Can i display the bitrate of audiofiles in the finder?

Question

Can i display the bitrate of audiofiles in the finder?

Nooblet question (recent switcher):
Is there a way to display some meta data that is specific to audio files in the finder?
I have to manage thousands of small audio files for a set of voiceresponse systems, and sometimes i need to adapt things like the bitrate.
It would make my life so very much more easy if i could just see the relevant information at a glance in the finder or in the preview thingie.

Thnx!

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 16, 2006 9:45 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 16, 2006 10:16 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

It is good idea for getting help be more specific, like posting your computer model, system, and application for those files.
Command+I is the first option.

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Answer 2

Nov 16, 2006 10:51 AM in response to PanchoLopez

The files concerned are mostly wav and mp3.
Command-i does not give me the info i need. It does display the duration and the number of channels of the file, but not the samplerate and bits per channel.
For example, the Asterisk telephony server wants its files in 8KHz, 16bit, Mono format. If a file is in that format (or if not, in what else) i would like to be able to see.
At the moment i am still condemned to transfer the files to my parallels shared folders and do it in wondows. Quite a hassle i would think.

The computer model etc are in the signature that the forum automagicaly attached afaik. The application for those files? erm... none?

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Answer 3

Nov 16, 2006 11:35 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

If you open those files using iTunes, then you can get that information:
For example
Kind:MPEG audio file Format: MPEG-1 Layer 3
Bit Rate: 160 kbps Channels: Joint Stereo
Sample Rate: 44.100 kHz etc.....
iTunes can convert from and to AIFF, AAC, MP3, WAV and APPLE lossless encoder (Advanced option)
You can try Audacity for free. It has many audio options
If this answered your question please consider granting some stars: Why reward points?

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Answer 4

Nov 17, 2006 6:42 AM in response to PanchoLopez

That is correct. However, as i stated in the opening-post, i have to manage thousands of small audio files. Opening them all individualy in itunes and then doing rightclick-fileinfo is going to cost me days of irritation and RSI too. It makes me think that the switch to MAC was a bad one, as this info is easily accessible on windows. Not wanting to believe that myself, lets find a real sollution.

So, back to my original question: is there a way to display this information in the finder, or in the preview thingy?
I know the meta info is there somewhere, as spotlight can do a search on it.

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Answer 5

Nov 17, 2006 9:32 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

Excuse me, just curious, how it is the way to display this information you explain in the finder using windows?
Maybe this way I -somebody- can figure out how solve your problem.
We -Mac way- can get info for some file and with a given option "Use this application to open documents like this" +Change All manage multiple items.
And I think within that application change all of them with few steps.
And believe me you are the second or third person I hear "made the switch to MAC a bad one"
I think there are 10 to one better reasons to switch to Mac.
Best wishes

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Answer 6

Nov 17, 2006 10:02 AM in response to PanchoLopez

Changed the default application for wavs to itunes, but that doesnt change anything.

I just discovered that i dont know how to do a printscreen from parallels, as the key itself is missing 🙂
Anyway, in the windows version of COMMAND-i the information i need is displayed. Bitrate, Sample size, Channels, Sample rate, Audio format...
And if you rightclick on the windows explorers top bar of the file listing pannel, you can select more fields to display in the listing. If you there click on More... you will again find Bit Rate, Sample size ... etc.
So to cut it short, in windows i can customize the explorer/finder to display exactly what fields i want to see, whie the MAC finder has only a very limited amount of view options. (but perhaps something can be set in a way that i have not found yet. any ppl around that have deeper knowledge?)

I also found something else: in Path Finder (a 3rd party Finder replacement) it is possible to do what i want, it can display all the file's meta data in a preview screen.
Nice, however this tool is not for free, and to dish out cash for something i feel the finder should support by default is not realy what i want.

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 7

Nov 17, 2006 11:24 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

I found this, hopefully it can help you:
Finder is basic. It works but not like how you want it to.

You might want to consider muCommander or possibly XFolders as they are a Finder "replacement", so-to-speak. They act much more like a Windows-style file manager, and will offer more of what you are looking for. And best of all, FREE.

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Answer 8

Nov 17, 2006 11:58 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

You don't have to right click and do a GetInfo in iTunes. You can have the bit rate and sample rate display as columns in iTunes. Just go to iTunes->View menu, then select Show View Options. Put check marks in front of the items you want displayed. You'll notice that both bit and sample rate are available.

You can also use either the Terminal or Mark Douma's Metadata Examiner to see the metadata for individual files. You could probably get some help to make an Automator action or an AppleScript to do the same. In Terminal you type:

mdls

a space, then drag and drop the file and hit return. The metadata is displayed. Personally I prefer Mark's little application:

http://homepage.mac.com/francines/xshop/MetadataExaminer.zip

I keep it in the Dock, then drop any file I want to examine on it.
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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Answer 9

Nov 20, 2006 5:37 AM in response to Francine Schwieder

Thank you, that is a neat litle program indeed.
not quite what i need for the thousands of files i am managing, but very helpfull nonetheless.

You could probably get some help to make an Automator action or an AppleScript to do the same.

Aha! now we are entering into the domain of true hacking and customisation, thats more like it.
Where should i ask help for Automator actions or AppleScripts? (as i am a total newb in those fields)

Thnx!

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Answer 10

Nov 20, 2006 8:15 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

Although this is for itunes, there are links for more scripts sites.
http://forums.ilounge.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=62

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Answer 11

Nov 20, 2006 11:54 AM in response to Ellert van Koperen

The Applescript forum is here:

http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724&start=0

Lots of very helpful people who can do amazing things with Applescript (I'm limited to borrowing and modifying scripts).

And the Automator forum is here:

http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=749

One nice thing about an Automator action is that it can be stored and then accessed with a right click on a file or folder. I have a couple of simple ones, again, I'm no expert on using it, but the forum has many who are.
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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