Installation and update verification
The 2.0.0 installer and update ZIP were replaced on 23 September 2026 to simplify the release downloads. If you downloaded 2.0.0 earlier, download the installer again: the version number has not changed, so an existing 2.0.0 installation will not automatically replace the earlier build. The Windows installer is not Authenticode-signed, so Windows may show an unknown-publisher warning or stricter application-control settings may block it. Download only from this official GitHub release. MetaEdit checks an update installer against the SHA-256 digest and exact size in the official GitHub release asset record before launch. Compatible Studio Hub builds use the same digest.
After three months of intensive development, MetaEdit Plus returns with its largest update so far. During that time, the application has been rebuilt into a professional audio and video metadata workspace with 56 standard fields, batch and per-file editing, reviewed staging, provider-assisted identification, complete artwork collections, library analysis, automation, and recoverable writes. A complete interface redesign brings the editor, navigation, workflow pages, write pipeline, settings, and installer into one consistent system created for long, focused library sessions from the first file selection through the final reviewed write.
Complete Workspace Redesign
The application was rebuilt as one coordinated editing workspace.
- Unified application layout: the Library, metadata editor, contextual inspector, Process Log, workflow pages, and action bar now work together in one consistent interface.
- Consistent visual system: pages, windows, menus, text fields, tables, dialogs, context menus, scrollbars, and action buttons use the same spacing, borders, interaction states, and keyboard behaviour.
- Synchronized selection: the selected file remains aligned across the Library, editor, workflow pages, Previous and Next commands, and reviewed results.
- Responsive page layouts: full-window and compact layouts retain usable controls, complete table columns, predictable scrolling, and a fixed action area without clipped or overlapping content.
- Command Center: search the complete command catalog by name, purpose, or shortcut, launch available commands from the keyboard, and see why an unavailable command cannot run in the current scope.
Advanced Metadata Editor
- 56 standard metadata fields: Core, Credits, Release, IDs & Sorting, and Technical sections cover identity, contributors, release data, catalog values, sorting, encoding, language, and loudness metadata.
- Batch and Per-File modes: apply deliberate shared edits to checked files or maintain independent staged values for each selected file.
- Custom and format-specific fields: edit additional native fields directly with consistent inline Name, Value, Add, and Delete behaviour.
- Reusable editor layouts: choose which fields are visible, order them within each section, and save layouts for different tagging jobs.
- Saved field sets and mappings: store reusable metadata sets, restore selected values, and maintain container-specific field mappings.
Reviewed Staging and Safe Writes
- One staging model: editor changes, artwork, provider results, lyrics, ReplayGain values, rules, and imports all enter the same reviewed change set.
- Detailed Change Review: inspect the destination file, field, current value, and proposed value before committing changes.
- Explicit write boundary: analysis and preview commands never write media. Write Tags remains the deliberate final action.
- Guarded file updates: the checked scope is validated before mutation, same-folder working copies protect replacement operations, and failures remain visible per file.
- Recovery, undo, and redo: supported writes retain exact before-and-after metadata, extended fields, and complete artwork collections for recovery operations.
Provider-Assisted Auto Tag
- Per-file identification: identify an individual recording from acoustic and metadata evidence, then review confidence, provider agreement, conflicts, artwork, and proposed fields.
- Batch release matching: identify a checked album as one release, review editions and track assignments, and stage selected metadata across the collection.
- Multiple metadata sources: AcoustID, MusicBrainz, Discogs, and iTunes can contribute evidence without bypassing user review.
- Field and artwork choices: compare provider values with existing tags and decide exactly what enters staging.
- Visible provider failures: rate limits, authentication errors, malformed responses, cancellation, and unavailable sources are reported without creating false matches or writes.
Complete Artwork Collections
- Multiple embedded images: add, replace, reorder, describe, inspect, export, and remove complete picture collections instead of reducing a file to one cover.
- Artwork roles and descriptions: maintain front and back covers, booklet pages, media artwork, artist images, illustrations, logos, and other supported picture types.
- Detailed image properties: inspect dimensions, encoded size, format, aspect ratio, colour depth, resolution, pixel format, colour profile, alpha channel, frame count, pixel count, and orientation.
- Controlled image processing: configure maximum dimensions, JPEG quality, PNG handling, and the default picture type while keeping changes staged until Write Tags.
- Collection-safe copy and paste: transfer complete ordered collections without flattening unrelated embedded artwork.
Text, Filename, and Rule Automation
- Text Tools: find and replace values, change letter case, and normalize whitespace across selected fields with a reviewed preview.
- Tags from Filename: extract structured metadata from filenames with reusable field expressions.
- Filename from Tags: build filenames from metadata with invalid-character and collision checks before any rename.
- Filename from Filename: rearrange existing filename structures without requiring tag changes.
- Rule Studio: combine conditions with ordered actions, dry-run the checked scope, inspect every result, and save reusable local rules.
- Clean & Organize: create a destination plan, review moves and renames, resolve conflicts, and commit guarded organization work with recovery support.
Library and Collection Intelligence
- Persistent libraries: register folders, build local indexes, rescan changed media, and reopen large collections without rebuilding every view from scratch.
- Configurable Library columns: choose, order, size, sort, and save built-in or expression-driven columns with guarded width values.
- Library Health: find unreadable tags, missing fields, album inconsistencies, numbering problems, artwork differences, and duplicate evidence without changing media.
- Search and filtering: filter loaded media and large result sets while preserving keyboard focus and the active selection.
- Professional Process Log: review ordered application, Library, editing, analysis, and write events with status, task, message, progress, and useful target context.
Lyrics, ReplayGain, Chapters, and Video
- Lyrics Lookup: search, compare, and preview plain or synchronized lyrics, then stage or export the selected result.
- ReplayGain analysis: decode checked audio, calculate track and album evidence, and stage ReplayGain 2 values without normalizing or re-encoding the source.
- Chapter Editor: create and edit chapter timing, titles, subtitles, identifiers, URLs, and descriptions with validation and sidecar support.
- Video metadata: inspect and edit supported video-container metadata alongside audio collections.
- Optional media tools: commands that depend on FFmpeg, MKVToolNix, or fpcalc clearly report their requirements when a tool is unavailable.
Import, Export, and Reporting
- Reviewed metadata import: inspect CSV and line-pattern sources with matched, unmatched, duplicate, empty, and invalid rows kept visible before staging.
- Structured export: create CSV, JSON, M3U, M3U8, metadata reports, and formatted text output from the checked scope.
- Copy as Text: build reusable templates, group output, preview the exact document, and copy or save it without changing media.
- Profile archives and support bundles: back up reusable settings and export redacted diagnostics without including media, artwork bytes, credentials, or private file content.
Local Operation, Optional Sync, and Updates
- Fully usable without an account: editing, analysis, staging, writing, recovery, and local profiles do not require Arctisoft Studio Hub.
- Optional preference sync: Studio Hub synchronization is off by default and covers portable application preferences only. Media, artwork bytes, paths, credentials, indexes, and recovery data remain local.
- Standalone application updates: Stable, Preview, and Manual channels can be checked directly from MetaEdit Plus. Available installers are downloaded and verified before launch.
- Optional Hub management: Arctisoft Studio Hub can continue to install, launch, and update MetaEdit Plus alongside other Arctisoft applications.
Installer and Release Reliability
- Reworked Windows installer: the installer supports clean installation, recognized upgrades, uninstall registration, and requested shortcuts.
- Verified update packages: GitHub release asset records provide the published file size and SHA-256 digest; MetaEdit verifies both before launching an update.
- Broader application validation: media formats, write transactions, recovery, accessibility, responsive layouts, workflows, installer behaviour, and release artifacts are covered by the rebuilt validation suite.
Note: If you encounter any bugs or issues, please don't hesitate to open an issue. For any questions or to start a discussion, feel free to initiate a discussion on the GitHub repository.