Private browser-based audio compression

Audio Metadata Viewer

Inspect an audio file without re-encoding it or uploading it. The viewer reports only fields found by the local parser: container, codec, profile, duration, average bitrate, sample rate, channels, bit depth, selected tags, and safe embedded-artwork details, followed by transparent rule-based suggestions.

Choose audio file Click, press Enter, or drop one supported audio file here MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, or FLAC · maximum 500 MiB

Local processing: this file, its name, tags, artwork, and audio content are not uploaded.

Status Choose audio file

Output

	Input	Output
File size	-	-
Container	-	-
Codec	-	-
Average bitrate	-	-
Sample rate	-	-
Channels	-	-
Duration	-	-
Metadata in output	-	-
Processing time	-	-

Download result

Metadata vs audio data

Audio data represents the sound stream. Metadata describes that stream or the surrounding file with fields such as title, artist, album, track, date, genre, and comment. Removing a title does not change the encoded sound, and changing a tag does not convert the codec.

The viewer treats every tag as untrusted text. It limits length, removes control characters, and inserts values as text rather than HTML. Tags remain in memory and are not added to analytics or a shareable URL.

Container and codec are not the same

A container organizes streams and metadata; a codec defines how audio samples are encoded. An M4A file commonly uses an MP4-family container with AAC audio. WAV commonly carries PCM, while OGG can carry Vorbis or another codec.

The page shows the names returned by ffprobe instead of deriving them from the suffix. A mismatch between filename, MIME type, signature, and parsed container is reported because disguised or incorrectly named files deserve extra caution.

How bitrate is reported

Some streams store a bitrate directly. When that value is unavailable and duration is valid, the viewer can estimate an overall average from file bytes divided by duration. This may include container and metadata overhead, so it is labeled as an average rather than an exact encoder setting.

Variable-bitrate files naturally change allocation over time. One average value cannot describe every passage or prove subjective quality.

Sample rate, channels and bit depth

Sample rate reports samples per second. Channels describe mono, stereo, or a wider layout. Bit depth is shown only when the stream exposes a meaningful value; it is common for PCM and lossless formats but can be unavailable or misleading for lossy codecs.

Missing does not mean zero. The viewer leaves unavailable fields blank rather than guessing from a format stereotype.

ID3 and embedded artwork

MP3 commonly uses ID3 tags, while MP4-family, Vorbis, and FLAC containers store metadata differently. The viewer normalizes a small useful field set for display without claiming that every private or proprietary tag has been extracted.

An embedded cover is previewed only when ffprobe identifies an attached picture with supported dimensions and image type. Oversized or unusual artwork is described without allocating an unbounded preview, and its object URL is revoked when the file changes.

Why fields are unavailable and how diagnostics work

Fields may be absent because the source never stored them, a container uses an unsupported private field, the stream is damaged, or DRM prevents useful parsing. The page does not invent an artist, content type, or bit depth to fill a card.

Suggestions use deterministic rules based on detected fields plus an optional content type chosen by you. For example, low-bitrate lossy audio gets a generation-loss caution; FLAC gets an archive-versus-sharing explanation; stereo speech can receive a mono-copy suggestion. User-selected content type is visibly labeled.

Privacy risks before sharing audio

A file can reveal names, dates, comments, artwork, application identifiers, or recording details even when the sound itself seems harmless. Review metadata before sharing sensitive recordings. This viewer helps you see common fields but is not a guarantee that every proprietary block has been removed.

Use a deliberate conversion with metadata disabled when you need a sharing copy, then inspect the output again. Preserve the original separately if its tags or artwork matter.

FAQ

Does this viewer modify my file?

No. It reads and interprets the file in browser memory and does not re-encode or overwrite it.

Why is a metadata field missing?

The field may not exist, may use an unsupported private scheme, or may be unreadable in a damaged or protected file. The viewer does not guess.

Are tags safe to display?

They are treated as untrusted text, length-limited, and inserted with textContent rather than as HTML.

Is embedded artwork uploaded?

No. Supported artwork is extracted to a temporary in-memory object URL and revoked when no longer needed.

How is the diagnostic summary generated?

Transparent deterministic rules use detected technical fields and, optionally, the content type you select. It is not AI analysis.

Can the viewer prove all metadata is gone?

No. It shows common parsed fields. Inspect a new sharing copy and use specialist tooling for proprietary metadata requirements.

Audio Metadata Viewer

Input

Tags found

Embedded artwork

Diagnostic summary