My test APE files were bit-for-bit identical before and after the test. The change happened only in the database.
Same for me. Using .374. Rebooted a couple of time just to make sure. When I add coverart to files, they are not saved in the file, only in the database.
The way that I noticed is that when MC was imbedding the cover art in the files before this problem arose, there would be a "Saving Tags to files" message that would be displayed for a few seconds as the art would be saved withing the files. Now, when I try to imbed the cover art, the save is instantaneous, so I'm assuming it's going to the database only, not the files themselves. The Action Window report that the coverart is not imbedded, it point to a link.
Also, Windows Explorer does not show any coverart while it still does for files I tagged a while back.
Another clue: If I check previously tagged files with embeded cover art, the Action Window does report that it is Inside The File.
Maybe this another potential clue? I also noticed that if I was tagging MP3s that only had IDV1 tags to start, MC would not pick them up and use them for Name, Artist, Album, etc... The fields are left empty (Except for Name which uses the filename when there is no value for Name). Yet Windows Explorer would use those IDV1 tags and display them. If I did not tag anything but just let MC play the tunes, I noticed that one by one The IDV1 tags would be erased in Windows Explorer as soon as the song was finished. I have set up ALL of my tags to save in the files, even the play count, which is why MC does a write to the files as they are played. But in the process, it also erased all of the IDV1 tags that were there before. (If this is not related Matt, feel free to spawn it to another thread.)
...Michel.