Published by PitchChanger · Updated · How these guides are made
How to use this workflow
Write the required delivery settings
Note the requested codec or format, sample rate, channels and any title or artist tags that the receiving workflow needs.
Inspect the saved result
Use a local media inspector to read stream properties. Check tags in a player or tag editor as a separate step.
Verify the destination copy
Play the opening and ending, check duration and confirm the receiving application recognizes the file. Keep the source until the handoff is verified.
Separate stream properties from descriptive tags
Codec, sample rate and channel count describe the encoded audio stream. Title, artist, album and cover art describe the recording or release. Neither set can be inferred reliably from a filename such as rehearsal-final.m4a.
The converter exposes encoding settings but is not a tag editor and does not promise a complete metadata round-trip. If the destination needs exact tags or artwork, inspect the final file and use a separate tag editor when necessary. Do not claim that every tag is always removed either.
Swipe or scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Check | Example | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Codec | MP3, AAC, FLAC or PCM | Local stream inspector |
| Rate and channels | 44,100 Hz; one or two channels | Local stream inspector |
| Duration | Beginning, end and expected length | Inspector plus playback |
| Title and artist | Exact delivery text | Player or tag editor |
| Artwork | Correct image, if required | Player or tag editor |
A reproducible external inspection
With FFmpeg installed locally, run: ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=codec_name,sample_rate,channels,duration:format=duration:format_tags=title,artist,album -of json "converted.m4a". Replace the quoted filename with your saved file. This is an external diagnostic command, not a feature executed by PitchChanger.
Use the stream result to identify AAC versus ALAC in an M4A container. A missing tag field means that tag was not reported by this inspection; it does not prove that a player will display no fallback filename or database information.
Worked handoff: mono rehearsal memo
For a hypothetical mono source delivered as 44.1 kHz MP3, check codec_name = mp3, sample_rate = 44100, channels = 1 and the expected duration. Then separately check the requested title. This is a verification target, not a claimed export result.
If the rate is wrong, reconvert from the source with the intended supported setting. If only the artist tag is missing, changing the audio sample rate will not fix it. Repair the relevant tag externally and recheck that saved copy.
Common questions
Does changing the filename change codec metadata?
No. A filename or extension is separate from the actual encoded stream.
Does PitchChanger guarantee artwork survives conversion?
No. Inspect the final file; use a tag editor if exact descriptive metadata matters.