HDX : tagging downloaded files

I was told in that thread,

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ue#32118649544359314

that only the Naim DTC (Desk Top Client) Software for Windows can do this...

Because I have Macs, I can't test it and am hoping for a fast update of the n-Serve Software for OS X.

Stephan, for files in the Downloads folder you can use ANY metadata editor.  BUT note that wav files do not handle metadata uniformly.  Most prefer to use the flac or aiff (apple lossless) format for files in the Downloads folder.

Adrian, that thread was started by Chris Bell asking about editing metadata on flies that he used his UnitiServe to rip.  Those files are locked down and cannot be edited by other than Naim software (DTC, nServe).  He was not asking about files in the Downloads folder which indeed are fully editable. 

Adrian, that thread was started by Chris Bell asking about editing metadata on flies that he used his UnitiServe to rip.  Those files are locked down and cannot be edited by other than Naim software (DTC, nServe).

He was not asking about files in the Downloads folder which indeed are fully editable. 

But I specifically did so! Because the n-Serve software from Naim can't do that. Neither on iOS nor on OS X. Why is that so, when it's fully editable? And if you are right, I obviously became a wrong answer there.

What Mac software would you/others recommend to edit the metadata in the downloads folder then? I still have those problems with special characters looking right on the Mac, but wrong on the naim server as discribed in that thread...

I use .aiff (uncompressed lpcm) files. Compared to .wav they are lpcm too, but can hold metadata inside the file. On some copy-protected CDs they were even files in a second data partition in that format.

If ripped files are created by the HDX then all album details can be edited by Naim desktop software or by Nserve.  However any downloaded albums can only be edited by 3rd party software. I use DB power amp for this but there are various other products that do the same thing. Basicaly  Naim want to have a little to do with downloaded music as possible on the HDX. They reluctantly added an accessible  folder on the HDX hard disk where the downloads can be stored and  played from, but you can't edit this music in any way via Naim software, nor can you back it up automatically as you can with the ripped content.

I put flac files in my Downloads folder, and use Tag or Metadatics to edit metadata with OS X.  Tag is the simplest and so I use it 99% of the time.  I don't use .aiff files, so cannot recommend a metadata editor for that, sorry.  But I Googled it up and there are several available.

Once you put new files onto a Naim server, it is likely to start indexing.  So the best practice is to use one of those metadata editors BEFORE moving the files over to the Naim server.  In that workflow (tidying up the metadata BEFORE putting it onto your UnitiServe or HDX), it is natural (to me) to use OS X based software and not look to Naim to provide software that does what plenty of freeware/shareware/low cost software does already -- edit metadata.

Stated another way, Naim servers handle files in their Downloads folders that are 100% metadata format compatible with many many other servers and players.  Nothing is proprietary here; totally 'industry standard.'  So I find it natural to not look to Naim to provide software that is freely available elsewhere to do what is so common -- edit such metadata on such files.  But I understand that opinions differ as to Naim's offerings.  Just don't confuse the lack of Naim software with the lack of the ability to edit these files.

Thanks for your hints.

DB power amp looks interesting, because it combines ripping and tagging. Unfortunately it's Win only.

Tag looks simple & nice, but was not updated since 2006 and does not support .aiff.

I found kid3 which could do this, but doesn't look and feel very maclike...

So I'll have a look into Metadatics.

I think it's a a bit short sighted, that Naim wants to have as little to do with downloaded music as possible on their servers. I don't see them as CD-quality players only! And for hi-res music, even from Naims own label, there is no other way than the download folder...

Lars, that does work as well.  But sometimes it takes more than one rescan it seems.  If I've an option, I prefer to edit first.  Deleting and then re-adding works too.