diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index a56575a52..c8993f85b 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -531,6 +531,9 @@ class Item(LibModel):
 
         'length': DurationType(),
         'bitrate': types.ScaledInt(1000, 'kbps'),
+        'bitrate_mode': types.STRING,
+        'encoder_info': types.STRING,
+        'encoder_settings': types.STRING,
         'format': types.STRING,
         'samplerate': types.ScaledInt(1000, 'kHz'),
         'bitdepth': types.INTEGER,
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 4d27107ab..49ed43b93 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ New features:
 
 * :doc:`/plugins/kodiupdate`: Now supports multiple kodi instances
   :bug:`4101`
+* Add the item fields ``bitrate_mode``, ``encoder_info`` and ``encoder_settings``.
 
 Bug fixes:
 
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ For packagers:
 
 * We fixed a version for the dependency on the `Confuse`_ library.
   :bug:`4167`
+* The minimum required version of :pypi:`mediafile` is now 0.9.0.
 
 
 1.6.0 (November 27, 2021)
diff --git a/docs/reference/pathformat.rst b/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
index 9213cae4b..8f27027ac 100644
--- a/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/pathformat.rst
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ Audio information:
 
 * length (in seconds)
 * bitrate (in kilobits per second, with units: e.g., "192kbps")
+* bitrate_mode (eg. "CBR", "VBR" or "ABR", only available for the MP3 format)
+* encoder_info (eg. "LAME 3.97.0", only available for some formats)
+* encoder_settings (eg. "-V2", only available for the MP3 format)
 * format (e.g., "MP3" or "FLAC")
 * channels
 * bitdepth (only available for some formats)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fa92448a2..4c4f7d629 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ setup(
         'unidecode',
         'musicbrainzngs>=0.4',
         'pyyaml',
-        'mediafile>=0.2.0',
+        'mediafile>=0.9.0',
         'confuse>=1.5.0',
         'munkres>=1.0.0',
         'jellyfish',