What term describes the complete set of information about a recording used in post-production?

• A. Metadata
• B. Line up tones
• C. NAT sound
• D. M&E

Answer: (A)

Metadata is data that describes other data, and in post-production it is the complete set of information attached to a recording. This includes technical details like sample rate, bit depth, duration, channels, and timecode, plus production and workflow details such as scene and take numbers, date, location, microphone setup, file naming, versioning, and any notes from the sound team. Storing this information helps editors, mixers, and supervisors organize assets, search efficiently, conform to specs, and manage delivery across the pipeline. Metadata can live inside the file or in sidecar files, and it covers descriptive, technical, and rights information needed for proper handling. The other terms refer to actual audio content or specific tasks rather than the full descriptive set about the recording, so metadata best fits the description.