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[RedJ]

I have a bunch of WMAs from online stores that use that format, as well as a period when I was ripping to that format (different topic).  In the Windows OS, MP3s display tag information such as BPM but WMAs do not.  Given that WMAs are a Microsoft format, this is a bit surprising to me.  All my WMAs are DRM free, so they are writable.

Does MC write this information to WMAs?  Can WMAs store this information in their tag?  Is there a list of tags that are and aren't embedded to WMAs by MC?  It's really nice, BTW, that MC ratings are now visible to the OS. 

I really don't want to convert all my WMAs to MP3 as the solution to this.  Aside from the fidelity problems of converting one compressed format to another, it would be nicer to leave sleeping dogs lay.

[JimH]

I don't think that MC writes to the tags when the file is protected by DRM, as those files are.

It does store tag information in the MC library.

[RedJ]

Jim,

Thank you for a reply, but all my WMAs are DRM free, so they are completely writable (I can change some of their tags inside of MC and the rest outside of MC).  I have actually even been able to change the tags of protected WMAs through Windows Explorer. 

I think what's happening is that MC is storing some tags (such as BPM) differently than the way Windows reads them.  If MC would write the tags redundantly to its location and to the Windows-specific locations, I think the problem would probably be resolved.

[JimH]

I have a bunch of WMAs from online stores that use that format ...

All the WMA online stores I know about also use WM DRM.

[RedJ]

Most of my WMAs are ripped from CDs.  I don't know what else to say other than I assure you that I actually do have a large number of DRM-free WMAs.   

My observation is that WMAs have some tags visible to the Windows OS (such as BPM) that MC doesn't put where Windows is looking for it.  Other tags in the same WMAs are written to by MC in a way that the OS sees (such as Name, Artist, and now Rating).  I'm suggesting/requesting that MC write those tags in the Windows standard location (which may mean writing some tags to multiple locations in order to not break current MC functionality.)

BTW, I am able to change tags on protected WMAs as well.  I just did a simple test:
1) In MC, did a search for a protected WMA.
2) Located the same WMA in explorer and compared tags to ensure they matched.
3) Changed the Genre and Rating inside MC
4) Changes from MC were immediately reflected in the explorer view.

[KingSparta]

I actually do have a large number of DRM-free WMAs

.


Question: If You Had A WMA File, How Can You Tell If It Is DRM Free?

If i remember correctly Once upon a time if you ripped a file to wma and you did not go to the settings menu, Windows media player always made it a protected wma.

I Just Checked The Option Now Is Called [X] Copy Protect Music.

[Alex B]

MC writes BPM to a JR/BPM field. WMP writes BPM to a WM/BeatsPerMinute field
Also the disc number is stored differently: WM/PartOfSet vs. JR/Disc#

Here's a tag dump:

Audio Codec: Windows Media Audio 9
Format: 192 kbps, 44 kHz, stereo 2-pass VBR
Protected: No
Seekable: Yes
Trusted: No

WMA Tag dump:
    Signature_Name:
    Title: Contrapuntus 1
    Author: Grigory Sokolov
    Description: CD1
    WMFSDKVersion: 9.00.00.2980
    WMFSDKNeeded: 0.0.0.0000
    WM/Year: 2000
    WM/ToolName: Media Center
    WM/ToolVersion: 12.0.439
    WM/AlbumTitle: J.S. Bach - Die Kunst der Fuge
    WM/Genre: Classical
    WM/TrackNumber: 1
    WM/PartOfSet: 1
    WM/BeatsPerMinute: 111
    WM/Composer: J. S. Bach
    WM/AlbumArtist: Grigory Sokolov
    JR/Disc#: 1
    JR/Date: 36526
    JR/PeakLevel: 0,5525500178337097
    JR/BPM: 111
    JR/ReplayGain: -3,1770401000976562
    JR/Intensity: 1
    JR/Encoder: WMA9,VBR192
    Duration: 1871330000
    Bitrate: 195535
    Seekable: Yes
    Stridable: No
    Broadcast: No
    Is_Protected: No
    Is_Trusted: No
    HasAudio: Yes
    HasImage: No
    HasScript: No
    HasVideo: No
    CurrentBitrate: 191345
    OptimalBitrate: 191345
    HasAttachedImages: No
    Can_Skip_Backward: No
    Can_Skip_Forward: No
    FileSize: 4495541
    HasArbitraryDataStream: No
    HasFileTransferStream: No
    WM/ContainerFormat: 1
    IsVBR: Yes
    ASFLeakyBucketPairs: <unknown data>

I'd suggest changing both tags to use the WMP standard.

[JimH]

Question: If You Had A WMA File, How Can You Tell If It Is DRM Free?

MC shows it in the tag.  Protection Type.

[KingSparta]

Ok, I Found It

I Have Two Yahoo Music Files

Protection Type: Subscription

Or

Protection Type: Purchased

Edit: Both Have The WMA Tag "Is_Protected: Yes"

[Alex B]

Also the tag dump can show if a WMA file is protected. The Is_Protected field value can be yes or no.

Here's how the tag dump can be accessed in MC12:

[PC_Hound23]

a useful tool for converting wma to mps is altoMP3 gold. Comes in a trail version that will convert 3 tracks at a time, or piad up to convert as many as you throw at it. I've used it once or twice and the quality seems to remain OK

[Alex B]

a useful tool for converting wma to mps is altoMP3 gold. Comes in a trail version that will convert 3 tracks at a time, or piad up to convert as many as you throw at it. I've used it once or twice and the quality seems to remain OK

MC can convert WMA files to MP3. However, that is not the topic here.