Mp3tag edits metadata tags for digital music collections across common audio formats.
tone
Audio tags can be viewed and modified in tone, a cross-platform metadata editor supporting MP3, M4B, and FLAC.
About tone
tone is a terminal application for dumping and modifying audio file metadata. It supports formats including mp3, m4b and flac, and can show file information such as bitrate, channels and duration, with output in formats including ffmetadata and filterable JSON.
It is distributed as a single binary with no dependencies for Windows, macOS and Linux. Tag changes are written in place, so the source states they are only safe on local block storage and users should keep a backup; use on remote storage such as network shares may break files.
Key features
- Dump audio file metadata and stream info like bitrate, channels, duration
- Output metadata as ffmetadata, chptfmtnative, or filterable JSON
- Modify standard tags, custom fields, covers, and chapters
- Set tags from filenames using --path-pattern
- Create custom JavaScript taggers with --script option
- Runs as single binary with no dependencies on Windows, macOS, Linux
Best for: People who want to tag m4b audiobooks and other audio files from the command line.
Good for
- Distributed as a single binary with no dependencies
- Supports mp3, m4b, flac and more formats
- Offers JSON output with query filtering and multiple metadata formats
Watch out for
- Terminal application with no graphical interface described
- Modifies files in place and is only safe on local block storage
- macOS ARM64 build noted as not working at time of excerpt
tone at a glance
- Website
- github.com/sandreas/tone
- Category
- Music & Audio › Music Tools
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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tone FAQ
Can I edit files stored on a network share?
The source advises against it. Changes are made in place without copying and are only safe on local block storage such as a hard disk or SD card, and you should keep a backup.
How do I install tone?
Download the single file for your platform from the releases page. It has no dependencies and can be moved into your PATH.
Which audio formats does tone handle?
It handles mp3, m4b, flac and more.
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