This is a related question to an initial query I made in the FB2K forum regarding the Fix MP3 Header utility (thread here), I thought it would be more appropriate to post it here in the MP3-tech forum. @mods: I believe it is not the case, however if this post violates TOS 5 or 6 then I apologise, please delete

What attributes / technical metadata do LAME-encoded MP3s possess (and many other encoders lack) that allow them to be played gaplessly in Foobar, burned gaplessly in Burrrn, etc.?

From my novice observations I've observed that LAME MP3s have enc_delay, enc_padding,
and mp3_accurate_length technical info in Foobar, whereas many non-LAME MP3s do not (and also don't play gaplessly).

Thanks in advance for your help.

enc_delay and enc_padding are two fields from the "LAME header" enabling gapless playback. The LAME header usually follows directly a Xing/Info tag which both are located in the first MP3 frame (a decoder not capable of interpreting these just decode this frame to silence).

mp3_accuratel_length is just something Foobar makes up to inform you that it has found a LAME header.

S

Thanks Sebastian, that's exactly the answer I was looking for.