APE tag

APE tag is a metadata format embedded in some audio files, such as MP3 files. Its purpose is similar to that of ID3. It apparently has some relationship to Monkey's Audio format.

Identification
An APEv1 segment always ends with a 32-byte footer that begins with the ASCII signature "". Typically, the segment will be at the very end of the audio file, or just before an ID3v1 segment. So, the signature usually begins either 32 or 160 (32+128) bytes from the end of the file.

An APEv2 segment usually has the same style of 32-byte footer as with APEv1, and usually also begins with a 32-byte header that has essentially the same format. So, usually, the "" signature will appear twice. However, it is legal to omit either the header or the footer, if it is deemed not to be necessary. In part due to the header, an APEv2 segment can potentially be at the beginning of the file, or somewhere else.

Links

 * APE tag
 * Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase: APEv1 specification
 * Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase: APEv2
 * Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase: APEv2 specification
 * Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase: APE key