fingerprint decodes local audio to compute a Chromaprint acoustic fingerprint. It does not contact AcoustID. That separate lookup is fetch --identify, allowing a network retry without decoding the same audio again.
With no scope, the default focuses on files lacking title/artist identification, avoiding a full-library decode merely to confirm good tags. An explicit nonblank TITLE and either ARTIST or its multi-value counterpart ARTISTS are sufficient; album artists and composers alone do not identify the track artist. Catalogued file or folder paths select explicitly; --full includes already identified/fingerprinted files. --list shows stored fingerprints; --dry-run previews without decoding, but the required helper is still validated.
Inputs must resolve to regular local files before the helper runs; device files, pipes and protocol addresses are refused. Missing, subsecond or out-of-range catalog durations cannot produce a lookup. Human-readable paths and fingerprints display terminal controls literally; the stored and exported values keep their original text. A preview creates neither output files nor a data writer lock.
The helper can be fpcalc or an ffmpeg build supporting Chromaprint; a plain ffmpeg installation does not necessarily include that encoder. Duration is needed for a later AcoustID lookup. Results survive unchanged scans and become stale when files change. Errors identify failed files; successfully computed results remain stored. An acoustic fingerprint is an identification aid, not a byte-integrity checksum.
Both helpers process the complete input. Aède runs fpcalc -length 0 to remove its default 120-second limit while retaining its default Chromaprint algorithm; fpcalc -algorithm 1 selects a different algorithm. Earlier results computed with the limited fallback remain readable and are not silently rewritten: use aede fingerprint --full (optionally scoped to catalogued paths) to refresh them explicitly. This may take longer for long recordings because their full audio is decoded.
Listing stored fingerprints also takes no writer lock, so it remains available while a collection is running.
Syntax and arguments#
aede fingerprint [folder…]
Optional catalogued file or folder path restrictions.
Options for this command#
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
--list | List the individual stored records or decisions instead of the normal summary/operation. |
--full | Fingerprint all selected files, including named/identified files and stored fingerprints. |
--dry-run | Preview the work without making downloads or creating outputs. It can still validate tools and inputs. |
The shared options reference explains --data, --no-color, --help/-h, --version/-v/-V, option values and output/pagination rules. These shared presentation/data options do not make every command support CSV/JSON or pagination.
Examples#
aede fingerprint "$HOME/Music/Jazz" --dry-run
aede fingerprint "$HOME/Music/Jazz"
aede fingerprint --list
aede fetch --identify "$HOME/Music/Jazz"
Result and errors#
Output describes the selected operation or catalog data. Read any per-item warnings and retained-work summary; a completed process is not an independent integrity or audio-quality guarantee. Invalid command syntax/options normally exit with code 2; handler failures normally exit with code 1. Local interruption differs from a delegated server task, as explained in cancel.
Related reading#
Detailed existing guide: sources.md.