Batch rename music files by metadata

Batch renaming music files by their metadata is a powerful way to organize large collections of audio files automatically. Metadata embedded in music files—like artist, album, track number, title, and genre—can be used to generate meaningful and consistent filenames, making your music library easier to browse and manage.

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Why Batch Rename Music Files by Metadata?

• Consistency: Uniform naming conventions help keep your library clean.

• Searchability: Files named by artist and track title are easier to find.

• Compatibility: Many media players sort music based on filenames.

• Automation: Saves time over manual renaming, especially for large collections.

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Common Metadata Tags in Music Files

Music files like MP3, FLAC, M4A, and others store metadata using ID3 tags or similar tagging standards. Important tags for renaming include:

• Artist: The performer or band.

• Album: The collection or release.

• Track Number: Position in the album.

• Title: Name of the song.

• Year: Release year.

• Genre: Music category.

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Tools for Batch Renaming Music Files by Metadata

1. Mp3tag (Windows, macOS via Wine, Linux via Wine)
   A popular free tool that supports many audio formats and allows complex renaming using metadata with customizable patterns.

2. MusicBrainz Picard (Cross-platform)
   Uses online databases to tag and rename files automatically based on metadata from MusicBrainz.

3. FileBot (Cross-platform, paid)
   Advanced file renaming and tagging tool that supports movies, TV shows, and music.

4. Command-Line Tools

   • eyeD3 (Python-based)

   • mid3v2 (Linux)

   • exiftool (Supports audio metadata)
     These allow scripting batch renaming, especially useful for automation.

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How to Batch Rename Music Files Using Mp3tag

1. Download and install Mp3tag from mp3tag.de.

2. Load your music folder by dragging and dropping files or using the “Change directory” option.

3. Select all files you want to rename.

4. Click Convert > Filename – Tag to check metadata or Convert > Tag – Filename to rename files based on metadata.

5. In the Tag – Filename dialog, enter a naming pattern using placeholders, for example:

   shell
   CopyEdit
   %artist% - %album% - $num(%track%,2) - %title%
   

   This pattern renames files like:
   Artist Name - Album Name - 01 - Song Title.mp3

6. Click OK to apply the new names.

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Naming Pattern Placeholders

• %artist% — Artist name

• %album% — Album title

• %title% — Song title

• %track% — Track number

• $num(%track%,2) — Track number padded to 2 digits (e.g., 01, 02)

• %year% — Year of release

• %genre% — Genre tag

You can customize patterns as needed to fit your organizational style.

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Using MusicBrainz Picard for Renaming

1. Open Picard and add files or folders.

2. Picard scans metadata and compares it with the MusicBrainz database.

3. After matching, use the “Options > File Naming” settings to set a naming format.

4. Apply the renaming with a pattern like:

   bash
   CopyEdit
   $if2(%artist%,Unknown Artist)/$if2(%album%,Unknown Album)/$num(%tracknumber%,2) - %title%
   

   This arranges files into folders by artist and album, then names each track.

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Batch Renaming with Command-Line Tools

For automation or integration into scripts, command-line tools are powerful:

Example with eyeD3 (Python):

bash
CopyEdit
eyeD3 --rename='%(artist)s - %(album)s - %(track_num)02d - %(title)s' *.mp3

This command renames all MP3 files in the folder to a pattern similar to Mp3tag.

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Tips for Best Results

• Back up your files before batch renaming to prevent accidental data loss.

• Verify metadata quality before renaming. Incorrect or missing tags will cause inconsistent filenames.

• Use online databases like MusicBrainz or Discogs to fill in missing metadata automatically.

• Standardize tags first using your tool of choice, then rename files.

• Test on a small batch to ensure the pattern works correctly.

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Batch renaming music files by metadata dramatically improves organization and usability of your digital music library, enabling easy navigation, syncing, and playback across devices. Whether using GUI tools like Mp3tag or command-line scripts, leveraging metadata is the key to automated, consistent file naming.