How to Rewrite Old Metadata with Soundminer and Why It Matters More Than Ever
Metadata used to be optional. Today, it’s the difference between your sounds being found or forgotten.
When Tim Nielsen introduced the Universal Category System (UCS), it changed everything. Suddenly, we had a universal structure for sound libraries! A framework that brought order and consistency to what used to be a metadata free‑for‑all.
That was the first big step.
Now, with AI and machine learning companies reaching out to us about licensing our recordings, what’s the first thing they ask?
👉 “Can we see your metadata?”
They’re not opening thousands of files one by one. Their systems scan metadata. If the AI can quickly understand what’s inside a file, you’re far more likely to land a deal.
So if you’re sitting on years‑old files, now’s the time to refresh their metadata. Especially if people have already purchased your sounds.
Why Metadata For Sound Recordings Matters
🎧 Buyers need to find and trust your sounds.
🔍 AI and search systems rely on clean, descriptive fields.
📈 Good metadata = better discoverability = more sales.
🙈 Poor metadata can make even the best sounds invisible.
Why We Finally Chose Soundminer
We’d known about Soundminer for years but held back for one reason: it required a dongle. we always thought this tiny hardware key was easy to lose but thankfully, Soundminer is now dongle‑free and that was the push we needed.
We started with Soundminer Plus, which works perfectly. If you need more advanced features, you can always upgrade to the Pro version later.
Using AI to Scale Metadata Updates
We didn’t sit there typing thousands of descriptions by hand. Instead, we teamed up with ChatGPT.
Here’s the workflow that saved us weeks of time:
We pulled keywords straight from filenames.
Fed them into ChatGPT to generate descriptive sentences.
Tested the results with batches of 10–50 files.
Refined the style until it matched our library’s voice.
The result? Consistent, rich metadata across thousands of files without feeling lost or burned out.
Getting Metadata on Soundminer Cloud
Once your metadata is updated, you can make it instantly available to your buyers using Soundminer.
Here’s how:
Contact Steve at Soundminer and request access to Metacloud.
They’ll send you a script to load into Soundminer.
From then on, every Soundminer user who purchased your sounds can simply “Look Up Metadata” in Soundminer and overwrite your files.
⚠️ Reminder: this only works if you didn’t change filenames ⚠️
The Filename Trap
Here’s the catch: rewriting metadata is one thing. Renaming files is another.
Platforms like Soundminer use filenames to match audio with updated metadata. If you change a filename, you’ll likely need to re‑upload the file and notify your users to get the new sound recordings. But if you make future updates and the filenames are clean, it takes seconds to be up to speed again.
Step‑by‑Step: Updating Metadata in Soundminer
📁 Rather have a PDF? Download our instruction guide here! 📁
Start with the Import
Open Soundminer.
Import your sound library into the database.
Select the files you want to update.
If you don’t see the Manufacturer field, click Fields and add it.
Set the Manufacturer Field
In the Manufacturer field, write: YOUR NAME for us it's Free To Use Sounds
Replace variations if you find other wordings in this field
Select all the files.
Head to Database ➝ Embed Selected ✅ This ensures Soundminer matches your files with Metacloud.
Look Up New Metadata
With the same files selected, go to Database ➝ Look Up Metadata From Cloud.
Wait while Soundminer updates them.
Finalize the Overwrite
Select the updated files again.
Go to Database ➝ Embed Selected ✅ This locks in your new metadata inside the files.
Wrapping Up
Metadata is no longer an afterthought, it’s the backbone of discoverability.
We spent months updating our All In One Bundle, and while it was a huge task, it’s already paying off. With Soundminer your old libraries can feel brand‑new again, ready for AI systems, sound designers, and anyone who relies on clean, detailed metadata.
For us, the real payoff came when AI companies reached out not asking for the sounds, but for the metadata. And even though we often say we’re not interested in selling, those conversations proved how valuable clean metadata really is.
Updating made all the difference.