Guidelines: Embedding Metadata in Broadcast WAVE Files - BWF MetaEdit Help

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NOTE: This is a presentation of the BWF MetaEdit help resource at the Federal Agencies Audio-Visual Digitization Guidelines Working Group Web site. This help resource is also a part of the BWF MetaEdit application, downloadable from SourceForge.

About this software

BWF MetaEdit was developed by the Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) supported by AudioVisual Preservation Solutions.

• Imports, edits, embeds, and exports specified metadata elements in WAVE audio files, including the bext chunk in Broadcast WAVE Format (BWF) files
• Exports metadata from Format Chunks (technical metadata) and from BEXT and INFO chunks (minimal metadata) as comma-separated values and/or XML, across a set of files or from individual files
• Evaluates, verifies, and embeds MD5 checksums, as applied to the WAVE file's data chunk (audio bitstream only)
• Can be used to enforce the metadata guideline developed by the Federal Agencies Audio-Visual Working Group, as well as recommendations and specifications from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Microsoft, and IBM
• Reports certain errors in the construction of WAVE files
• Configured as both command line and GUI, for Windows/PC Macintosh OS, Linux; see list of options at SourceForge

Use

• Suggested Workflows. How you might use the tool.
• Preferences. Setting the parameters.
• Use of Audio Only Checksums. Special feature for data integrity verification. At this time, not part of the Federal Agencies guidelines.
• Application of Validation Rules. BWF MetaEdit may be set to enforce various set of rules when editing metadata.

Explanation of BWF MetaEdit Views and Documents

• TECH. Information about each file: file size, metadata from the format chunk, existence of other metadata chunks, warnings of problems with the file.
• CORE. Document that supports BEXT and LIST-INFO metadata exchange between BWF MetaEdit and other applications.
• TRACE. Supports the visual inspection of the RIFF structure of an audio file.
• Explanation of Errors and Warnings. List of possible error and warning messages.

Metadata Standards

• Definitions and Use of BEXT metadata. Detailed information about BEXT and comparison of EBU and Federal Agencies recommendations.
• Definitions and Use of LIST-INFO metadata. Detailed information about the Federal Agencies recommendations.
• XML chunks. About applying the tool to the aXML, iXML, and XMP chunks columns. Double-clicking on the 'aXML', 'iXML', or 'XMP' cell for open any audio file will open a window displaying the XML data stored in the associated chunk. The user may read, write or edit data directly in this window.

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Working Groups

Still Image Working Group
This group is involved in a cooperative effort to develop common digitization guidelines for still image materials.

Audio-Visual Working Group
The goal for this working group is to identify, establish, and disseminate information about standards and practices for the digital reformatting of audio-visual materials by federal agencies.