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Please see this document for information on which fields are read from / written to the varying file types from rekordbox.
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ID3 tag editing in Windows files
I installed Rekordbox v. 6, first time using any DJ software, and it appears when I edit a tag on a song in the collection, such as rating, Rekordbox is NOT saving the change to the ID3 tag in the file itself... it's saving it in the Rekordbox database/XML file. This is not helpful for long-term management of a large music library. Can Rekordbox save these changes to the music file itself? If so, how? If not, do any other Pioneer products do this? Thank you.
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I think the biggest problem here is that the rating field is not universally supported. A quick google search revealed that any software that supports writing and reading the rating field in the actual file uses their own custom fields to store it. In other words, Windows Media Player supports reading the rating tag but nothing else reads that version. Media Monkey can read a rating tag if it's a Media Monkey rating field. It appears there is no standard. Rekordbox could be coded to write that field to the song file but (from what I have read) nothing else would read it. iTunes stores it separately in a database on the computer drive. Rekordbox does the same. In order for it to be universal, standards would have to be set.
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Thanks to you both for the feedback and link to the metadata matrix!
I do recall reading something about the ID3 standard being contested over the years by software companies. All I know is that when I change a rating on an MP3 in Media Monkey or VirtualDJ, then go look at the file details in Windows, the rating is reflected in Windows. But, as the matrix confirms, Rekordbox does not write to the ratings field in any format. So advantage VirtualDJ for sure. But I also know what you're describing about iTunes. It ignores the Windows ID3 rating tag when importing. In both cases it seems for itunes and Rekordbox (and likely a bunch of other music apps) they see competitive advantage in locking users in to their propriety format or database. Once you've invested time, you're disuaded from leaving. Well some of us value having a open source library, to ensure our time and emotional investment are rewarded for decades to come. Therefore, I am sticking with VirtualDJ. It's great for file management and mixing!
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You can always use rekordcloud to switch DJ apps so you're not fully locked in. And rekordcloud also has the Tag Writer that can write tags to all your files so they are the same as in your Rekordbox (or VirtualDJ) database. It should support all tags.
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