Inconsistency between FLAC and MP3 track number tags

[afruff23]

Hi, I used the search function and could not find the answer. Try this:

In foobar2000, create entries in the TRACKNUMBER and TOTALTRACKS field in an mp3 file (make sure to put numbers in them). Now do the same for a FLAC file. For this example, let's say the values are "1" and "14" respectively (without the quotes of course).

Make sure your *.wps file displays the track number tag (%in). For the mp3 version of the file, the track number is displayed as "1/14", whereas for the FLAC file, the track number is displayed as "1".

I don't know what is the correct version (1/14 or just 1), but I'd like some consistency. Unless of course, foobar2000 is not following specifications.

[adam917]

I believe the behaviour within Rockbox is normal due to the way those files' tags are set-up. MP3s ID tag spec states that tags with total track values in them be formatted as a single string of x/y, with x being the current track & y being the total tracks in the CD in question.

FLAC & other formats that use Vorbis Comments as their tagging system allow virtually anything to be used as a field, though there has been agreement on some common fields, like 'TOTALTRACKS' for example. Perhaps Rockbox doesn't recognise that particular tag, so that also explains why it won't show up on FLACs or Vorbis files (Vorbii? ;-) ).

[afruff23]

Well if it isn't standardised, then it should not be prohibited to replicate the MP3 tag behavior for the FLAC vorbis comments on Rockbox.

[Lear]

Rockbox doesn't read any total tracks and total discs tags, so I'd prefer it to not display the "/xx" part of ID3 track number tags - which is what I have in my local builds.

Hm, maybe I should make a patch out of it...

[afruff23]

Rockbox doesn't read any total tracks and total discs tags, so I'd prefer it to not display the "/xx" part of ID3 track number tags - which is what I have in my local builds.

Hm, maybe I should make a patch out of it...

Then how does it display total tracks tags for mp3 files?

[AlexP]

Total tracks is a different field, which isn't read.  At the moment it is reading the total tracks from the track number field as it is e.g. 1/14.  Of course, it isn't reading total tracks per se, it is just displaying track number as 1/14.  Lear is saying that tracknumber shouldn't be displayed as 1/14 - rockbox should ignore / and anything after it, and therefore just display 1 for track number.

[afruff23]

Well sure. I am also just saying it needs to be consistent. Either display the "x/y" for all formats or just "x". It comes down to preference which one you would prefer.

EDIT: Is there any way to view metadata tags of music files in the state they actually are (unparsed)? Foobar2000 shows the mp3 fields TOTALTRACKS and TRACKNUMBER rather than showing just TRACKNUMBER as "x/y".

[AlexP]

Well sure. I am also just saying it needs to be consistent. Either display the "x/y" for all formats or just "x". It comes down to preference which one you would prefer.

And this is exactly what Lear said he had done personally and was thinking f preparing a patch for - remove the /y from e.g. MP3 and just display x for all formats.

[adam917]

Well sure. I am also just saying it needs to be consistent. Either display the "x/y" for all formats or just "x". It comes down to preference which one you would prefer.

EDIT: Is there any way to view metadata tags of music files in the state they actually are (unparsed)? Foobar2000 shows the mp3 fields TOTALTRACKS and TRACKNUMBER rather than showing just TRACKNUMBER as "x/y".

Well Foobar2000 uses TOTALTRACKS but the actual stored values it uses for MP3 is X/Y in one field (it just uses the Y value for TOTALTRACKS & X for TRACKNUMBER). Try doing it manually & you'll see what I mean. Newer formats like Vorbis & FLAC have their own fields for the total number of tracks, like TOTALTRACKS. MP3 doesn't have a separate field for it so the standard way has been to put it in the field track numbers go in along with a slash.