How to edit podcast mp3 metadata before publishing — free
- Step 1Export your mastered episode, then open the editor — After mastering (e.g. with the loudness-normalizer and true-peak-limiter), open the ID3 editor and drop the final
.mp3. - Step 2Set the episode Title — Put the episode name in Title. Include the episode number in the text if your show style does (e.g.
Ep 42: The Long Game) since there is no separate episode-name + number frame. - Step 3Put the show name in Album — Set Album to the podcast/show name, identically on every episode, so file-based players group the show together.
- Step 4Set Artist and Track # — Use Artist for the host or network, and Track # for the episode number (e.g.
42). This orders downloaded episodes correctly. - Step 5Embed the cover art — Drop the show or episode cover (JPG/PNG, ideally square) into the album-art picker so the artwork is embedded in the file itself.
- Step 6Process, download, then upload to your host — Run it, download the
*-tagged.mp3, and upload that file to Buzzsprout/Transistor/etc. Set season, episode type, and the explicit flag in the host's RSS settings.
Mapping podcast concepts onto the six ID3 fields
The editor writes standard ID3 fields, not podcast-specific frames. Use this mapping; set anything not listed here (season, episode type, explicit, episode summary) in your podcast host's RSS settings instead.
| Podcast concept | Editor field to use | ID3 frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode title | Title | TIT2 | Put the episode number in the text if you want it shown |
| Show / podcast name | Album | TALB | Keep identical across every episode to group the show |
| Host / network | Artist | TPE1 | The author shown in file-based players |
| Episode number | Track # | TRCK | Plain number (e.g. 42) so the back-catalogue orders |
| Release year | Year | TYER/TDRC | Four-digit year via the date key |
| Category (rough) | Genre | TCON | e.g. Podcast or your topic — free text |
| Episode / show cover | Album art | APIC | JPG/PNG; ideally 1400-3000px square per Apple guidance |
Set in the file vs set in your podcast host
What this tool can write into the MP3, and what must be set in your host's RSS settings because there is no ID3 field for it here.
| Field | Set in the MP3 (this tool)? | Where it actually controls display |
|---|---|---|
| Episode title | Yes (Title) | RSS <title> usually wins; ID3 is a fallback |
| Show name | Yes (Album) | File-based players + fallback; RSS owns the feed |
| Episode number | Yes (Track #) | RSS <itunes:episode> for apps; ID3 for downloads |
| Season number | No | Host RSS <itunes:season> only |
| Episode type (full/trailer/bonus) | No | Host RSS <itunes:episodeType> only |
| Explicit flag | No | Host RSS <itunes:explicit> only |
| Episode summary / show notes | No | Host RSS <description> only |
| Cover art | Yes (APIC) | Embedded for downloads; apps use the RSS image |
Tier limits for the ID3 editor
ID3 editing stream-copies the audio (no re-encode), so it is one of the lightest audio operations — but the same per-file ceilings apply. Tagging is single-file: the tool does not accept a multi-file drop, so the per-batch file count does not apply here.
| Tier | Max file size | Max duration | Files per run | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 MB | 30 minutes | 1 (single file) | Free, no account |
| Pro | 200 MB | 120 minutes | 1 (single file) | Paid |
| Pro-media | 100 GB | Unlimited | 1 (single file) | Paid |
| Developer | 100 GB | Unlimited | 1 (single file) | Paid |
Cookbook
Field mappings for real podcast workflows. Remember: ID3 tags are a fallback and a download-display source — your host's RSS settings drive most app behaviour.
Tag a numbered episode before upload
A standard numbered episode. Episode title in Title (with the number in the text), show in Album, episode number in Track #.
Fields: Title = Ep 42: The Long Game Album = The Builder's Hour Artist = Sam Okafor Track = 42 Year = 2026 Album art = show-cover-3000.jpg Output: ep42-tagged.mp3 -> upload to host
Keep the whole show grouped
Every episode uses the identical Album (show name) so a listener who downloads several episodes sees them grouped as one show in a file-based player.
ep40.mp3 -> Album=The Builder's Hour Track=40 ep41.mp3 -> Album=The Builder's Hour Track=41 ep42.mp3 -> Album=The Builder's Hour Track=42 (tag each separately; single file per run) Result: grouped under one show, ordered by episode
Where season and explicit actually go
There is no ID3 season or explicit frame in this editor. Set those in the host. The tool handles the file-level title/show/number/cover.
In the MP3 (this tool): Title, Album(show), Track#(episode), cover In the host RSS: <itunes:season>2</itunes:season> <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType> <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
Embed the cover so it travels with the file
Apps usually show the RSS image, but a direct download relies on embedded APIC art. Embed a square cover so the file looks right outside your host too.
Add: Album art = cover-3000x3000.jpg FFmpeg embeds APIC (stream-copied, not re-compressed) Direct download now shows the cover in any file player
Tag after mastering, without a second encode
Run the loudness pass first, then tag. Stream-copy means tagging does not re-encode your already-mastered MP3 — no extra lossy generation.
1. loudness-normalizer -> episode-norm.mp3 (-16 LUFS) 2. id3-editor (this tool) -> episode-norm-tagged.mp3 ffprobe shows identical bitrate before/after tagging
Edge cases and what actually happens
No season-number field
By designID3 has no first-class season frame in this editor. Set season in your podcast host's RSS (<itunes:season>). The Track # field is the episode number, not the season.
No explicit flag
Set in hostThere is no explicit checkbox here. The explicit marking lives in the RSS feed (<itunes:explicit>), controlled by your host — not the MP3 tag.
No episode summary / show notes field
Set in hostShow notes and the episode description are RSS fields, not ID3 frames in this tool. Enter them in your host.
App shows host metadata, not your ID3 tags
ExpectedPodcast apps prefer the RSS feed's title, image, and episode number. ID3 tags are a fallback and what direct file downloads display — set both for consistency.
Tagging after mastering is lossless
Lossless by designThe audio is stream-copied (-c copy), so tagging a mastered MP3 adds no second lossy encode on top of your export. Tag last in your workflow.
Episode number typed with letters
Stored as textTrack # is written verbatim. Use a plain number (42) so apps and players parse it as an episode number, not free text like Episode 42.
Episode file over the duration cap
413 over limitA 90-minute episode exceeds the Free 30-minute cap and may exceed Pro's 120-minute cap for very long shows. Upgrade or split the episode.
Cover art not square
ExpectedThe tool embeds whatever JPG/PNG you give it. Podcast directories expect a square 1400-3000px image — provide that to avoid cropping in apps.
Several episodes dropped at once
Single file onlyOne episode per run. Tag each episode, download, then upload. There is no batch tagging.
Cover is a WebP exported from a design tool
Rejected (invalid)Only JPG and PNG are accepted as cover art. Export your cover as JPG or PNG before embedding.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set the season and episode number in the MP3?
Episode number, yes — use the Track # field (TRCK). Season number, no — there is no ID3 season frame here; set the season in your podcast host's RSS settings (<itunes:season>).
Which field should hold the show name?
Album (TALB). Keep it identical across every episode so file-based players group the show. The host's RSS feed is what most apps actually display.
Where does the episode title go?
The Title field (TIT2). If you want the episode number visible, include it in the title text (e.g. Ep 42: ...), since there is no separate number-plus-title frame.
Can I set the explicit flag?
Not in this tool — the explicit marking is an RSS field (<itunes:explicit>) set in your podcast host, not an ID3 tag.
Will tagging re-encode my mastered audio?
No. The audio is stream-copied with -c copy, so tagging adds no second lossy pass. Do your loudness/limiting first, then tag last.
Should I embed cover art if my host already has artwork?
Yes, for direct downloads. Apps usually show the RSS image, but a downloaded file relies on the embedded APIC art. Use a square 1400-3000px JPG/PNG.
Why does my app show different metadata than the file?
Podcast apps read the RSS feed first; ID3 tags are a fallback and the source for direct file downloads. Keep both consistent to avoid confusion.
Can I tag all episodes in a season at once?
No — the tool is single-file. Tag each episode and upload it. The consistent Album (show) name keeps them grouped.
What image format should the cover be?
JPG or PNG only, ideally a square 1400-3000px image per Apple's podcast artwork guidance. WebP/GIF are not accepted.
Is the episode uploaded to you when I tag it?
No. Tagging runs in your browser via FFmpeg WASM. The episode is only uploaded when you send it to your podcast host.
Can I add show notes or a description here?
No — those are RSS fields in your host, not ID3 frames exposed by this tool. The tool handles title, show, host, number, year, genre, and cover.
What if I need to pull the old cover out first?
Use the album-art-extractor to extract the existing embedded cover, then embed a new one here.
Privacy first
Every JAD Audio tool runs entirely in your browser via FFmpeg (WebAssembly) and RNNoise. Your audio files never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.