Autotag Parameters

The Auto Tag Options Dialog (IDD_DLG_AUTOTAG) gives you total control over batch metadata retrieval in Zortam Mp3 Media Studio. Whether you are identifying raw files via batch fingerprinting or filling in missing artwork, lyrics, and track details across your library, this configuration panel lets you specify exactly which fields Zortam fetches and whether existing file tags should be preserved or overwritten.

1. Auto Tag Configuration Table

To prevent accidental metadata loss while providing maximum flexibility, Zortam features a two-column toggle matrix. You can independently decide which fields to include in online searches and whether to force an overwrite on existing metadata.

Tag Field Overwrite

2. Simple Click / Unclick Rules

The logic behind the Auto Tag options is straightforward: if you don’t want Zortam to touch or search for a specific field, simply click to uncheck it!

đź’ˇ Understanding the Checkbox Controls:

  • Tag Field Checkbox (Left Column): Determines whether Zortam searches online databases for that specific field. Unchecking a box completely disables processing for that tag.
  • Overwrite Tag Checkbox (Right Column): Controls how newly found metadata affects your existing file tags:
    • Unchecked (Default Behavior): Zortam only fills in blank/empty tags, preserving any data you’ve already saved.
    • Checked: Zortam replaces your existing tag values with fresh data fetched from the Zortam database.

3. Acoustic Fingerprinting Integration (fpcalc)

When you uncheck both Artist and Title, Zortam switches modes to handle files with missing, corrupt, or incorrect tag information:

  • Automatic Acoustic Fingerprinting (fpcalc): Unchecking Artist and Title forces Zortam to run the audio file through its internal fpcalc (AcoustID) fingerprinting engine.
  • Sound-Based Identification: Instead of relying on text search queries (which fail on files like track01.mp3 or missing tags), fpcalc analyzes the actual waveform of the audio to match it against online databases.
  • Seamless Enrichment: Once identified by its acoustic fingerprint, Zortam populates the remaining checked fields—such as Cover Art, Lyrics, Album, and Genre—without overwriting your original Artist and Title tags unless requested.

4. Default Settings & Best Practices

  • Disabled by Default (Artist & Title): By default, Artist and Title checkboxes are unclicked. This protects your primary file identifiers from being accidentally replaced while triggering fpcalc for accurate audio identification.
  • Enabled by Default (Secondary Metadata & Media): Fields like Lyrics, Cover Art, Album, Genre, Year, Album Artist, and Track# are pre-checked so you can instantly enrich your music library with high-resolution artwork and song lyrics in a single click.

Summary Shortcut Cheat Sheet:

  • Click to Toggle: Click any checkbox to include or exclude specific metadata fields during batch auto-tagging.
  • Uncheck Artist/Title for fpcalc: Leaving Artist & Title unchecked passes tracks through the fpcalc audio fingerprinting tool to identify files by sound profile.
  • Safe Updates: Leave the right column (“Overwrite tag”) unchecked if you only want to fill in missing metadata without touching your existing tags.