. Nothing can play or convert them now. Patrick

18th November 2004, 21:08	#8
jheddings Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 63	I don't think there's any way to recover. Using other rippers (I'm using Easy CD-DA Extractor) doesn't seem to have this problem, though. Hopefully someone comes up with something.

30th November 2004, 01:11	#10
peaceofcake Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 333	Maybe we could use one of the popular tagging programs to store the tag data into the filenames, then use another program to, demux, I think that's what it's called, the files, then rewrite the tags into them. This would get rid of the itunes crap. I hope they fix the dll though, since my main tagging program, tag&rename, doesn't corrupt the files. I wonder if Apple did this deliberatly to force people to stay with iTunes, since they'd think the other programs had bugs when they try to switch away from iTunes.

30th November 2004, 12:49	#11
CraigF Passionately Apathetic Administrator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Hell Posts: 5,435	tag&rename says it supports itunes tagging, so i assume you should be able to trip the tags with that. no idea if its possible or not since i never have, and never will, buy drm audio.

2nd December 2004, 04:06	#12
peaceofcake Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 333	Tag&rename works fine with itunes m4a files. I haven't tried it on any drm files though.

4th January 2005, 22:58	#15
The Yoyo Man Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2	I ran into the same problem. I ripped audio CD's to M4A files, using iTunes 4.7. Then I used Winamp 5.08 to change the tag information for a few files. Those files could no longer be played by any player. However, after some experimentation this is what I found. If I use Mp3tag V2.27 to modify ALL the files that I ripped with iTunes 4.7, I can then use Winamp, iTunes, or Mp3tag to update the tag information and the files are not corrupted. I can still play the files with any of my players. Apparently, Mp3tag rewrites the tag info in such a way that Winamp can work with it. If you use Winamp to change the tag info BEFORE using Mp3tag, the file will corrupted. Unfortunately, Mp3tag could not recover the file once it was corrupted. Sure wish I found a way to recover the corrupted files. Hopefully, someone will, SOON.

31st January 2009, 14:12	#17
mccaffjt Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: FL Posts: 16	Could you send one of the corrupt files to me? I think I have the solution to the problem (to recover the file even after it is corrupted), but need to test to make sure -- if it works, I'll add the feature to mp3-boss (an audio organizer plugin for winamp). You can send the file to: mccaffjt (at) newsguy (dot) com Also, do you know if this problem is still happening a lot, or has something been done so it happens less frequently? Thanks, John http://www.mp3-boss.com

31st January 2009, 14:23	#18
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 35,972	This issue was fixed 3 years ago. Playlist -\|- Twitter

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