Metadata Field Reference
Every chunk and field WAVScribe reads, edits, and writes - with placement details and round-trip behavior. Open standards throughout. No proprietary containers.
WAVScribe reads, edits, and writes every chunk and field listed below. All write operations preserve audio data byte-for-byte and follow each format's published specification.
Action key
- WriteWAVScribe reads, edits via the user interface, and persists on save.
- PassthroughRead from disk and preserved verbatim on save. No UI edit. Most are visible in the Extended Metadata dialog.
- AutoWritten automatically by WAVScribe. Not user-editable.
- Read-onlySurfaces in the Extended Metadata display; never modified.
bextBroadcast Wave Format (EBU R 85-2004)
Placement: pre-data, as required by EBU R 85.
| Field | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Description | Write | 256-byte UTF-8, truncated at character boundary if over limit |
Originator | Write | 32-byte UTF-8 |
OriginatorReference | Write | 32-byte UTF-8 |
OriginationDate | Write | YYYY-MM-DD |
OriginationTime | Write | HH:MM:SS |
TimeReference | Passthrough | 64-bit sample count since midnight; surfaces in Extended Metadata |
Version | Auto | Bumped to 2 when any loudness field is populated; otherwise preserved |
UMID | Write | 64-byte SMPTE 330M; entered as 128 hex characters |
LoudnessValue | Write | EBU R 128 Integrated Loudness, LUFS |
LoudnessRange | Write | EBU R 128 LRA, LU |
MaxTruePeakLevel | Write | dBTP |
MaxMomentaryLoudness | Write | LUFS |
MaxShortTermLoudness | Write | LUFS |
Reserved | Passthrough | 180 reserved bytes preserved on round-trip |
CodingHistory | Passthrough | CR+LF-terminated history lines; surfaces in Extended Metadata |
iXMLGallery iXML Specification, Revision 3.01
Placement: single post-data chunk, per Gallery iXML conventions.
iXML core elements
| Element | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
<SCENE> | Write | |
<TAKE> | Write | |
<TAPE> | Write | Reel / card label |
<NOTE> | Write | |
<FILE_UID> | Write | |
<PROJECT> | Write | |
<ORIGINAL_FILENAME> | Write | |
<PARENT_FILENAME> | Write | |
<PARENT_UID> | Write | |
<UBITS> | Passthrough | User bits (8 hex chars) |
<CIRCLED> | Passthrough | Director's favorite take flag |
<FALSE_START> | Passthrough | |
<WILD_TRACK> | Passthrough | |
<NO_GOOD> | Passthrough | |
<IXML_VERSION> | Auto | "3.01" |
| Other iXML top-level elements | Passthrough | Vendor extensions and unrecognized elements preserved verbatim across read / write |
iXML <SPEED> block
| Element | Action |
|---|---|
<MASTER_SPEED> | Write |
<CURRENT_SPEED> | Write |
<SPEED_NOTE> | Write |
<TIMECODE_FLAG> | Write |
<TIMECODE_RATE> | Write |
<TIMESTAMP_SAMPLES_SINCE_MIDNIGHT_LO> | Passthrough |
<TIMESTAMP_SAMPLES_SINCE_MIDNIGHT_HI> | Passthrough |
iXML <LOCATION> block
| Element | Action |
|---|---|
<LOCATION_NAME> | Passthrough |
<LOCATION_GPS> | Passthrough |
<LOCATION_TYPE> | Passthrough |
iXML <PRODUCTION> block
| Element | Action |
|---|---|
<PRODUCTION_NAME> | Passthrough |
<PRODUCTION_ADDRESS> | Passthrough |
<PRODUCTION_EMAIL> | Passthrough |
<PRODUCTION_PHONE> | Passthrough |
<PRODUCTION_NOTE> | Passthrough |
iXML <TRACK_LIST>
Active track-layout structure (spec-compliant replacement for legacy free-form text). Edited via the Track Layout Editor.
| Element | Action |
|---|---|
<TRACK> / <CHANNEL_INDEX> | Write |
<TRACK> / <INTERLEAVE_INDEX> | Write |
<TRACK> / <NAME> | Write |
<TRACK> / <FUNCTION> | Write |
<TRACK_COUNT> | Auto |
iXML <TRACK_LAYOUT> (legacy element)
| Element | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
<TRACK_LAYOUT> | Passthrough | Legacy free-form layout text from older tools; preserved verbatim, surfaces in Extended Metadata |
iXML <USER> block
WAVScribe's primary cross-tool exchange surface. Keys below are written when populated; the block also accepts user-defined custom keys (see User-Defined Fields).
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
CATEGORY | Write |
SUBCATEGORY | Write |
CATID | Write |
FXNAME | Write |
MICROPHONE | Write |
MICPERSPECTIVE | Write |
DESIGNER | Write |
RECORDIST | Write |
MANUFACTURER | Write |
LIBRARY | Write |
RELEASEDATE | Write |
URL | Write |
KEYWORDS | Write |
RATING | Write |
CATEGORYFULL | Write |
CDTITLE | Write |
CHANNELLAYOUT | Write |
ERA | Write |
GPSALT | Write |
GPSLAT | Write |
GPSLON | Write |
INDEX | Write |
LOCATION | Write |
LONGID | Write |
OPENTIER | Write |
RECMEDIUM | Write |
RECTYPE | Write |
SHOOTDATE | Write |
SHORTID | Write |
SHOW | Write |
SHOWCATEGORY | Write |
SHOWSUBCATEGORY | Write |
SOURCE | Write |
TAPE | Write |
TRACK | Write |
TRACKYEAR | Write |
USERCATEGORY | Write |
USERCOMMENTS | Write |
VENDORCATEGORY | Write |
VOLUME | Write |
SOURCEID | Write |
USERDATA | Write |
NOTES | Write |
DESCRIPTION * | Write |
Other <USER> keys | Passthrough |
* DESCRIPTION mirrors BWF Description, and is written only to files that already contain the key - round-trip preservation for tools that use it. It is never added to files that lack it.
iXML <STEINBERG> block (Nuendo / Cubase MediaBay)
Embedded <ATTR_LIST> block for round-trip with Steinberg DAWs.
| ATTR <NAME> | Action |
|---|---|
MediaCategoryType | Passthrough |
MediaRecordingMethod | Write |
MediaComment | Write |
MediaRecordingLocation | Write |
MediaTrackTitle | Write |
MusicalInstrument | Passthrough |
MediaArtist | Passthrough |
MusicalCategory | Write |
MediaCategoryPost | Write |
MediaAlbum | Write |
AudioSoundMixer | Write |
MediaLibraryName | Write |
AudioSoundEditor | Write |
MediaLibraryManufacturerName | Write |
MediaTemplateCategory | Passthrough |
AudioEpisode | Passthrough |
MediaCompany | Passthrough |
MusicalCharacter | Passthrough |
Unknown <ATTR> entries | Passthrough |
iXML <ASWG> block (Sony ASWG iXML Extension v1.1)
Embedded inside the iXML chunk as a top-level <ASWG> block. Open standard (Sony PlayStation Studios Audio Standards Working Group). Tag names use camelCase per the ASWG spec.
| Element | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
<schemaVersion> | Auto | "1.1" |
<contentType> | Write | SFX / Music / Dialogue / Ambience / Foley |
<project> | Write | |
<originator> | Write | |
<originatorStudio> | Passthrough | Preserved if present from another tool |
<notes> | Write | |
<session> | Write | |
<state> | Write | mastered / processed / raw / placeholder |
<editor> | Write | |
<mixer> | Write | |
<fxChainName> | Write | |
<channelConfig> | Write | |
<micType> | Write | |
<micConfig> | Passthrough | Preserved if present from another tool |
<micDistance> | Write | |
<recordingLoc> | Write | |
<recEngineer> | Write | |
<recStudio> | Write | |
<isDesigned> | Passthrough | Preserved if present from another tool |
<ambisonicFormat> | Write | AmbiX / FuMa |
<ambisonicChnOrder> | Write | ACN / FuMa |
<ambisonicNorm> | Write | SN3D / N3D / MaxN |
<category> | Write | UCS Category |
<subCategory> | Write | UCS SubCategory |
<catId> | Write | UCS CatID |
<library> | Write | |
<songTitle> | Write | |
<isrcId> | Write | International Standard Recording Code |
<language> | Write | BCP 47 language tag (e.g. en-US) for speech content |
<fxName> | Write | |
<userCategory> | Write | UCS user-defined category |
<userData> | Write | UCS user data |
<vendorCategory> | Write | UCS vendor-defined category |
<sourceId> | Write | UCS source ID |
<creatorId> | Write | SFX creator / publisher |
User-Defined Fields
Every library and studio has its own metadata conventions. WAVScribe includes the standard field set listed above. But what happens when those fields aren’t enough? Enter Custom Fields. WAVScribe allows you to add your own!
Custom Fields
Create as many custom fields as you need. Each field consists of a user-supplied display label and a derived key (the XML tag name written to disk). Custom fields are stored in the iXML <USER> block. This location is standard for this type of field.
Custom fields are intended primarily for use within WAVScribe. Other tools that read iXML may or may not preserve custom keys on round-trip. They typically won't display them in their main interface either, as they have no way of knowing what these unfamiliar keys mean. Some applications let you see a "raw" iXML metadata view, where these custom keys will also be visible.
| Behavior | Detail |
|---|---|
| On-disk persistence | iXML <USER> block, as <USER_KEY>value</USER_KEY> child elements |
| Key derivation | Display label converted to uppercase with spaces replaced by underscores; characters other than letters, digits, underscores, and hyphens are removed, and a key cannot begin with a digit or hyphen |
| Cross-tool behavior | Preservation by iXML-aware tools on round-trip is not guaranteed; display varies - most tools won't surface custom keys in their main UI |
| UI options | Each field can be pinned to the main editor panel |
| Definition storage | Field definitions saved locally in custom_fields.json |
<FIELD_RECORDIST>value</FIELD_RECORDIST> inside the iXML <USER> block.
_PMXXMP (Adobe XMP Specification Part 1)
Placement: single post-data chunk. The XMP specification does not mandate a position.
Standard XMP namespaces (always written when value present)
| Property | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
xmp:CreatorTool | Auto | "WAVScribe" |
xmp:MetadataDate | Auto | ISO 8601 with local TZ offset |
xmp:ModifyDate | Auto | ISO 8601 with local TZ offset |
xmp:Rating | Write | Float 0.0–5.0 per Adobe convention |
dc:description | Write | BWF Description mirror |
dc:title | Write | Sourced from Asset Title |
dc:subject | Write | Keywords |
xmpDM:genre | Write | Sourced from UCS Category |
xmpDM:album | Write | Sourced from CD Title |
xmpDM:logComment | Write | Sourced from Notes |
xmpDM:comment | Write | Sourced from Notes |
Other XMP namespaces
| Property | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Unknown namespace properties (vendor extensions, xmpRights:, third-party tool namespaces, etc.) | Passthrough | Preserved verbatim across read / write; surface in Extended Metadata |
LIST/INFORIFF INFO
Placement: pre-data, per RIFF convention.
| Sub-chunk | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
INAM | Write | Asset title |
IART | Passthrough | Artist - preserved verbatim; surfaces in Extended Metadata |
IKEY | Write | Keywords |
IGNR | Write | Genre / UCS Category |
IPRD | Write | Product / CD Title |
ICMT | Write | Comment / BWF Description mirror |
ICRD | Write | Creation date / BWF Origination Date mirror |
IARL | Passthrough | Archival location - preserved verbatim; surfaces in Extended Metadata |
ISFT | Auto | "WAVScribe" |
All other INFO sub-chunks (ICOP, IENG, ISBJ, ITCH, etc.) | Passthrough | Preserved verbatim |
LIST/adtl (cue point labels): preserved on save.
ID3ID3v2.3 tag
Placement: single post-data chunk, consolidating any duplicate source tags. WAVScribe writes ID3v2.3; reads ID3v2.3 and ID3v2.4.
| Frame | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
TIT2 | Write | Title - sourced from Asset Title |
TPE1 | Passthrough | Lead Performer - preserved verbatim; surfaces in Extended Metadata |
TIT3 | Write | Subtitle / Description Refinement - sourced from Notes |
TALB | Write | Album - sourced from CD Title |
TCON | Write | Content Type - sourced from UCS Category |
TSRC | Write | ISRC |
TDRC | Write | Recording Time - sourced from BWF Origination Date |
TYER | Write | Year (ID3v2.3-era frame) - derived from BWF Origination Date |
COMM | Write | Comment - sourced from BWF Description |
POPM | Write | Popularimeter (rating) |
APIC | Write | Attached Picture (artwork; JPEG / PNG) |
TSSE | Auto | "WAVScribe" |
All other frames (TXXX, PRIV, UFID, WXXX, GEOB, TIPL, TMCL, TPE2, TORY, etc.) | Passthrough | Preserved verbatim; surface in Extended Metadata |
Legacy lowercase id3 chunk is consolidated to uppercase ID3 on save.
Other chunks preserved on save
WAVScribe never strips chunks it does not actively manage. The following are preserved verbatim through every read / write cycle:
| Chunk | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
cart | Read-only | AES46-2002 broadcast cart; full field display in Extended Metadata |
cue | Passthrough | Cue points |
plst | Passthrough | Playlist |
smpl | Passthrough | Sampler data |
inst | Passthrough | Instrument data |
LIST/adtl | Passthrough | Cue point labels |
fact | Passthrough | Compressed-data sample count |
ds64 | Passthrough | 64-bit size table (RF64 / BW64 container) |
axml | Passthrough | ADM (Audio Definition Model) XML |
chna | Passthrough | ADM channel arrangement |
| Vendor and third-party chunks | Passthrough | Surface in Extended Metadata |
WAVScribe reads and writes metadata in RF64 / BW64 64-bit WAV files in addition to standard RIFF WAV.
Format references
- Broadcast Wave Format (bext): EBU R 85-2004, EBU Tech 3285
- iXML: Gallery iXML Specification, Revision 3.01 (Gallery UK, October 2021)
- ASWG: Sony ASWG iXML Extension v1.1 (github.com/Sony-ASWG/iXML-Extension)
- XMP: Adobe XMP Specification Part 1 (ISO 16684-1)
- LIST/INFO: Microsoft RIFF Multimedia File Reference
- ID3: ID3v2.3 (id3.org), ID3v2.4
- RF64 / BW64: EBU Tech 3306
- CART: AES46-2002
- ADM: ITU-R BS.2076
- UCS: Universal Category System v8.2.1 (universalcategorysystem.com)