Transcoding FLAC files replaces original metadata with an old project, can't remove old tags

Report · Nov 06, 2022

THe native flac handling has gotten much better, but for the last few versions I've noticed if i take a flac file and alter it (usually just downsampling from 24/96 to 16/44.1 - the embedded metadata gets replaced by some lingering old metadata i did well almost 2 years ago (song name, artist, year, etc... )

How do I reset or delete this? Where's it stored and why is it not keeping the original metadata in the first place?

Thanks.

Report · Nov 07, 2022

Not sure why it's doing that, but FLAC is essentially an 'external' codec, and it might have something to do with version changes over time. The only place you can alter metadata in Audition is Window>metadata, but how exactly this works with FLAC isn't entirely straightforward. Whatever is stored appears to be accessible under XMP, and it's an integral part of the file structure. But be aware that FLAC encoding/decoding is included in libsndfile, and that is externally maintained. You might need to talk to libsndfile directly for more information about this. A good starting point is here - I believe he's quite friendly!

Report · Mar 09, 2024

I too have the problem that while saving any file as FLAC some old weired meta data is written into the meta tags.
How is it that any small, free converting/tagging tool is perfectly capable of reading and saving mp3 as well as FLAC meta data and saving it correctly into a new converted file, but Audition is not and the only explanation of why it's completely messed up is, that it's not in the control of Audition, but any external codec?! This argumentation does not make any sense!

Report · Mar 10, 2024

Well maybe not to you...

Report · Mar 10, 2024

I see. So why can simple tools save FLAC with meta tags, but Audition can't and some old weired meta tags end up in the saved flac files? When it's due to some external codec, then this should effect any other tool too. But it only is an issue with Audition..

Report · Mar 10, 2024

To me this seems to be a super old bug which is not getting fixed by Adobe over the last ~5 versions...

Report · Mar 10, 2024

When it's due to some external codec, then this should effect any other tool too.

By @Bernhard5EE1

This is, of course, a non sequitur. You have assumed that all other tools use the same encoder, and they don't.

Report · Mar 10, 2024

Well, then the question and possible solution still remains the same: Why does it work with any other tagging tool I have, but Audition. What's the difference and why can't use Audition the codec other tools use in order to get rif of this issue?
The fact is, that any file being saved with Audition in FLAC has corrupted meta information, while other tools don't have that problem. So there should be a reason for that and a possible solution - other than blaming some external codec as far as Adobe is concerened..

Report · Mar 11, 2024

So, actually I don't think it is related with the FLAC Encoder at all, or all, but AUDITON ONLY causing this problem!
I opened a WAV-file I created in Audition (version 2024!) in Audacity. When opening the meta data edito in Audacity the wrong, old meta data is being shown there already - without any export into a FLAC file!
So the wrong meta data is already present in the WAV file Audition created!
In Audition I could not find the same meta data being shown anywhere though!
I therefore still think the problem is 100% Audition - in all versions since at least 2022!

Report · Mar 11, 2024

So, I found the issue for me:
Since I don't use either markers or meta data in Audition, I did not check the check-box "include markers and meta data" during saving/export forms. (since I did not want Audition to write wrong meta data into the files...) But obviously exactly that is causing to write some old, left over meta data into the files - and not just the FLAC files, but also the WAV files!

When activate that check box to include markers and meta data, the meta data saved in WAV and FLAC files are empty.

Report · Mar 11, 2024

However I still don't know HOW to edit meta data in an Audition WAV file in a way that it is saved correctly in a FLAC export. If anyone could explain that to me, I'd appreciate the help.

Report · Mar 11, 2024

In the hope that the developers will see this, I've converted the thread into a bug thread, as your latest revelation points the finger rather better...