What is metadata?

[Marco Mastrocola]

Can someone explain what metadata is? Is it embedded into music files with info about copyright ownership etc?

I have watched a seminar where a music supervisor said many composers don't know what metadata is. She didn't explain what it is just that she doesn't have time to educate composers on it when they send her their music.

[pk.roberts]

Essentially it's just a term meaning information about content, usually embedded (as in a digital file). It can contain a variety of information, depending on the media and requirements (and sometimes on the diligence of those completing it!). So title, artist, composer etc. might be typical fields along with any technical information such as sample rate etc.
An analogy I used to use was to compare it to the label on a vinyl record.

[Moroccomoose]

Metadata is information contained in the background of a computer file that does not form part of the publication. E.G. In Microsoft Office, it is the stuff you see on the File page where it tells you who the author was, when it was created, who modified it last etc is all metadata. Likewise in a music file, you can append similar data like artist name, track name, album name, genre etc.

There are a bunch of default fields, depending on the file type, but with the correct editor, you can add your own.

[Marco Mastrocola]

Essentially it's just a term meaning information about content, usually embedded (as in a digital file). It can contain a variety of information, depending on the media and requirements (and sometimes on the diligence of those completing it!). So title, artist, composer etc. might be typical fields along with any technical information such as sample rate etc.
An analogy I used to use was to compare it to the label on a vinyl record.

How is the metadata added to the file? I have noticed on my mac I can see the sample rate etc if I press CMD+I, can additional information be added? In the context of music publishing what additional information should be added and how can it be added? It will be useful to add contact details and performer details, what else should be added?

[Marco Mastrocola]

Metadata is information contained in the background of a computer file that does not form part of the publication. E.G. In Microsoft Office, it is the stuff you see on the File page where it tells you who the author was, when it was created, who modified it last etc is all metadata. Likewise in a music file, you can append similar data like artist name, track name, album name, genre etc.

There are a bunch of default fields, depending on the file type, but with the correct editor, you can add your own.

What software available for macOS can do this, and can it do it on a batch of files?

Thanks

[rockydennis]

What software available for macOS can do this, and can it do it on a batch of files?

Thanks

I use kid3 which is available across all platforms. I'm happy with it.
https://kid3.kde.org

[Moroccomoose]

A quick Google got me here

https://www.nightbirdsevolve.com/meta/

I'm sure there would be alternatives...if you use iTunes, you may be able to do it in there.

Sadly, I bow out here as I am not a mac user!

Stu

[Marco Mastrocola]

What software available for macOS can do this, and can it do it on a batch of files?

Thanks

I use kid3 which is available across all platforms. I'm happy with it.
https://kid3.kde.org

Thanks for this. Can it add metadata on multiple files at the same time?

[Marco Mastrocola]

A quick Google got me here

https://www.nightbirdsevolve.com/meta/

I'm sure there would be alternatives...if you use iTunes, you may be able to do it in there.

Sadly, I bow out here as I am not a mac user!

Stu

Thanks Stu.

[Eddy Deegan]

I use kid3 which is available across all platforms. I'm happy with it.
https://kid3.kde.org

Thanks for this. Can it add metadata on multiple files at the same time?

If you read the page linked above, it states that it can ...

"Edit tags of multiple files, e.g. the artist, album, year and genre of all files of an album typically have the same values and can be set together"

[rockydennis]

Thanks for this. Can it add metadata on multiple files at the same time?

Yes. I use it for Mac, and I find it very intuitive to use. And I forgot to mention - it's free.

[ken long]

"Metadata is a love letter from the past"

[CS70]

Metadata is data about data.

Probably also a love letter from the past.

[CS70]

Metadata is data about data.

Probably also a love letter from the past.

This thread is also metametadata.

[Moroccomoose]

I think this thread is metadata data

[ConcertinaChap]

I learned about metadata when working on devising metametamodels for pollution licencing ...

Data about data is the spot-on definition. For entering metadata on multiple files I use Metadatics, which is available from the App Store. It works very well once you get used to its quirks and supports entry of stuff like ISRC codes.

CC

[Forum Admin]

PreSonus Studio One DAW lets you add metadata at various points - this SOS article gives you some background:

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/meta-work

iTunes lets you enter Artist, Genre, Copyright info etc. But on *any* Mac file you can press Cmd-I (Get Info) and enter text into the Comment box, and save.

[Forum Admin]

Generic 'What Is Metadata?' overview YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WCuOjXu6Ko

[CS70]

Let’s go meta!

[wireman]

Data about data is a loose definition that has been around at least from the early 1980s, I expect that only later was there any assumption that metadata would be embedded with the data in some container (file).

[muzines]

Clearly the confusion around metadata (data about data) suggests we need to implement meta-metadata (data about the data about the data) to help clear this up...

[Drew Stephenson]

We're approaching 'Buffalo' territory here...

[CS70]

Clearly the confusion around metadata (data about data) suggests we need to implement meta-metadata (data about the data about the data) to help clear this up...

Let's introduce recursion and we're done with it! For more information about metadata, I suggest to read the informative SOS forum thread here

No stop conditions.