Feature Request: EMBY Meta Tags Embed to OS File Logical Level

[davidawarner 12]

Feature Request

Support, 

Many EMBY users have reported the need in Reddit, Emby Community and other various forums having the ability to tag / embed Meta data at the file level (Windows/Linux/Apple).
Having this functionality would allow us to append the meta data from EMBY database to the logical file level so meta data / tags are consistent across all media platforms. 

Attached to this feature request is a discussion with Luke and his observation level of demand. 

Please consider this request in the future for us Emby members and potential customers.

Thank You

David A. Warner

 

[rbjtech 5284]

Not 100% sure I follow.

Emby already can use or write NFO files (cross platform compatible - uses the kodi standard - there is already full integration from the likes of arr's, media managers etc) or track/metadata from the contains (MKV or MP4)

Emby also has full and open API integration with all the data (REST API).

What other information / integration is missing ?

[davidawarner 12]

4 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

Not 100% sure I follow.

Emby already can use or write NFO files (cross platform compatible - uses the kodi standard - there is already full integration from the likes of arr's, media managers etc) or track/metadata from the contains (MKV or MP4)

Emby also has full and open API integration with all the data (REST API).

What other information / integration is missing ?

Not at the file level where the meta data is written to the file. Emby writes the meta data storing the data in the database tagging the file that I noticed. So when I am using EMBY the media file is tagged, recognized, etc.  But using third party media players or looking at the Windows File level, the meta data is not present or carries over from EMBY writing to the
file. 

Please share with me these third party apps? Maybe I am missing something here? I just don't want to have to use a external APP for meta data writing.

Thank You

Dave

 

[rbjtech 5284]

41 minutes ago, davidawarner said:

Not at the file level where the meta data is written to the file. Emby writes the meta data storing the data in the database tagging the file that I noticed. So when I am using EMBY the media file is tagged, recognized, etc.  But using third party media players or looking at the Windows File level, the meta data is not present or carries over from EMBY writing to the
file. 

Please share with me these third party apps? Maybe I am missing something here? I just don't want to have to use a external APP for meta data writing.

Thank You

Dave

 

In the Emby library - there are options for NFO files.   These are read/written alongside the media files allowing the data to be portable with 3rd party apps. 

If you have used the option to write   'save artwork into media folders' (in the library options) then all associated files get stored with the media.   This may be the step you are missing to see these files ?

So in the example below - the highlighted NFO file contains all (or the majority anyway) of the information that the emby db contains.  That NFO file format is an industry standard XML type file that can be used/shared with the likes of media managers, arrs, plex, jf etc 

It also works the other way (again, set the option in the library) to READ that NFO file - ie I can add details from other apps - and emby will try and use it if it has the database field to do so.  ie tags for example. 

Edited November 25, 2024 by rbjtech

[davidawarner 12]

48 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

In the Emby library - there are options for NFO files.   These are read/written alongside the media files allowing the data to be portable with 3rd party apps. 

If you have used the option to write   'save artwork into media folders' (in the library options) then all associated files get stored with the media.   This may be the step you are missing to see these files ?

So in the example below - the highlighted NFO file contains all (or the majority anyway) of the information that the emby db contains.  That NFO file format is an industry standard XML type file that can be used/shared with the likes of media managers, arrs, plex, jf etc 

It also works the other way (again, set the option in the library) to READ that NFO file - ie I can add details from other apps - and emby will try and use it if it has the database field to do so.  ie tags for example. 

 

Would you be referring to this setting in the Library selected in RED?  

 

Not sure if I am following so please educate me. The goal is to have EMBY write inside the media file - mp3, mp4, avi, etc so that the tags
are present when viewing the description. This is one of my CDS that I encoded and have stored on my NAS. We can see ID3V1 where it is not tagged at the
file level. 

 

 

But at the EMBY level I am able to see the meta data. 

 

From what you were saying is that the .nfo data would be exported and then read into third party programs. This is the behavior I wish not to utilize but
to have EMBY itself tag the media file direct.

 

Please advise and if we need to setup a quick meeting for better understanding that would be an option.

Thank You

Dave

 

 

[user24 313]

4 hours ago, davidawarner said:

Emby writes the meta data storing the data in the database tagging the file that I noticed. So when I am using EMBY the media file is tagged, recognized, etc.  But using third party media players or looking at the Windows File level, the meta data is not present or carries over from EMBY writing to the
file. 

Please share with me these third party apps? Maybe I am missing something here? I just don't want to have to use a external APP for meta data writing.

Hi, in your post directly above, you gave a music CD example of Glenn Miller Orchestra... here are some music tips...

The most common third party apps for tagging embedded music metadata are MusicBrainz Picard and Mp3tag. There are others to choose from as well (I typically use Mp3tag). If you haven't used these for music perhaps give them a try..?

A good approach is to use one of these apps to first write all of the required metadata direct to your files (it can be somewhat automated and you can do a whole album at once, or more). Then rescan your music library, or just the relevant folder, to import the data into Emby.

Then, Emby will show most of the common metadata and it will also appear in other music management/playback apps.

Emby will import most common fields/tags -  Track Title, Track Number, Year, Composer, Album, Disc Number, Album Artist, Genre, MusicBrainz IDs...

Emby will not typically import Tag field tags into Emby Tag field unless you set it up with ROONTRACKTAG. Emby does not yet support ROONALBUMTAG.

Previously there have been other posts where people have asked to write data from Emby direct to music files, but there hasn't been a great deal of support for this, with most preferring to use MusicBrainz / Mp3tag. These programs are very powerful and can do a lot once you learn them. The only real downside is there are some fields/tags that won't directly import into Emby. The upside is that Emby will never be able to inadvertently alter your source files. Also, because Emby is reading this embedded music metadata, NFO files may not even be required for music unless you want to use them.

I know this is not exactly what you are asking for but maybe could help, for music at least? Cheers!

Edited November 25, 2024 by user24
fixing typos!!!

[davidawarner 12]

1 hour ago, user24 said:

Hi, in your post directly above, you gave a music CD example of Glenn Miller Orchestra... here are some music tips...

The most common third party apps for tagging embedded music metadata are MusicBrainz Picard and Mp3tag. There are others to choose from as well (I typically use Mp3tag). If you haven't used these for music perhaps give them a try..?

I know this is not exactly what you are asking for but maybe could help, for music at least? Cheers!

Good Afternoon RBJTech and User24, 

I have used these third party apps prior and when it comes to having hundred thousand plus files this definitely would be a work in progress and endless hours full time job. 
Was hoping that EMBY would be able to write the tags direct for MP3 / MP4 and other media files. 

Please advise and Thank You

Dave
 

[rbjtech 5284]

Can you give an example of the tags you would want written and where it would be stored in the media file ?

 

 

[davidawarner 12]

11 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

Can you give an example of the tags you would want written and where it would be stored in the media file ?

 

 

this would be my entire mp3 and mp4 catalog stored to my NAS server. 

 

[user24 313]

46 minutes ago, davidawarner said:

I have used these third party apps prior and when it comes to having hundred thousand plus files this definitely would be a work in progress and endless hours full time job. 
Was hoping that EMBY would be able to write the tags direct for MP3 / MP4 and other media files. 

Someone from Emby probably needs to answer your "write" question directly, but here are some more thoughts on music FWIW...

100k files would be circa 10k albums (i.e. just for music), so yes, I understand the issue. It IS very time consuming and sometimes painful to set this up properly. Especially if 'starting from scratch' with a large library. 

If you are sourcing/curating the metadata yourself, then I have found the Mp3tag is much faster than Emby, especially when using automated Actions for bulk editing that you can script yourself. AI can even write it for you, if you ask nicely!

If you are wanting Emby to fetch the music data from say(?) MusicBrainz, and you don't have the MusicBrainz IDs already in your files, then Emby can make 'bad' guesses as to what the correct info may be, especially with obscure artists or artists/bands having the same name. If this 'bad' data is just within the Emby database, then it is a small problem to fix. If this 'bad' data was also written to your source files, then it could become a bigger problem to fix?

Yes, if you mention what tags (not just file types) you specifically want, then someone may have a possible workaround solution? Movies and music may require two different methods???

[Happy2Play 9780]

As Luke mentioned yes it has come up before but personally believe there are other tools out there that should be used for embedding metadata like this but the canned answers of anything is possible in the future.  

But everyone wants the one stop shop but personally would only want Emby reading the already curated embedded metadata.

[davidawarner 12]

20 minutes ago, Happy2Play said:

As Luke mentioned yes it has come up before but personally believe there are other tools out there that should be used for embedding metadata like this but the canned answers of anything is possible in the future.  

But everyone wants the one stop shop but personally would only want Emby reading the already curated embedded metadata.

true, one stop shop would be idea and think about the potential for future customs and selling point of the product. 
first and furthermost, when one is starting out with any type of media, especially back in the embryonic days of mp3s/mp4 there were not that advance programs that 
tagged. - or - consideration for a growing library (until later). 

this is one of the reasons why I enjoy EMBY because of the diversity with media platforms - android, browser based, iOS, clients vs. using third party. 

Dave

[ebr 16169]

This would require us to modify your media files.  Something we currently never do.

IMO there are already adequate tools for this job.

[davidawarner 12]

2 minutes ago, ebr said:

This would require us to modify your media files.  Something we currently never do.

IMO there are already adequate tools for this job.

I can understand that from a end user / software company point of view. Could open a can of worms (use at risk) utility. 
Could be wrong but I think other media platforms Plex? has this capability? 
Maybe something for the devs to look into for review.

Thank You for your help and you may close this case

Dave