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Where to start? This is an example of what can happen.

Let’s say I want to play ‘Strange Brew’ by ‘Cream’ from an Album called ‘Disraeli Gears’.  The Disraeli Gears album is in a folder called Cream which is in a main folder called ‘Albums’.

To start with the metatags are populated for ‘Track Name’ ‘Artist’, and Album Name. (and others but they don’t count).

If I play the track on my Windows 11 laptop with only those tags, the data on screen shows the Track Name, ‘01 Strange Brew’ (Track 1), the Artist, ‘Cream’, and the Album, ‘Disraeli Gears’. No problems there!

If I play the track on my Android phone, by selecting my Albums as my source folder, and then selecting Play Now to play all tracks, the data on the screen shows ‘Albums’, Cream, Albums. This is not right. Why doesn’t it show the Track Name and the Album Name?

If I enter the Track Name in the ‘Titles’ metatags, Android will display ‘Strange Brew’, ‘Cream’ , ‘Albums’. But the Album Name is not read.

In order to get Sonos to read the track name, I must populate the ‘Title’ metatags (which is a pain in the neck actually)…...Sonos does not read the track name from the ripped data nor the Album Name..

I rip my CDs using Windows Media Player. Then I edit the tags using Mp3Tag.

I have also ripped CDs with Media Monkey but the result is the same. The Android app does not show the Track Name or the Album name…..just the name of the folder folder.

Sonos support are telling me that the metatags that the Android app reads are different to the Win 11 tags. Win 11: idv3. Android: idv3 Extended.

I have asked, if the Android app can read the ‘Title’ data, why can’t it read the ‘Album tags...after all, they must be in the same format?? They are in the same program!!

Sonos support cannot tell me how I can change the Album data I have in my files: id3v2.3, to id3v2.3 Extended so the Sonos app can read it. They have confirmed that I must enter ‘Titles’ separately. All they will tell me is that I need to use a third party tagging app like Mp3Tag or Media Monkey.

I have engaged in dialogue with Mp3Tag support. They have never heard of Mp3Tag Extended and after several test runs, suggested that Sonos change their app!!!

Sonos can’t tell me anything about id3vExtended either and I am rather annoyed that this expensive system doesn’t come with a warning that it doesn’t work properly on Android devices, and that new users have to find out stuff from third parties before the system can display the correct information.

Can anyone shed any light on this issue please?

 

PS

 

None of this was apparent before the May 2024 ‘upgrade’. So, to paraphrase George Orwell, Win 11 Good: Android Bad!!

Sonos are now telling me that after spending many hundreds of pounds on their products, that I cannot use them fully unless I learn how to use a third party app and add my own metatags. This means that for hundreds of tracks I have to spend hours inputting data into the ‘Title’ metatag field. (To be fair, ripped CDs usually have that data from the start, but anything recorded direct from vinyl doesn’t…...and I have loads of that!).

I then have to spend hours and hours trying to find information on a tagging system that no one except Sonos understands so that I can see the track’s album details.

Sonos support won’t tell me how to overcome this tagging problem……….the one that they created.

This is nothing short of outrageous and if I was a bit richer I would seriously consider suing the company. I certainly couldn’t recommend the system to anyone wanting to buy it.

I am sure that if I write to the CEO, he will organise a full refund for me.

 

I don’t get your point at all, I used mp3tag before too much but now to change the metadata I used programs like ffmpeg that can update all Metadata in all files well, also you can use VLC and it is easier, or I use Audition or DJ programs that I have but is not the most recommended. 

I also have win11 (24h2 up to date) and android 15 (updated to the security patch of jun) and I rip all my music from a code from GitHub from Tidal (only when they aren't in hdtracks) because I prefer to buy it (both in highest quality possible, up to 24bit 192khz; Sonos supports up to 24bit 48khz*), the Metadata I never had problems between all the platforms and Sonos and also I need to say that they have the lyrics synced embedded and the cover is on 1280p and never had problems. Try my solutions :)

The point is that Sonos’ Android app doesn’t read the tags properly. I shouldn’t have to take a degree in IT to find a solution to this problem. Sonos should be able to tell me how to fix it.

Also being discussed here:

https://community.mp3tag.de/t/metatags-for-sonos-on-android-devices/69167

From the screenshot you sent in that thread it is Android App displaying ‘Albums’

If I play the track on my Android phone, by selecting my Albums as my source folder, and then selecting Play Now to play all tracks, the data on the screen shows ‘Albums’, Cream, Albums. This is not right.

Can anyone shed any light on this issue please?

 

I don't use a local music library any more, but my assumption is you are selecting your track via browsing the folders in the Android Sonos App, and Sonos App is displaying the folder path/names? What happens if you select the track by browsing Artist or Album, rather than folder?

Craig

My Music is in the folder ‘Albums’……...Inside this folder are sub folders with the names of the Artists………..then the actual folder with the album……. So a Pink Floyd track path is Albums/Pink Floyd/Wish You Were Here/Shine on You Crazy Diamond.

If I select the track from the Artist or Album option the outcome is almost the same as my original post but this time instead of displaying Wish You Were Here; Pink Floyd: Albums it displays Wish You Were Here: Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd (the folder name).

So one option displays the top folder and the other, the next folder in the path.

Hope that makes sense.

It would be really useful to talk this over in a video call so that I could show Sonos exactly what goes on.

In the meantime, it appears that the Sonos app for iPhones does the same from what I can gather from the Community site.

You are selecting the files from the browse Folder option in the Sonos App.

I am suggesting you should use browse by Artist or Album, not by Folder.

I’ve done that. I done all of the combinations. Nothing changes!

Did you tried to discuss it with the Sonos support, as I said I don't have any problems with nothing, all my music library is correct inclusive with big metadata ans in the app all appears as it need, all organizated and easy to find a track with the album/number of song in an album/artist/year etc.

Yes, I have had a lot of dialogue with Sonos. They say for Android they utilise id3v Extended for metatags but no one knows what this format is or how to change metatags from id3v to id3v Extended.

Do you have all the track information correctly displayed on your Android device?

Yes, only by my disk it appears like 2sec after I select it but appears well and they have the info until the compositors and I didn't knew that, here is a video showing you this :)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14c_HlF9E1bu-cy1VjJh43ogRU333yo8b

There has been some developments from Sonos. I’ll post these in a new thread when that dialogue is completed.

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