Help Metadata in m4a files

RFL · May 27, 2015

It all worked fine, but from some time now, the new m4a files are still recognized by the music players (Samsung stock player and Play Music), but the artist is always <Unknown> and the title is the filename. I downloaded several tag programs on desktop and some apps as well and the ONLY one that worked for the stock player was id3 Tag fixer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yschi.ID3Fixer&hl=en), but it doesn't correct the album art and, after sometime, it goes back to the wrong tag.
I tried to check for tag/metadata version on desktop, but when the file is m4a, it only shows"MP4", without any version information. Could someone help me on this matter? It is driving me crazy!

Samsung Galaxy S5
Lollipop

mikedt · May 29, 2015

M4A, that frequently means you've had Apple iTunes :eek:

involved in the library? It has been a known issue between iTunes tagged M4A, and I think Samsung showing "Unknown artist" or "Unknown album". Try another player that isn't Samsung or Google Music, e.g. Rocket

EarlyMon · May 30, 2015

Id3 tags were designed for mp3 files.

You need a more sophisticated editor - the app you linked doesn't claim m4a container support.

Maybe try -

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

I agree on using a better player like Rocket.

M4a files tend to contain AAC streams - the same audio codec standardized for most Android hd recorders due to its superiority to mp3 - and because it's an open standard without mp3 licensing fees.

Yes, they were first popularized by Apple, but neither Apple nor iTunes is the culprit. Most products recognize m4a files.

The problem is that tags aren't written in the same way as the ancient mp3 format.

mikedt · May 30, 2015

EarlyMon said:
Id3 tags were designed for mp3 files.

You need a more sophisticated editor - the app you linked doesn't claim m4a container support.

Maybe try -

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

I agree on using a better player like Rocket.

M4a files tend to contain AAC streams - the same audio codec standardized for most Android hd recorders due to its superiority to mp3 - and because it's an open standard without mp3 licensing fees.

Yes, they were first popularized by Apple, but neither Apple nor iTunes is the culprit. Most products recognize m4a files.

The problem is that tags aren't written in the same way as the ancient mp3 format.

Mind you the fact there's M4a, usually means they started life at sometime with iTunes, either bought from the iTunes Store or ripped from CDs with it....or bought from AllOfMP3 in Russia... guilty!

And I remember some posts a few of years ago about "unknown" with M4a and Samsung devices, there's one here...
http://androidforums.com/threads/android-wont-read-artist-tags-on-mp4-files.525288/#post-4162237

EarlyMon · May 30, 2015

OK, so if ripped using iTunes into an m4a then it's either an AAC or ALAC (Apple lossless).

Either way, it's a superior codec and a better container.

The Samsung player has some nice features but it's not exactly ever been up to date or the best.

Btw - in addition to ripping your own and the iTunes Store, you can buy m4a music from -

http://www.amoeba.com/music/downloads/#/

https://magnatune.com/

As well as other places and never go near iTunes.

You get iTunes up every time someone mentions AAC or m4a - but both are fully supported by stock Android, so, I don't see the point tbh.

RFL · May 31, 2015

mikedt said:
M4A, that frequently means you've had Apple iTunes involved in the library? It has been a known issue between iTunes tagged M4A, and I think Samsung showing "Unknown artist" or "Unknown album". Try another player that isn't Samsung or Google Music, e.g. Rocket

Thanks, the Rocket Player seems to work fine. I'll try it out and see if it fulfills my needs.
Yes, my music is originally bought from iTunes and my biggest problem is that the old m4a files work just fine and the new ones (from March or so) doesn't show the tags correctly.

EarlyMon said:
Id3 tags were designed for mp3 files.

You need a more sophisticated editor - the app you linked doesn't claim m4a container support.

Maybe try -

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

I agree on using a better player like Rocket.

I just said it worked for me, but later the tag is back on what it was. I checked mp3tag and it is even installed on my computer, so I have used it and it didn't work.

mikedt said:
Mind you the fact there's M4a, usually means they started life at sometime with iTunes, either bought from the iTunes Store or ripped from CDs with it....or bought from AllOfMP3 in Russia... guilty!

And I remember some posts a few of years ago about "unknown" with M4a and Samsung devices, there's one here...
http://androidforums.com/threads/android-wont-read-artist-tags-on-mp4-files.525288/#post-4162237

I already read a dozen posts all over the internet, but so far I couldn't solve the problem for the stock player or Play Music. That's why I started a thread, to see if anyone had any other suggestions.
I saw some posts indicating I should remove all tags related to iTunes from my file. I did that already, using something similar to mp3tag (I don't really remember which editor I used) and it also didn't work.

Razzvan · Sep 7, 2015

Did you solve this problem? Cause it's driving me crazy. Exactly the same, the old m4a files work just fine and the new ones just doesn't. I couldn't find anywhere a solution.

Help Metadata in m4a files

RFL

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mikedt

你好

EarlyMon

The PearlyMon

mikedt

你好

EarlyMon

The PearlyMon

RFL

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Razzvan

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