Beets: MQA

[Extarys]

Use case

I'd like a way for beet to detect MQA file so we can properly tag them in the folder name/path.

Solution

Implement a $is_mqa variable. example: $if{$is_mqa, [MQA]}

I won't be buying MQA files again, but I'm sure other users would like to properly tag them.

[sampsyo]

Hi! Can you explain a little bit more about what an MQA file is and how software might detect them?

[RollingStar]

https://github.com/redsudo/mqaid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated

[Extarys]

I'm having a hard time understanding how it works but from what I understood: It is a proprietary file format that "hides" more data in the lower band into a FLAC container. A decoder could use the hidden lossy info in the lower band to generate 96-24+ files. Tidal uses this. It allows for a smaller file size with debatable higher audio quality and there is quite a lot of controversy surrounding this format.

I didn't know about mqaid, looks neat!

[sampsyo]

Huh, that's interesting! Do y'all know whether beets can currently import these files—i.e., do they "look" like FLAC files to the Mutagen library? Or would Mutagen need to learn about a new container format?

[Extarys]

@sampsyo I didn't test it but MQA is not in their docs nor it is mentioned on their github repo (quodlibet/mutagen). So I presume an issue/PR there is required.

[sampsyo]

I suppose what I meant to clarify is: what happens currently if you try to import such a file into beets with the beet import command? Does it do anything at all?

[stale[bot]]

Is this still relevant? If so, what is blocking it? Is there anything you can do to help move it forward?

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[Extarys]

Well the file look like flac files and beet can import them and tag them. I can also fingerprint them and use acousticbrainz on them.

The only difference I found in the metadata is that some files/albums have "MQAEncoder" value as the "Encoder".

EDIT: Good bot, thank you.
EDIT 2:
To add to @RollingStar 's anwser, I also found this library today: MQA_identifier, but no binary is provided for linux and I didn't try to compile nor did I test it.