How to use the command id3v2 (with examples)

The id3v2 command is used to manage id3v2 tags, convert files to id3v2 format, and list id3v1 tags. It provides various functionalities for manipulating and retrieving metadata information from audio files.

Use case 1: List all genres

Code:

id3v2 --list-genres

Motivation: You may want to see a complete list of genres available in the id3v2 standard. This can be useful when you want to select the appropriate genre for your audio files.

Explanation: The --list-genres option is used to display a list of all available genres in the id3v2 standard.

Example output:

[...]
66: Rock
67: Techno
68: Modern Rock
69: Industrial
70: Alternative
71: Ska
72: Death Metal
[...]

Use case 2: List all tags of specific files

Code:

id3v2 --list-tags path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...

Motivation: You may want to retrieve all the metadata tags from specific audio files. This can be useful when you need to analyze or organize your music library.

Explanation: The --list-tags option is used to display all the id3v2 tags present in the given files.

Example output:

File: path/to/file1
--------------
id3v2 tag info for path/to/file1:
TP1(Lead performer(s)/Soloist(s)): Artist 1
TAL(Album/Movie/Show title): Album 1
TRK(Track number/Position in set): 1
TYE(TyE- Year): 1999

File: path/to/file2
--------------
id3v2 tag info for path/to/file2:
TP1(Lead performer(s)/Soloist(s)): Artist 2
TAL(Album/Movie/Show title): Album 2
TRK(Track number/Position in set): 7
TYE(TyE- Year): 2005

Use case 3: Delete all id3v2 or id3v1 tags of specific files

Code:

id3v2 --delete-v2|--delete-v1 path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...

Motivation: You may want to remove the id3v2 or id3v1 tags from specific audio files. This can be useful when you want to clean up the metadata or convert the files to a different format.

Explanation: The --delete-v2 option is used to delete all id3v2 tags from the given files, while the --delete-v1 option is used to delete all id3v1 tags from the given files.

Example output:

Deleted id3v2 tag from path/to/file1
Deleted id3v2 tag from path/to/file2

Use case 4: Display help

Code:

id3v2 --help

Motivation: You may need assistance or want to explore the available options and functionalities of the id3v2 command.

Explanation: The --help option is used to display the help information for the id3v2 command, including a list of available options and their descriptions.

Example output:

Usage: id3v2 [OPTION...] [FILE...]                             
Manage id3v2 tags, convert and list id3v1.

  -l, --list-genres      list all genre names
  -L, --list-genres-sort list all genre names sorted
[...]

Use case 5: Display version

Code:

id3v2 --version

Motivation: You may want to know the version of the installed id3v2 command.

Explanation: The --version option is used to display the version information of the id3v2 command.

Example output:

id3v2 version 0.1.12

Conclusion:

The id3v2 command provides a convenient way to manage id3v2 tags, convert file formats, and retrieve metadata information from audio files. Whether you want to explore available genres, retrieve specific tags, delete tags, get help information, or check the version, id3v2 has you covered. With its versatile functionality, you can easily organize and manipulate your music library.