Why does Ableton 12 add a quote in the RIFF header when I bounce a WAV file?
Noticed Ableton bounces are adding a JUNK section in the RIFF header. Internet says this is normally ignored, but I don’t want this info to be there for when I upload to distributors. I’ve heard people lose listener counts if the file changes too much during a re-upload, and since the platform algorithms probably use listener count in some capacity to determine if a song should be added to a playlist, I’m concerned about this.
I have an Ableton Live 12 Suite license, so I should be able to bounce professional, “done” songs without having to worry about this bullshit.
Using Meta.app to write my own metadata to the file doesn’t remove the JUNK section of the header. I’m using HexFiend.app to view the binary data of the WAV file. It’s available on the App Store or whatever.
You can try too! Here are the steps to reproduce:
- Cmd + Shift + T Create new MIDI Track
- Draw C3 MIDI Note
- Add ‘Grand Piano.adg’
- Right Click Freeze + Flatten
- Cmd + Shift + R Export Audio/Video window
Sample Rate 48000
Normalize OFF
Analysis File OFF
Encode PCM ON
WAV
32-bit
Encode MP3
- Click Export
- Save as ‘test C3 RIFF header.wav’
- Open HexFiend.app
- Drag ‘test C3 RIFF header.wav’ to Hex Fiend
- Observe JUNK header included in RIFF with stupid philosophical quote
"What’s up Ableton?"
