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KianD · Dec 19, 2004, 11:42 AM

I've got a few tracks of the ~1000 I imported from my BeOS box that have wildly wrong ID3 tags. iTunes will let me edit its attributes to fix the display of them in the programme, but next time I play the track, or the playlist picks it, it reverts to the data that is in the ID3 tag. Is there any way to stop it doing this other than nuking the ID3 tag, whilst still leaving ID3 support on for other imported tracks.

I'm using iTunes for OSX, not for Windows, obviously.

Earth Mk. II · Dec 19, 2004, 12:41 PM

It should just overwrite the ID3 tag - I can only suggest double checking that you have write permissions for your MP3's.

[EDIT: spelling]

Neo.cmg · Dec 20, 2004, 01:01 PM

Also, the statement given that these were copied from your BeOS box gives me reason to speculate that the ID3 tag versions of these files are older. You can try selecting all of the files and converting their ID3 tag information to updated values (either 1.3 or 1.4) and then attempt editing their ID3 information. You can do this by simply selecting all of the files within your iTunes library and then slecting the "Convert ID3 Tags..." option in the Advanced menu. I think you will find that the edited information will be retained this time.

Neo.cmg

[EDIT: Added ID3 tag conversion instructions for iTunes]

Wevah · Dec 20, 2004, 05:45 PM

a) I think you mean 2.3 and 2.4, respectively.

b) When you add tag information to a track with ID3v1.x tags that that tag format can't handle, iTunes should (will) update the tag format for you (at least, it has every time for me). Manually upping the version like that is definitely worth a shot, though.

banninated68 · Dec 20, 2004, 06:55 PM

Hrm. There is no reason apple should fix this, it's only a small percentage of users anyway. Also, you should just re-encode everything, you'll get better sound quality anyway, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON"T USE THE MP3 ENCODER THAT COMES WITH ITUNES OR YOU WILL GO DEAF PREMATURELY AND BE UNATTRACTIVE TO THE OPPOSITE SEX!

Apfhex · Dec 20, 2004, 08:12 PM

Sounds like a permissions issue, that's the only reasonable thing I can think of. Make sure you can read/write to the files, and try updating the ID3 tag version with iTunes.

You could also try an external ID3 tag editor( I like MP3 Rage/Media Rage). I always have luck with those if iTunes is being picky about a file.

bmedina · Dec 20, 2004, 08:28 PM

I second Neo.cmg's suggestion. I think I've seen that problem before and solved it by updating the tags.

And banninated, your thread got locked for a reason. Why are you whining about it in this thread?

Neo.cmg · Dec 20, 2004, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by Wevah:
a) I think you mean 2.3 and 2.4, respectively.
b) When you add tag information to a track with ID3v1.x tags that that tag format can't handle, iTunes should (will) update the tag format for you (at least, it has every time for me). Manually upping the version like that is definitely worth a shot, though.

You're right, sorry. 2.3 and 2.4 was what I intended. I had a brain fart at work, and I apologize if I caused any confusion. I have encountered in my lifetime with digital music and iTunes many files in which the ID3 tags wouldn't stick, and iTunes definitely didn't automatically convert the ID3 tags to my knowledge. Thus, after converting them manually I was able to edit the ID3 tag information to my liking and have that info retained. Anyway, thanks for catching my mistake, and to the original poster good luck.

Neo.cmg

Wevah · Dec 20, 2004, 10:55 PM

Heh, I just couldn't resist. Force of habit.

Anyway, I'm just stating my experience with the times I've made track names longer than 31 characters, and whatnot.

So, uh, yeah!

Good luck getting them to work from me, too.

KianD · Dec 25, 2004, 09:32 AM

It was permissions. Dunno how or why they got bad permissions, they were all rwxrwxrwx on BeOS, and I took them over by FTP

Yes, most of the files would have had ID3v1 tags as put there by ArmyKnife on BeOS. However, I'm not re-encoding them - I've not found anything on OSX that does as good a job sound-quality wise as cdparanoia and LAME 3.96 on BeOS yet. Mainly because I can't find a working cdparanoia for OSX.

banninated68 · Dec 25, 2004, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by bmedina:
And banninated, your thread got locked for a reason. Why are you whining about it in this thread?

I'm not whining about it. I'm using the stupid fanboy arguments I heard in my thread as a supposedly viable response here in this one. If you think my comments are stupid, seek their original source material.

- Ca$h

Spheric Harlot · Dec 25, 2004, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by banninated68:
I'm not whining about it. I'm using the stupid fanboy arguments I heard in my thread as a supposedly viable response here in this one. If you think my comments are stupid, seek their original source material.

stupid AND off-topic is a whole 'nother level, kid.

Earth Mk. II · Dec 25, 2004, 09:28 PM

Originally posted by KianD:
It was permissions. Dunno how or why they got bad permissions, they were all rwxrwxrwx on BeOS, and I took them over by FTP

Well, if you used finder for FTP, that was probably your problem. When it comes to FTP... Finder just plain sucks, no excuses.

Good to hear you fixed the problem though.

banninated68 · Dec 26, 2004, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
stupid AND off-topic is a whole 'nother level, kid.

Wow, it sure puts me down when you call me kid! You really showed me who's the 'man', and by man I mean the 'mayon mayon mayon'! The way you subtly showed me who was who and declared your superiority sure put me in my place!

SafariX · Dec 26, 2004, 01:13 AM

Originally posted by banninated68:
Wow, it sure puts me down when you call me kid! You really showed me who's the 'man', and by man I mean the 'mayon mayon mayon'! The way you subtly showed me who was who and declared your superiority sure put me in my place!

look here, slick...you have to respect your olders, ok junior? Just remember this, and youll be fine from here on out sport.

banninated68 · Dec 26, 2004, 01:14 AM

Originally posted by SafariX:
look here, slick...you have to respect your olders, ok junior? Just remember this, and youll be fine from here on out sport.

Considering I was at macnn before Spheric..... and he's undoubtedly older than me.... which way does one take this advice?

- Ca$h

SafariX · Dec 26, 2004, 01:15 AM

Originally posted by banninated68:
Considering I was at macnn before Spheric..... and he's undoubtedly older than me.... which way does one take this advice?

- Ca$h

anally?

Spheric Harlot · Dec 26, 2004, 05:56 AM

Randman · Dec 26, 2004, 06:07 AM

Anyway, there's quite a few freeware apps that will let you edit ID3 tags pretty easily. Give versiontracker or macupdate a quick look-over.

broxy5 · Jul 12, 2005, 12:39 PM

I'm reviving this thread cuz I'm having the same problem with itunes changing stuff around on me. I want to sort my library and clean it up. What is the version 2.3 and 2.4 thing in the ID3? Which do I convert it too?

Also, when I try to play by genre, it may play two or three songs if I am lucky, then stop. I've got it set to repeat and shuffle, and it used to work, but I just went to Tiger, and now it's goofy.