Writing ID3 tags in FL:AC compatible with NI Traktor

WaveLab
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I am using Wavelab (12 Pro) to prep tracks before importing into NI Traktor, particularly the loudness process. I use the FLAC format. I create a new FLAC (copy and paste from another file) or open a WMA file and then save it as FLAC. When I import into NI Traktor (V Pro 4), I get the same error in Traktor: ID3Tags can not be read.

My only workaround has been to save as MP3, but then I don’t get the lossless quality. I tried opening a Wavelab saved FLAC in Adobe Audition, and just by resaving it, I resolved the issue.

From what I can find, there appear to be a number of different tag formats for FLAC (native Vorbis tags being the most common), but I can’t find a way to do these in Wavelab. I even tried “Remove Properties and Personal Information” in Windows, but the error remained, as it did when I used MP3Tag.

Any ideas as to how to get Wavelab to save, retain the original tag of the WMA/MP3/FLAC and save in a format Traktor is happy with?

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This is my thread regarding this problem. It is in German , but describes the same problem.

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Hello Amphotic, thanks so much for that, I’ve read the thread (Google translated) and it’s the same issue I’m having. It looks to me like Wavelab isn’t wrong as such, just isn’t able to do everything Traktor is looking for/or able to write the most common format. I did wonder if it’s writing something to a tag Traktor wants to use, and there’s a conflict? I’ve raised the issue on the NI community forum as well. For now we just have to use other applications and spend a lot of extra time getting it as we would like. Let’s hope Steingberg can get involved and give us a fix their side, it can’t be that complicated.

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Suggestion send a Flac format file that you know works in Traktor to PG “WaveLab’s” creator and then he can have a look…

regards S-EH

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Thanks S-EHansson, sorry I’m new to this, how do I find PG?

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Funky_Booth : you will find an explanation on NI Traktor forum now. But we should wait for an answer from PG, why a professional SW like WL is causing this matter. When I save an audio file to FLAC it is a FLAC file for me! and it is not possible to edit the ID3 Tag so that Traktor can’t read ID3 Tags.

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Thanks so much, really useful, I’ve read that and it’s much clearer now, I think I have a workflow to try later as well.

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There are various metadata formats and no one is truly official.
WaveLab uses the Vorbis metadata for FLAC, not ID3v2.
Why don’t you use standard WAV instead of FLAC?

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Hello PG1, thanks for replying. I don’t want to use WAV as I would lose all the tag information, which saves a lot of time and is vital when compiling sets/mixing in Traktor.

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What kind of tags? WaveLab supports ID3v2 tags for WAV files.

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Hello PG1, when I use WAV in Traktor no Tags appear to be recognised, I didn’t think a wav file could store tags/artwork etc.?

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OK, I’ll have a look later when I’m back at my PC, thank you again. Though of course FLAC is a smaller filesize!

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Hello PG1, OK, I’ve spent all evening testing this, I think I know what works, but it’s not as quick or easy as I’d hoped if I’m to retain all the Metadata.

To begin, a WAV file saved from Wavelab does hold some Tags (which remain when reopening) but Traktor doesn’t recognise/load any of them when imported, MP3Tag does show them.

I then moved onto two initial files, a personally ripped WMA files (from CD with a tag/artwork information added already). Plus a track bought in a FLAC format from Beatport.

Traktor won’t load WMA files, but loaded the commercially bought FLAC file (including artwork)

WMA - I tried loading editing and saving with Wavelab as FLAC, not all metadata is saved and Traktor gives the error “ID3 tags could not be read”. The same was true for editing with Adobe Audition, but Traktor gave no error with this file.

I then tried converting with some online tools, with mixed results, but Veed.io (Free Audio Converter - Convert Audio to MP3, WAV, and More - VEED.IO) converted from WMA to FLAC and only lost the artwork, all the metadata was there. I then did some editing of this FLAC in both Wavelab and Adobe Audition and saved as a new FLAC file. The file saved by Wavelab gave the same error on importing to Traktor, however, the Adobe Audition one loaded with all metadata showing.

I then did the same editing and resaving the commercially bought FLAC file, and again Traktor reported the error with just the Wavelab edited one.

I then edited the FLAC in Wavelab, saved it, opened a copy of the original FLAC file (with all the Metadata) in Adobe Audition and the Wavelab edited FLAC and copied one to the other saved the original FLAC file, and again this worked in Traktor. I had hoped to simply copy and paste with the Windows clipboard from Wavelab to Adobe Audition, but I couldn’t get the copy to work between applications.

So my only workflow appears to be:

  1. For WMA convert using something like Veed.Io to get a FLAC file with metadata

  2. Edit FLAC in Wavelab to use the processing/features

  3. Save as a new FLAC

  4. Open the original FLAC (bought one or converted from WMA), open the edited file saved by Wavelab and copy and paste within Adobe Audition, then save the FLAC file from there.

  5. Use MP3Tag to add back the artwork

  6. Import into Traktor and use as normal

It would be so wonderful if there was a way to do this all in Wavelab (or even Cubase).

I hope this helps others looking for a way to work with the best of Steinberg and Traktor.

If anyone has other suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

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