Windows Media Player won't change "Unknown Artist"

[limp]

When Windows Media Player can't read a song's meta data correctly, it lists it under "Unknown Artist." When I right click the generic album picture and select "Find album info," a new window appears where I can enter the artist's correct name. However, changing the name from Unknown Artist to the correct name accomplishes nothing. The change is not saved, and WMP continues to list the album under Unknown Artist.

I have tried dragging the song to a correctly named album, but that doesn't work. The song won't drag.

Does anyone know what's wrong, or how to fix it? I need to be able to change the Unknown Artist designation to the correct name of the artist.

 

[FZ21Z]

Have you tried rescanning your library?

 

[Zomby88]

Just edit the album info yourself, don`t let it search.

 

[hybridfan]

Use Mp3 Tag, and do it yourself.

Mp3tag - the universal Tag Editor (ID3v2, MP4, OGG, FLAC, ...)

I use it all the time and IMO is by far the best tag editor and it's free too which is always nice

 

[1Bowtie]

Just use Windows Explorer, where your music is stored, open the tree, find the album, open it highlite the song, rt click, properties, details tab and there you can change any and all data, do apply, ok your done. you can cut, paste where ever you want to put it

 

[hvnsent3030]

hate to say it, cause i used windows media player for YEARS... but, I've downloaded Real Player SP (for Free) and LOVE IT ! It recognizes the artist right away, and setting up your library IS as easy as draggin n droppin. The sound is better and clearer as well.

 

[noobvious]

Use Mp3 Tag, and do it yourself.

Mp3tag - the universal Tag Editor (ID3v2, MP4, OGG, FLAC, ...)

I use it all the time and IMO is by far the best tag editor and it's free too which is always nice

+1 on this.....an excellent program!

 

[noobvious]

hate to say it, cause i used windows media player for YEARS... but, I've downloaded Real Player SP (for Free) and LOVE IT ! It recognizes the artist right away, and setting up your library IS as easy as draggin n droppin. The sound is better and clearer as well.

I have to call shenanigans on this.....a different program should make no difference on the sound of the same file, unless you're using different EQ settings. I've played the same tunes on WMP12, Mediamonkey, and VLC, and not heard a difference.

 

[1Bowtie]

hate to say it, cause i used windows media player for YEARS... but, I've downloaded Real Player SP (for Free) and LOVE IT ! It recognizes the artist right away, and setting up your library IS as easy as draggin n droppin. The sound is better and clearer as well.

I have to call shenanigans on this.....a different program should make no difference on the sound of the same file, unless you're using different EQ settings. I've played the same tunes on WMP12, Mediamonkey, and VLC, and not heard a difference.

+1 Noob the sound card didn't change, bit rate didn't change, speakers didn't change so it ought to sound the same

 

[hybridfan]

hate to say it, cause i used windows media player for YEARS... but, I've downloaded Real Player SP (for Free) and LOVE IT ! It recognizes the artist right away, and setting up your library IS as easy as draggin n droppin. The sound is better and clearer as well.

I have to call shenanigans on this.....a different program should make no difference on the sound of the same file, unless you're using different EQ settings. I've played the same tunes on WMP12, Mediamonkey, and VLC, and not heard a difference.

+1 Noob the sound card didn't change, bit rate didn't change, speakers didn't change so it ought to sound the same

Or the player could be using a different sound output, not sure what Media Player uses but I use Foobar2000 with this output, I can def hear a improvement over Media Player.

Foobar2000:Components 0.9/WASAPI output support (foo out wasapi) - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase

 

[limp]

Reply to FZ21Z: Yes.
Reply to Zomby88: How?
Reply to hybridfan: Mp3tag does not support WAV files.
Reply to 1Bowtie: Properties in the Details tab can not be edited.

 

[noobvious]

Reply to FZ21Z: Yes.
Reply to Zomby88: How?
Reply to hybridfan: Mp3tag does not support WAV files.
Reply to 1Bowtie: Properties in the Details tab can not be edited.

I don't think WAV files support tagging natively. If you were to convert them to FLAC(which is also lossless)they could then be tagged, and you'd save some hard drive space too.

 

[1Bowtie]

I personally convert everything to MP3, bit rate 192 which makes alittle bigger file but very good quality and then you can make any changes you need to in windows explorer under the properties of the song.

 

[limp]

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. It's true that WAV has a problem with meta data, but the converter dBpoweramp http://www.dbpoweramp.com/ manages to preserve the meta data in WAV files. Unfortunately, dBpoweramp has other limitations. Converting to FLAC is one solution, but Windows Media Player doesn't support FLAC. Mp3tag is an excellent stand-alone tag editor, but it won't convert from one file format to another. I used to use Real Player, but I hated those ads.

Here is my solution. I used the converter xrecode II http://xrecode.com/ to convert my MP3 files to WMA Lossless. Xrecode II has a built-in tag editor, and just about every option imaginable. WMA Lossless equals the sound quality of WAV, makes smaller files, and is supported by Windows Media Player. All of the meta data was preserved.

 

[noobvious]

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. It's true that WAV has a problem with meta data, but the converter dBpoweramp dBpoweramp: CD Ripper & Audio Converter. Secure ripping to mp3, FLAC, m4a, Apple Lossless & WMA manages to preserve the meta data in WAV files. Unfortunately, dBpoweramp has other limitations. Converting to FLAC is one solution, but Windows Media Player doesn't support FLAC. Mp3tag is an excellent stand-alone tag editor, but it won't convert from one file format to another. I used to use Real Player, but I hated those ads.

Here is my solution. I used the converter xrecode II Convert flac to mp3, flac to wav, ape to mp3, cue to mp3, flac to alac, flac to m4a, flv to mp3 and more. to convert my MP3 files to WMA Lossless. Xrecode II has a built-in tag editor, and just about every option imaginable. WMA Lossless equals the sound quality of WAV, makes smaller files, and is supported by Windows Media Player. All of the meta data was preserved.

xrecode II is a nice little program....lets you play with all different formats....I've used it quite a bit.

However, if you like Windows Media Player so much that you went to all this trouble, you could have installed the Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs package to WMP and played the FLACs. Or, you could have used a different program altogether....Mediamonkey, Winamp, J. River Media Jukebox, VLC .....they all support FLAC natively, I believe. WMA lossless frankly sucks,IMO, because you can play it on your computer, and on a Zune player, and that's it.....most portable "mp3 players" won't play WMA lossless at all.

But, if you're happy with WMA lossless and WMP, then more power to ya.

 

[limp]

Hello, noobvious...

I'm not in love with Windows Media Player, but it comes with the system, so why not use it? The Shark codex package is a good suggestion, as is the Winamp player, which I like a lot. Only problem is, whichever you choose, that's one more program to install and configure. I don't use portable music players, so their lack of support for WMA Lossless is a non-issue. I stream my converted files to a Squeezebox, which does support WMA Lossless, for playback on my stereo system.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my query.

 

[noobvious]

Hello, noobvious...

I'm not in love with Windows Media Player, but it comes with the system, so why not use it? The Shark codex package is a good suggestion, as is the Winamp player, which I like a lot. Only problem is, whichever you choose, that's one more program to install and configure. I don't use portable music players, so their lack of support for WMA Lossless is a non-issue. I stream my converted files to a Squeezebox, which does support WMA Lossless, for playback on my stereo system.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my query.

Well, I'm glad you were able to find your solution, even if I wasn't able to help.

 

[boohbah]

When Windows Media Player can't read a song's meta data correctly, it lists it under "Unknown Artist." When I right click the generic album picture and select "Find album info," a new window appears where I can enter the artist's correct name. However, changing the name from Unknown Artist to the correct name accomplishes nothing. The change is not saved, and WMP continues to list the album under Unknown Artist.

I have tried dragging the song to a correctly named album, but that doesn't work. The song won't drag.

Does anyone know what's wrong, or how to fix it? I need to be able to change the Unknown Artist designation to the correct name of the artist.

when i ocasionally have this problem i go to the original file right clicking on the track in wmp will give you the option to open file location and re edit the album title, the way i do it is to highlight 15 tracks (for some reason it wont edit if it is more ) be sure not to highlight any pictures only the tracks as it wont show the album specs at the bottom of the window hover over "album " and then type your title then save if your album is longer than 15 tracks then repeat from track 16 -30 and so on. close wmp and start it again it should update itself with the file changes if you have it watching your My Music file etc for changes hope this helps
EDIT -sorry i just realised you said unknown artist. the procedure is exactly the same as above except change album artist .

 

[Grey Area]

OK I think I'm on to this (zombie thread I know, but it's a relevant search return).

If your CD info stubbornly refuses to update, go to File>Manage Libraries>Music. If I'm right, your default library will be listed as "unresponsive". Make a note of the file path, remove any "unresponsive" library and then re-add it again (note, my system had the default recorded as "Users/Xxxxx/Music" but selecting the Users / Xxxxx / My Music folder shortcut worked fine). You may have to right click the library and reassign it as your default.

This worked for me - when I restarted WMP it correctly reported my new Adam Ant CD.