diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b0fb5160d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+
+# general hidden files/directories
+
+.DS_Store
+.sconsign*
+.svn
+
+# file patterns
+
+*.dylib
+*.la
+*.lo
+*.o
+*.pyc
+*.pyo
+*.so
+*.tar.gz
+*.tar.bz2
+*~
+*.project
+*.pydevproject
+
+# Project Specific patterns
+
+dist/*
+beets.egg-info/*
+build/*
+docs/_build/*
+
diff --git a/beets/mediafile.py b/beets/mediafile.py
index 3d86b0750..9be8f2485 100644
--- a/beets/mediafile.py
+++ b/beets/mediafile.py
@@ -945,6 +945,27 @@ class MediaFile(object):
         return self.mgfile.info.length
 
     @property
+    def samplerate(self):
+        if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'sample_rate'):
+            # Reasonably sure from checking mutagen source that all
+            # formats will return this information
+            return self.mgfile.info.sample_rate
+    
+    @property
+    def bitdepth(self):
+        if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'bits_per_sample'):
+            # Reasonably sure from checking mutagen source that all 
+            # formats will return this information
+            return self.mgfile.info.bits_per_sample        
+
+    @property
+    def channels(self):
+        if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'channels'):
+            # Reasonably sure from checking mutagen source that all
+            # formats will return this information
+            return self.mgfile.info.channels
+
+   @property
     def bitrate(self):
         if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'bitrate'):
             # Many formats provide it explicitly.