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[Polfliet]

I use MC 12 as my main CD ripping and library organization tool.  I also use Vista's Media Center (which uses WMP 11 for file info).  The problem:  All tag information is correct when viewed with MC, but when you import with WMP 11, 50% of tags are incorrect - mainly the "Album Artist" field - which really messes up sorting in WMP and Vista's Media Center.  I have copied "Album Artist (auto)" fields to the "Album Artist" fields, but this doesn't seem to make a difference.  Does anybody know what's going on and how to get MC's tag info properly "mapped" to WMP's fields?

Thanks!
Chuck

[Alex B]

The ID3v2 tagging standard does not have a field for a named album artist. MC uses multiline comment fields for its custom tags. The Album Artist field is one of these.

JRiver's MJ and MC have used this system long before WMP even had a reasonable tagging system.

For some reason, Microsoft decided recently start using the ID3v2 Band/Orchestra tag for a named album artist. Traditionally this tag has been used for the band's or the orchestra's name in addition of the main artist name (this is especially useful with classical orchestras).

A workaround is to use MC's "Move/Copy Fields" tool for copying the Album Artist (auto) field values to the Band field. (Naturally this overwrites any previous band/orchestra info. If you have used this field, you may want to first create an additional custom field for storing the info.)

EDIT

The previous is for MP3 files only. If you use WMA, the Album Artist tag should show up correctly inside WMP. With WMA files you need to copy the possible (Multiple Artists) values from the Album Artist (auto) field to the standard Album Artist field to make this work.

Naturally you must have the Album Artist field set to write to the file tag in the field specific options. (Tools > Options > Library & Folders > Standard Library Fields > Album Artist > Edit Field > Store in file tags)

[Polfliet]

Thank you.  I'll try this.

[Polfliet]

Is there a way to have the "Band" and "Album Artist" fields equal the "Album Artist (auto)" field?

It is the "Band" field and not the "Orchestra" field?

The ID3v2 tagging standard does not have a field for a named album artist. MC uses multiline comment fields for its custom tags. The Album Artist field is one of these.

JRiver's MJ and MC have used this system long before WMP even had a reasonable tagging system.

For some reason, Microsoft decided recently start using the ID3v2 Band/Orchestra tag for a named album artist. Traditionally this tag has been used for the band's or the orchestra's name in addition of the main artist name (this is especially useful with classical orchestras).

A workaround is to use MC's "Move/Copy Fields" tool for copying the Album Artist (auto) field values to the Band field. (Naturally this overwrites any previous band/orchestra info. If you have used this field, you may want to first create an additional custom field for storing the info.)

EDIT

The previous is for MP3 files only. If you use WMA, the Album Artist tag should show up correctly inside WMP. With WMA files you need to copy the possible (Multiple Artists) values from the Album Artist (auto) field to the standard Album Artist field to make this work.

Naturally you must have the Album Artist field set to write to the file tag in the field specific options. (Tools > Options > Library & Folders > Standard Library Fields > Album Artist > Edit Field > Store in file tags)

[Alex B]

Is there a way to have the "Band" and "Album Artist" fields equal the "Album Artist (auto)" field?

I don't think that is possible automatically.

Perhaps JRiver could add an optional "WMP album artist" compatibility mode. It should work as follows:

Replicate the Album Artist (Auto) values automatically in the Album Artist and Band fields whenever info is added inside MC. On MP3 file import replicate the possible TPE2 value in the Album Artist field.

It is the "Band" field and not the "Orchestra" field?

In MP3 files it is the ID3.v2 TPE2 Band/orchestra/accompaniment tag. MC displays the name shortly as "Band".

More info about ID3 tags: http://www.id3.org/

More info about MC's Album Artist system
http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Using_Album_Artist_and_Album_Artist_(Auto)
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=38289.msg260461#msg260461

[Polfliet]

I discovered something interesting.  I copied all "Album Artist (auto)" fields to the "Album Artist" and "Band" fields.
I then deleted all songs in WMP11's library and re-imported them by selecting "Add Files" which takes you to the "Monitoring Folders" dialog.  After all songs have been imported I still have a large percentage of files with missing "Album Artist" information.  (All files are wma or mp3 from MC.)  I then delete the WMP11 library again and try dragging the entire highlighted library from MC into WMP11 and it works (all "Album Artist" fields complete)!  Do you think WMP still holds onto it's own old library information (even though all files were removed) and uses that information instead of looking at tags?