Metadata not being written to MP3s in batch encoder with FLAC source. Works in 6.42.

[dbv_]

-Install Reaper 6.59
-Open Batch Converter
-Use MP3 output format (other output formats seem to still work fine)
-Check "Preserve if possible: Metadata" (older versions called this "Preserve Original file metadata...")
-Add a FLAC file with metadata
-Convert
-Resulting MP3 doesn't have any metadata


-To compare, install Reaper 6.42 *
-Repeat steps above
-Resulting MP3 _DOES_ have metadata **


* I have only tested versions 6.42 and 6.59 (because I didn't get a chance to upgrade between those two releases). I have tested both versions on two different computers, one running Windows 10 Pro, the other running Windows 7 Pro. I have upgraded and downgraded Reaper on both computers to confirm. The changelog shows lots of changes made to the Batch Converter in version 6.50, so perhaps the bug was introduced then?

** In version 6.59, metadata preservation works when using an MP3 as the source, and it works when using non-MP3 output formats. I haven't tried every combination of source type and output format, but my testing seems to confirm the bug in FLAC source converting to MP3.

By the way, I LOVE the multi-threaded batch conversion in the newer version! Thank You!

[schwa]

This behavior probably depends on the specific type of metadata in the FLAC source. Could you share an example FLAC file that demonstrates the issue?

[schwa]

... OK, I think I see the issue. The explanation is somewhat technical. I believe the original FLAC metadata is being embedded, but not necessarily in a format that other applications will be able to read.

For example if the FLAC file contains a vorbis tag (the standard FLAC metadata scheme) for "title", and you open the converted mp3 in REAPER and look at the media source properties, you will see the title metadata, but not as an ID3 tag (the standard mp3 metadata scheme).

We should be able to improve this behavior. REAPER 6.60 is already in release candidate form so this change will probably be in 6.61.

[dbv_]

Thank you for your reply and for looking into it!

Your explanation makes sense as I understand there are different metadata schemas and different storage methods in different file formats. It must get messy trying to map every possible field back and forth across formats.

I was offline between your two responses.. Should I still upload a FLAC example?

I attached a txt file that shows the metadata output differences between v6.59 and v6.42 for two different FLAC source files. v6.42 outputs a lot more metadata from the same source file. The metadata listed comes from Reaper's File Properties since other players like VLC don't show nearly as much metadata detail. I should have included this in my initial post, sorry.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help troubleshoot.

Thanks!