Embedded Album Art with WavPack Options

[fearan]

I was wondering if there was a way to store album art in Wavpack files, so that a software audio player could read it and display it. If this is possible, what audio players support it, and how can it be done?
Thanks

[Alex B]

Just by looking the tag names "Cover Art (front)" makes more sense to me than "APIC". "Cover Art (back)", "Cover Art (inlay)" etc would be natural extensions to it. Since APE tags have nothing to do with ID3 I think the choice is free.

If there are no players that support APIC in APEv2 tags yet then the tag name that was invented by the original creator of APE tags should be considered as a standard. At least it is the only existing standard for Monkey's Audio files and perhaps for Musepack too. Because JRMC has had embedded APE v2 cover art support at least three years probably a lot of files around the globe are tagged with that standard.

Godfather 0.71 beta is a beta and probably the author would be willing change the tag if needed for getting better compatibility.

[fearan]

I have found a way to display Album Art in Winamp... but it doesn't utilize APEv2 tags to get the image. I put the cover pics in the album folder and downloaded a winamp plugin that can make use of that. I did the same for foobar2000.
here they are:


Winamp: http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=138586

Foobar2000: (i don't remember where i got it, but it wasn't at hydrogenaudio... the link was broken when i tried it.)

[SoldierAnt]

I have found a way to display Album Art in Winamp... but it doesn't utilize APEv2 tags to get the image.  I put the cover pics in the album folder and downloaded a winamp plugin that can make use of that.  I did the same for foobar2000. 

Storing the album art files in the same folder is one solution, and some people are okay with mixing jpegs in with their music. However, this approach only works if you're careful about naming the pictures properly, or you keep your music directory organized in certain ways (e.g., by CD).

The average listener just wants to play a song and see the cover art pop up automatically, without fiddling with multiple files. Embedding the art in tags is the easiest way of doing this, even if you do lose a (very small) amount of disk space from inserting the same picture multiple times.

After all, if lossless codecs like Wavpack or Monkey's Audio are ever going to broaden their appeal beyond a small community of enthusiasts, they need to offer the same (or similar) features as more popular lossy formats like MP3 or iTunes AAC. Embedded cover art is an example of such a feature.

Therefore, it's good to see the developers hashing out the details of cover art in APEv2 tags right now, while lossless audio is still in its adolescence, instead of letting this idea sit on the back burner any longer.