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Topic: TAGS.ZIP - A really, REALLY crude way to add metadata to audio files. (Read 633 times) previous topic - next topic
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TAGS.ZIP - A really, REALLY crude way to add metadata to audio files.

So I done the crude idea to add metadata to one example sound that I've made in FL Studio (it's a blurred 15 Hz sine wave). :D
It's called TAGS.ZIP, and you can do it too using 3 pieces of software:
Notepad for writing the metadata,
WinRAR or any software for putting the metadata file in a ZIP file,
And the command prompt for stitching the WAV and the compressed metadata.

Advantages:
* It's compatible with ANY AUDIO FORMAT! MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, CAF, TAK, and even formats like RF64, VQF and HALAC. Every audio format is supported by TAGS.ZIP, even formats that don't support metadata natively!
* It's plain text, INI-like, so it's human readable.
* You can use compression inside the ZIP file where the metadata is stored, but it makes less human readable.

Disadvantages:
* Not official by any software,
* No software that directly reads and creates metadata (you can play in any player, but it won't show the metadata. WinRAR and compression software can read the archive inside of it and you can view the metadata),
* It's a crude way. Official methods are better and support a wide variety of software.

Semi-limits:
* TAGS.ZIP is the recommended file name for the ZIP file, but you can use any name.
* METADATA is the recommended file name for the metadata file, but you can use any name.

My metadata file looks like this:
Quote
#METADATA
Title=Test Sound
Artist=Mihai Popa
FileFormat=Microsoft WAV
Format=PCM 32-bit float at 48 kHz, stereo
Example=This file is used for testing
Author=Mihai Popa
Album=Test Files
#END OF METADATA

Inside the attached ZIP file, you can find 4 files:
* The original sound
* The processed file
* TAGS.ZIP with the metadata inside.
And the direct metadata file.

Re: TAGS.ZIP - A really, REALLY crude way to add metadata to audio files.

Reply #1 –
Wow, this is actually a really clever workaround!

Using TAGS.ZIP to attach human-readable metadata to any audio format — even the ones that don’t support native tagging — is pretty genius. The fact that you can just stitch it on with copy /b and still have the file play normally is what makes it so practical.

I especially like how the metadata is:

Plain text and easy to edit

Compressed or uncompressed as needed

Format-agnostic, so it’s not locked into MP3 ID3 or FLAC/Vorbis comments

Sure, it’s a bit crude and not officially supported, but for testing, archiving, or even sharing production stems with context, this is super useful. Kinda like a poor man’s BWF (Broadcast WAV Format) with full customization.

Only downside is no media player will show the tags — but that’s the tradeoff. Maybe someone could write a little script or tool that reads these stitched files and extracts or displays the metadata?

Props for thinking outside the box, Mihai. 🔥
 

Re: TAGS.ZIP - A really, REALLY crude way to add metadata to audio files.

Reply #2 –
Wait until you find out what CUE files are.
TAPE LOADING ERROR