» Welcome Guest
[ Log In :: Register ]

 

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]
Topic: 2 of 3 Headers make FhG look like Xing, Possible bug in all versions i've used.< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
Swan
Unregistered
Posted: Oct. 18 2006,07:34
When the “copyright” & “original” headers are set to "yes" my FhG (Fraunhofer) file appears as a Xing file. Changing them back to “no” apparently corrects the issue. The “private” header does not seem to have any influence. This only seems to affect my FhG files. LAME 3.93 files seem unaffected (not that I plan on keeping them for very long now that I can seek & replace).

What's the reasoning? Is this intentional? Is this adversely affecting my files in any way? Does this situation have the potential to be maliciously destructive or just annoying and reversible? Please also answer all of the other questions I haven't thought of yet, if possible. =)

More details here:
http://www.bitattack.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45
Back to top
Magnus Brading
Almighty Author



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 2751
Joined: Aug. 2002
Posted: Oct. 20 2006,12:52
The most likely reason that your other program identifies your files as Xing is that Mp3/Tag Studio uses Xing VBR headers when performing VBR repairs. Your manipulation of the flags in this header is then apparently fooling your other identification program. It might not be completely safe/recommended to do that though, since the VBR header might then not be recognized/used by some players.

--------------
Software author and website owner
Back to top
Profile PM WEB 
Swan
Unregistered
Posted: Nov. 17 2006,04:53
So are you saying this will not adversely affect my files in any way and that all should be fine so long as I leave (or return) all three settings to “No”?

I have not made any sort of “repairs” to my files (and my files are all CBR), just standard naming and PCDJ BPM info (PCDJ Comments are an issue but that’s a different story). I just happened to stumble across this flag anomaly in my quest to find a way to know what encoders were used to make my MP3 files (and apparently I have already been lied to once by a company that stated they used a specific encoder which they didn’t). So far I have tried Mr QuestionMan, Audio Identifier and Tag&Rename and all give the same results. I’m not sure I could ever be clear about the specifics of how this identification process works but I’d hate for someone to be able to abuse this by saying a file is what it is not. I hope my find may be of some positive and helpful use to you in the future.

BTW, just curious, what are the “private”, “copyright” & “original” flags of use for other than displaying the info in Mp3/Tag Studio itself? I guess I just got a little too anal by setting all of these as yes. Can you blame me for wanting the perfect home made MP3 collection? I still think this is probably the best tagging program yet. Props!
Back to top
Magnus Brading
Almighty Author



Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 2751
Joined: Aug. 2002
Posted: Nov. 17 2006,10:05
First of all, those flags are part of the mp3 specification, and it's not necessarily fully defined what they should/must be used for. They do not in any way affect the sound playback anyway, that's for sure (as long as the player used does not attach some special meaning of its own to them).

Regarding how the identification process works, it is often part science, part guesswork, just trying to see what small details differ in the way different encoders write their headers. That's why it's so easy for identification software to get it wrong when you've been messing with the headers yourself.

--------------
Software author and website owner
Back to top
Profile PM WEB 
3 replies since Oct. 18 2006,07:34 < Next Oldest | Next Newest >

[ Track this topic :: Email this topic :: Print this topic ]