How do I remove padding after deleting metadata?, Was: Compressing metadata? Options

[Anakunda]

HI!! Is there something able to rebuild a FLAC file from scratch or simply compress ezisting metadata? I figured out that when I insert an exhaustive tag such as large cover picture then remove it, the FLAC file won't shrink! Replacing an attachment by a bigger one obviously biggers the file. Of course I need the tool to preserve all existing metadata.

[tuffy]

With metaflac, you're looking for the --dont-use-padding option which tells it not to replace the removed picture with padding, such as:

CODE

metaflac --remove --block-type=PICTURE --dont-use-padding file.flac

[Anakunda]

Thanks for quick response, unfortunatelly I don't use metaflac to handle a flac metadata, so I already have a FLAC with superfluous padding block(s).
What does --merge-padding --sort-padding do and is there a option that flushes spare padding blocks?

[pdq]

How serious of a problem could this be? Generally metadata is a tiny fraction of a lossless file.

[Anakunda]

In case of pure text metadata this issue is negligible but imagine 10 album tracks containing each 1MB cover image, now wanting to cleanup the superfluous non audio data there's total 10MB of discardable data blocks that can't be freed?

[chi]

unfortunatelly I don't use metaflac to handle a flac metadata, so I already have a FLAC with superfluous padding block(s).
What does --merge-padding --sort-padding do and is there a option that flushes spare padding blocks?

This should do it:

CODE

metaflac --dont-use-padding --remove --block-type=PADDING file.flac

[Anakunda]

This should do it:

CODE

metaflac --dont-use-padding --remove --block-type=PADDING file.flac

Thanks so much. I tried it, it does exactly what I asked for. Any chance to perform on selection via foobar rightclick menu?

[db1989]

“Rewrite file tags”?

[Anakunda]

“Rewrite file tags”?

Tried that and it won't opt out free blocks.
I`m trying with "Run services" and command string

cmd /c for %i in ("%directoryname%\*.flac") do D:\media\lossless\metaflac.exe --dont-use-padding --remove --block-type=PADDING "%~fi"

It won't work for some reason however.

[marc2003]

as you're using foobar2000, highlight all fields in the properties dialog for the selected files. right click>copy. now click on the tools button>remove tags. finally right click and paste fields.

as always, test on a subset of copied files first.

This post has been edited by marc2003: Apr 11 2012, 22:45

[Anakunda]

as you're using foobar2000, highlight all fields in the properties dialog for the selected files. right click>copy. now click on the tools button>remove tags. finally right click and paste fields.

as always, test on a subset of copied files first.

This didnot rebuild FLACs either. Seems metaflac only does the optimization.
Anyway I'd like the same function as Utilites->Optimize MP4 Layout for FLACs as those apply a fragmentation effect too.

[marc2003]

apologies for not testing before posting. using "remove tags" doesn't even remove the artwork like it should.

[derty2]

Create a custom foobar2000 converter action...

For example:

Encoder:                   metaflac.exe
Extension:                 flac
Parameters:               -s --dont-use-padding --remove --block-type=PADDING -o %d
Converter name:         METAFLAC
Bitrate:                     blank
Settings:                   Strip padding from FLAC files

[Anakunda]

Create a custom foobar2000 converter action...

I'm trying this profile and get error console with 18 out of 18 tracks converted with major problems. For each file I get error
Source: "E:\test\01 - Track01.flac"
Unable to open file for writing (File is already in use) : "E:\test\01 - Track01.flac"
Conversion failed: File is already in use

Using Destination:
Output folder: source file folder.
Output type: tracks into individual files.
File name pattern: %filename%
Overwrite existing files.

Processing: None.
Other: When finished: do nothing.

What did I set wrong?

[fbuser]

What did I set wrong?

Using Destination:
Output folder: source file folder.

You cannot write to the same file which you are reading from