This tutorial will explain how to “tag” audio files in Windows (ie. add or edit the metadata like song name, album name, track number etc)
Note: if you’re looking for instructions on how to do this in macOS, this is the tutorial for you.
Using Mp3tag you can edit the metadata for SO MANY different audio formats. If your file is an .aac, .alac, .aif, .aifc, .aiff, .dsf, .flac, .mka, .mkv, .ape, .mp3, .mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .m4v, .mpc, .ogg, .opus, .ofr, .ofs, .spx, tak, tta, .wma, .wv, .wav or .webm – you’re in luck – Mp3tag can edit it. Here’s how –
- Start out by heading over to the Mp3tag download page and click the mp3tagvXXXsetup.exe link (where XXX is the current version number). Once the download has completed, run the setup file to install Mp3tag and click “Next” until you’re done.
- Launch Mp3tag once the installation has finished.
- Welcome to the main interface of Mp3tag. If it seems a bit intimidating, don’t fret. It’s actually quite easy to use.
- To tag your audio files, first they need to be loaded into Mp3tag. Click File and select Add Directory…
- Navigate to a/the directory that contains the files you want to tag. Select it by clicking on it once, then click the Select Folder button.
- This will load all of the audio files in that directory into Mp3tag and they’ll be listed in the ‘main section’ of Mp3tag.
- Select all of the files by clicking on the first one in the list, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and then click the last file in the list.
- Now locate the button from the toolbar that looks like a globe with an arrow ‘around’ it. Hover your cursor over the each button if you’re unable to visually identify the button – the button is titled freedb (Quick) (see screenshot below). Click that button. If you’re very lucky, Mp3tag will identify the files for you and tag them accordingly. If that’s the case, skip down to step #12.
- If the freedb (Quick) button didn’t automatically identify your files, you can also try using the button next to it. It looks like a globe with an arrow ‘through’ it. Try selecting Amazon.com first. Again, if the files are correctly tagged, proceed to step #12.
- So the ‘automated’ method didn’t work for you. No big deal. With all of the files still selected, fill out the sections in the left column that apply to all of your files.
For example, all of the files on an album or files that make up a live recording are going to share some of the same tags. They include Artist, Album, Year, Genre and Album Artist.
- To add album art/cover art – locate the image you want to use and ‘drag and drop’ it onto the Album Artwork section.
- Once you’ve made the changes that apply to all of the files selected, click the Save button from the Toolbar.
- Mp3tag will now apply the tags to your files.
- Once the process has completed, a ‘pop-up’ window will notify you. Click OK.
- Now it’s time to edit each file individually with the information that’s specific to it. Select the first file from the main list on the right side of Mp3tag. Enter the Title of the song/track, the Track number etc.
- After you’ve added the information, click the Save button again. You’ll need to do this every time for each and every file.
- Once you’re done tagging all of your files, open one in your favorite player. You’ll see that it now has all of the appropriate information and cover art.
