Does Traktor 3 remove my tags from m4a files?

KellerNET
KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
edited October 22 in Traktor Software & Hardware

For a while now, I've abandoned working with FLAC and after finding a codec that converts from FLAC to m4a very well, I opted for this option. However, after adding all the tags to the files using 'Jaikoz' and loading them into Traktor 3, it erases all the tags. I've tried MP3Tag and AIMP, but the same thing happens. Is the m4a format not 100% compatible with Traktor? I'm considering using alternative software to Traktor since there are many files involved. I've liked Traktor since day one when it was released, and I want to keep using it, but this is becoming a problem.

Thank you.

Best Answers

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    Answer ✓

    Hello again. After some time, I now know what's happening with the m4a files. Setting iTunes aside, since it uses its own system and I'm not interested in that, the problem arises when Traktor Pro 3 writes the hot cues to the file. It does this correctly, but it deletes the metadata. When rewriting the metadata, since Traktor no longer needs to write to the file, it doesn't delete anything. However, if you change a hot cue, it will delete all the metadata again.

    Demo Quality.

    Flac 16bits 44.100hz Size: 26MB

    image.png

    M4A "AAC" CBR 320kbps 44.100hz Size: 8,90MB

    image.png

    MP3 CBR 320Kbps 44.100hz Size: 8,85MB

    image.png

    I use m4a because it maintains the quality of FLAC more or less without losing as much as MP3.
    Attached are some examples.

    Regards and thanks.

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,589 Expert
    edited June 5 Answer ✓

    No, I don't speak spanish.

    I can reproduce the bug now. I had to active [x] Only write custom Traktor tags. With [x] Write all tags to files it work.

Answers

  • just_jump
    just_jump Member Posts: 77 Helper

    I don’t think I’ve had any issue loading a few iTunes purchased m4a files. They seem to bring in what meta they have but don’t have some things like the label and maybe genre as I recall. I’ve also used Musicbrainz Picard for updating meta before importing into Traktor and that also works well. Worth noting that VLC videolan would appear to update meta but not write to files so I gave up on it but could be relevant to your issue maybe.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member

    Hello, thank you for your comment.

    The files play fine; the issue is focused on the deletion of certain metadata. After rewriting the metadata in the m4a file and reloading it into Traktor, it no longer deletes them, but the first time, it seems to erase the metadata.

    It appears to be an issue of compatibility between Traktor and m4a metadata. I'm mentioning this so that a solution can be found, as m4a is better than mp3 and full compatibility would be desirable. Traktor handles playback and hotcue saving well, but it shouldn't delete the metadata.

    Best regards and thank you.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    Answer ✓

    Hello again. After some time, I now know what's happening with the m4a files. Setting iTunes aside, since it uses its own system and I'm not interested in that, the problem arises when Traktor Pro 3 writes the hot cues to the file. It does this correctly, but it deletes the metadata. When rewriting the metadata, since Traktor no longer needs to write to the file, it doesn't delete anything. However, if you change a hot cue, it will delete all the metadata again.

    Demo Quality.

    Flac 16bits 44.100hz Size: 26MB

    image.png

    M4A "AAC" CBR 320kbps 44.100hz Size: 8,90MB

    image.png

    MP3 CBR 320Kbps 44.100hz Size: 8,85MB

    image.png

    I use m4a because it maintains the quality of FLAC more or less without losing as much as MP3.
    Attached are some examples.

    Regards and thanks.

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,832 mod

    There is a setting in preferences (analyze options) where you can select metadata saving options.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/157551#Comment_157551

    Hello, yes, I know, I have been using Traktor since its first versions.
    I am not looking for options or anything like that, I know what is happening and it only occurs with "M4A" files, so I am seeking a solution through programming code. It's not an issue with options or anything similar.
    Regards and thanks.

    image.png

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,832 mod

    'Do not write any tags to files' doesn't work for you?

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member

    Hello. No, it's not about avoiding the problem, but about having Native resolve it.
    Traktor has a wonderful feature, which is recording Hot-Cues in the track.

    I have noticed that the deletion of metadata with M4A occurs when scanning the track with Traktor and also when marking the Hot-Cues.

    If Native needs a sample track, I would be happy to provide a trimmed file with example metadata for them to conduct their tests.

    Regards and thanks.

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,589 Expert
    edited June 3

    Can you shoot me an example file? Or is it any tags? Even like title and artist?

    Edit: I just tried it. What I could reproduce is that "Remove from collection + remove traktor tags" will remove more than just the traktor tags. That seems weird. Does not happen with flac files.

    But I can analyze, load and set cue points.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    edited June 3

    Yes Lord-carlos, here I am sending you a piece of a track, I have included the original metadata from the track it belongs to.

    I am attaching photos from various metadata editing programs.
    Load the track in Traktor, analyze it, and then open it with mp3tag.
    In Traktor, it doesn't lose the data; it saves it in the Traktor database.

    Best regards.

    01 - Paul van Dyk - For An Angel (PVD Angel In Heaven Radio Edit)-cut.zip
    image.png
    image.png
    image.png

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    edited June 3
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/157707#Comment_157707

    Do you speak Spanish? I ask because you use the Spanish variant of the nick name Carlos.

    What gets lost are the metadata such as title, artist, album, etc. The Traktor data like "hot-cue" does not.
    I sent you screenshots in the previous post so you can see how it is originally.

    Regards.

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,589 Expert
    edited June 5 Answer ✓

    No, I don't speak spanish.

    I can reproduce the bug now. I had to active [x] Only write custom Traktor tags. With [x] Write all tags to files it work.

  • Sûlherokhh
    Sûlherokhh Member, Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,832 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/158049#Comment_158049

    Man, that is good to know. NI should know this as well.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/158049#Comment_158049

    Hello, thank you, I will try it.
    Even so, I think Native should review this and fix it.
    Thank you very much for everything, everyone.

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,589 Expert

    I think Native should review this and fix it.

    HA! NI fixing traktor bugs :))) I like your kind of humor.

  • KellerNET
    KellerNET Member Posts: 9 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/158069#Comment_158069

    hahaha xD
    You have to have hope. xD
    I was thinking of presenting them with a "GUI" interface design with the idea of contributing an improvement for Traktor 4, but with the level of neglect it has, I would be working for nothing, and I got demotivated.

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