In iTunes when you do a properties check on MP3s you can find some useful info such as the encoder used and average bitrate, amongst other more common details. Is there a utility out there that can do such a thing so that I don't have to add the MP3 to iTunes just to find this out? Preferable if it worked in Linux, but I'll take Windows utilities too.

AudioShell (currently v1.3.5) will do this for you in Windows.

EncSpot is a standalone Windows app that will tell you lots of things about your MP3s.

http://www.guerillasoft.co.uk/

Thanks guys! These both are great additions to Windows. Now to hopefully find something for Linux as well.

Nautilus, the GNOME file manager, seems to be able -- at least in theory -- to tell you both items of information.

Right-click a file, and Choose "properties". On one of the tabs there I have both "Comment" (which the encoder I used had put its name in) and bitrate. Unfortunately, I've got N/A under "Bitrate". But one out of two's a start. :-)

EDIT to add:

I see my Linux vendor's repository has a program called EasyTag that allows for viewing, editing, and writing ID3 tags. It's a GTK+ app. Maybe yours has, too. Providing the encoder's written the information you want to look at to the files, I'd think this program may very well be able to show it.

Encspot is also available for Linux fyi. It is a commandline application on linux though. Don't know if is based on the same code as the windows program with same name.