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Tag sources

Tag sources look up metadata, lyrics and artwork for selected files. Choose a result, check its fields and file-to-track matches, then save the changes.

Choose a source

Source Use it for Setup
MusicBrainz Release metadata and Cover Art Archive artwork No key
Discogs Releases, catalog numbers and artwork Optional personal token; some builds include an application key
iTunes Store album metadata and artwork No key; choose the store country in Options
Deezer Album metadata, ISRCs and artwork No key
LRCLIB Lyrics matched to each selected file No key
AcoustID Recordings identified by audio fingerprint API key; fingerprinting libraries are included
Last.fm Album metadata and listener tags for GENRE API key
fanart.tv Album covers and disc artwork API key; covers only
freedb / freedb (local) Disc metadata from a CDDB server or local database folder Configure the server or local folder in Options

Covers: MusicBrainz…, Covers: Discogs…, Covers: iTunes…, Covers: Deezer… and Covers: fanart.tv… write artwork without changing text fields. A provider may have no result for your edition.

Search, review and save

  1. Select the files for one album. Check their order and existing tags.
  2. Choose a source from Tag Sources, choose a search type, enter the identifying information and select Search or Look up for an ID.
  3. Select a search result and choose Next. An ID lookup opens the review directly. Preview opens the source's page in your browser without writing tags.
  4. In Fields, uncheck values to keep unchanged and edit proposed values where needed. Missing source values do not clear existing fields.
  5. Check Tracks and files. Use Auto-match, Selection order or Suggest sorting, then drag files or use row arrows to correct matches. AcoustID retains fingerprint pairs; LRCLIB's per-file result keeps file order.
  6. Choose whether to write artwork and replace existing covers. Save image to file also saves it beside the written files, using the configured cover file name.
  7. Select Save tags to … files or Save cover to … files. Its count shows how many files will be written.

Saving writes immediately. Unmatched files and files with no checked source values or selected cover are skipped. A successful import is one undo step; use Edit → Undo to undo it. Cancel leaves proposed tag changes unwritten. Save cover as… saves the displayed image separately when requested; canceling the tagging dialog does not cancel that separate save.

Save image to file replaces an existing image with the same name and extension. Replace existing artwork controls embedded covers; it does not protect an existing external image from that replacement.

Repeat the last source with Cmd+I / Ctrl+I. Add Shift (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) to start its search immediately when the required input is available.

Set up API keys

Open Tag Sources → API keys… for AcoustID, Last.fm and fanart.tv. Each section says whether this build includes a key. Without a built-in or saved key, the corresponding source stays unavailable.

Enter your key and choose Save. An empty box keeps the saved key; Remove the saved key deletes it. Saved keys are not displayed again. Your AcoustID or Last.fm key takes precedence over a built-in key. For fanart.tv, your personal key accompanies a built-in project key; without a project key, your key is used as the project key.

The dialog provides registration addresses. Availability depends on the installed build and provider; do not assume every downloaded or locally compiled build includes working keys.

Last.fm

Choose Tag Sources → Last.fm…. Artist and album looks up that album directly; Album title words searches by album title. MusicBrainz release ID accepts a release MBID for a direct lookup.

The review shows available album and track metadata, cover art and filtered, title-cased listener tags as GENRE. Choose the genre count in Options → Tag Sources → Online services. Personal collection tags and bare numbers are filtered, but review the remaining genres. Artwork is limited to the images Last.fm supplies, typically up to 300 pixels.

fanart.tv

Choose Tag Sources → Covers: fanart.tv…. Search by artist and album or free text, or enter a MusicBrainz release group ID or address. A release group collects editions of an album; an individual release address is refused.

Search results come from MusicBrainz; artwork comes from fanart.tv. Front covers are ordered by likes, followed by disc artwork. Choose the image to write to all selected files. This source supplies no text metadata.

Network access and privacy

Online searches need a network connection. They send search terms and identifiers to providers; per-file lyrics lookups send track metadata and duration. AcoustID sends a locally computed fingerprint and duration, not the audio file. Preview also contacts the source in your browser. There is no downloaded offline mirror of these online catalogs. A configured local freedb folder can supply disc metadata without a server lookup.

Personal API keys live in tag-sources.json in OpenTag's configuration folder, separately from ordinary Options. They are text with restricted file permissions where supported, not encrypted by OpenTag. Keep this file out of shared configuration copies. Discogs also has an optional system keychain location. Built-in application keys are part of the installed binary; they cannot keep an individual's secret confidential from someone inspecting that binary.

OpenTag avoids putting credentials in displayed errors. Authentication still sends the required credential to its provider over HTTPS; Last.fm uses a request URL parameter. Consult provider terms before redistributing data or artwork.

Requests are spaced separately by service. iTunes pauses several seconds between requests; many per-file lookups or album pages take longer. Correct missing-key errors, and wait before retrying quota or server errors. Starting a newer source request supersedes older work without resetting provider quotas.