diff --git a/audio/common/7.0/enums/include/android_audio_policy_configuration_V7_0-enums.h b/audio/common/7.0/enums/include/android_audio_policy_configuration_V7_0-enums.h
index c0042db..b427f3a 100644
--- a/audio/common/7.0/enums/include/android_audio_policy_configuration_V7_0-enums.h
+++ b/audio/common/7.0/enums/include/android_audio_policy_configuration_V7_0-enums.h
@@ -212,10 +212,16 @@
     return isOutputDevice(stringToAudioDevice(device));
 }
 
+static inline bool maybeVendorExtension(const std::string& s) {
+    // Only checks whether the string starts with the "vendor prefix".
+    static const std::string vendorPrefix = "VX_";
+    return s.size() > vendorPrefix.size() && s.substr(0, vendorPrefix.size()) == vendorPrefix;
+}
+
 static inline bool isVendorExtension(const std::string& s) {
     // Must match the "vendorExtension" rule from the XSD file.
     static const std::string vendorPrefix = "VX_";
-    return s.size() > vendorPrefix.size() && s.substr(0, vendorPrefix.size()) == vendorPrefix &&
+    return maybeVendorExtension(s) &&
            std::all_of(s.begin() + vendorPrefix.size(), s.end(),
                        [](unsigned char c) { return c == '_' || std::isalnum(c); });
 }
diff --git a/audio/common/7.0/types.hal b/audio/common/7.0/types.hal
index 3903a0b..99c2e5a 100644
--- a/audio/common/7.0/types.hal
+++ b/audio/common/7.0/types.hal
@@ -309,15 +309,15 @@
 struct PlaybackTrackMetadata {
     AudioUsage usage;
     AudioContentType contentType;
-    /** Tags from AudioTrack audio atttributes */
-    vec<AudioTag> tags;
-    AudioChannelMask channelMask;
     /**
      * Positive linear gain applied to the track samples. 0 being muted and 1 is no attenuation,
      * 2 means double amplification...
      * Must not be negative.
      */
     float gain;
+    AudioChannelMask channelMask;
+    /** Tags from AudioTrack audio atttributes */
+    vec<AudioTag> tags;
 };
 
 /** Metadatas of the source of a StreamOut. */
@@ -328,9 +328,6 @@
 /** Metadata of a record track for a StreamIn. */
 struct RecordTrackMetadata {
     AudioSource source;
-    /** Tags from AudioTrack audio atttributes */
-    vec<AudioTag> tags;
-    AudioChannelMask channelMask;
     /**
      * Positive linear gain applied to the track samples. 0 being muted and 1 is no attenuation,
      * 2 means double amplification...
@@ -344,6 +341,9 @@
         Monostate unspecified;
         DeviceAddress device;
     } destination;
+    AudioChannelMask channelMask;
+    /** Tags from AudioTrack audio atttributes */
+    vec<AudioTag> tags;
 };
 
 /** Metadatas of the sink of a StreamIn. */
diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/7.0/HidlUtils.cpp b/audio/common/all-versions/default/7.0/HidlUtils.cpp
index f09db5e..bb3a596 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/7.0/HidlUtils.cpp
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/7.0/HidlUtils.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <algorithm>
 
 #define LOG_TAG "HidlUtils"
 #include <log/log.h>
@@ -281,7 +282,7 @@
                                              hidl_vec<AudioGainMode>* gainModeMask) {
     status_t status = NO_ERROR;
     std::vector<AudioGainMode> result;
-    for (uint32_t bit = 0; bit < sizeof(audio_gain_mode_t) * 8; ++bit) {
+    for (uint32_t bit = 0; halGainModeMask != 0 && bit < sizeof(audio_gain_mode_t) * 8; ++bit) {
         audio_gain_mode_t flag = static_cast<audio_gain_mode_t>(1u << bit);
         if ((flag & halGainModeMask) == flag) {
             AudioGainMode flagStr = audio_gain_mode_to_string(flag);
@@ -291,6 +292,7 @@
                 ALOGE("Unknown audio gain mode value 0x%X", flag);
                 status = BAD_VALUE;
             }
+            halGainModeMask = static_cast<audio_gain_mode_t>(halGainModeMask & ~flag);
         }
     }
     *gainModeMask = result;
@@ -858,15 +860,17 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-status_t HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(const char* halTags, hidl_vec<AudioTag>* tags) {
-    std::vector<std::string> strTags = utils::splitString(halTags, sAudioTagSeparator);
+status_t HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(const std::vector<std::string>& strTags,
+                                     hidl_vec<AudioTag>* tags) {
     status_t result = NO_ERROR;
     tags->resize(strTags.size());
     size_t to = 0;
     for (size_t from = 0; from < strTags.size(); ++from) {
-        if (xsd::isVendorExtension(strTags[from])) {
-            (*tags)[to++] = strTags[from];
+        const auto& tag = strTags[from];
+        if (xsd::isVendorExtension(tag)) {
+            (*tags)[to++] = tag;
         } else {
+            ALOGE("Vendor extension tag is ill-formed: \"%s\"", tag.c_str());
             result = BAD_VALUE;
         }
     }
@@ -889,6 +893,7 @@
             halTagsBuffer << tag;
             hasValue = true;
         } else {
+            ALOGE("Vendor extension tag is ill-formed: \"%s\"", tag.c_str());
             result = BAD_VALUE;
         }
     }
@@ -899,6 +904,31 @@
     return result;
 }
 
+hidl_vec<AudioTag> HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(const hidl_vec<AudioTag>& tags) {
+    hidl_vec<AudioTag> result;
+    result.resize(tags.size());
+    size_t resultIdx = 0;
+    for (const auto& tag : tags) {
+        if (xsd::maybeVendorExtension(tag)) {
+            result[resultIdx++] = tag;
+        }
+    }
+    if (resultIdx != result.size()) {
+        result.resize(resultIdx);
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(const std::vector<std::string>& tags) {
+    std::vector<std::string> result;
+    std::copy_if(tags.begin(), tags.end(), std::back_inserter(result), xsd::maybeVendorExtension);
+    return result;
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> HidlUtils::splitAudioTags(const char* halTags) {
+    return utils::splitString(halTags, sAudioTagSeparator);
+}
+
 status_t HidlUtils::deviceAddressFromHal(audio_devices_t halDeviceType,
                                          const char* halDeviceAddress, DeviceAddress* device) {
     status_t result = NO_ERROR;
diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/HidlUtils.h b/audio/common/all-versions/default/HidlUtils.h
index cc4fbf2..22b7152 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/HidlUtils.h
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/HidlUtils.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 #include PATH(android/hardware/audio/common/FILE_VERSION/types.h)
 
 #include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 #include <system/audio.h>
 
@@ -118,8 +120,12 @@
                                            AudioStreamType* streamType);
     static status_t audioStreamTypeToHal(const AudioStreamType& streamType,
                                          audio_stream_type_t* halStreamType);
-    static status_t audioTagsFromHal(const char* halTags, hidl_vec<AudioTag>* tags);
+    static status_t audioTagsFromHal(const std::vector<std::string>& strTags,
+                                     hidl_vec<AudioTag>* tags);
     static status_t audioTagsToHal(const hidl_vec<AudioTag>& tags, char* halTags);
+    static hidl_vec<AudioTag> filterOutNonVendorTags(const hidl_vec<AudioTag>& tags);
+    static std::vector<std::string> filterOutNonVendorTags(const std::vector<std::string>& tags);
+    static std::vector<std::string> splitAudioTags(const char* halTags);
 
   private:
     static status_t audioIndexChannelMaskFromHal(audio_channel_mask_t halChannelMask,
diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.cpp b/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.cpp
index 85edc7b..6c4c94d 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.cpp
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@
     memcpy(halUuid->node, uuid.node.data(), uuid.node.size());
 }
 
+std::string UuidUtils::uuidToString(const audio_uuid_t& halUuid) {
+    char str[64];
+    snprintf(str, sizeof(str), "%08x-%04x-%04x-%04x-%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x%02x", halUuid.timeLow,
+             halUuid.timeMid, halUuid.timeHiAndVersion, halUuid.clockSeq, halUuid.node[0],
+             halUuid.node[1], halUuid.node[2], halUuid.node[3], halUuid.node[4], halUuid.node[5]);
+    return str;
+}
+
 }  // namespace implementation
 }  // namespace CPP_VERSION
 }  // namespace common
diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.h b/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.h
index 38db48a..cd04fb0 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.h
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/UuidUtils.h
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@
 #ifndef android_hardware_audio_Uuid_Utils_H_
 #define android_hardware_audio_Uuid_Utils_H_
 
+#include <string>
+
 // clang-format off
 #include PATH(android/hardware/audio/common/FILE_VERSION/types.h)
 // clang-format on
 
 #include <system/audio.h>
 
-using ::android::hardware::hidl_vec;
-
 namespace android {
 namespace hardware {
 namespace audio {
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
   public:
     static void uuidFromHal(const audio_uuid_t& halUuid, Uuid* uuid);
     static void uuidToHal(const Uuid& uuid, audio_uuid_t* halUuid);
+    static std::string uuidToString(const audio_uuid_t& halUuid);
 };
 
 }  // namespace implementation
diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/tests/hidlutils_tests.cpp b/audio/common/all-versions/default/tests/hidlutils_tests.cpp
index 642ece3..40fc5c8 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/tests/hidlutils_tests.cpp
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/tests/hidlutils_tests.cpp
@@ -762,9 +762,7 @@
 
 TEST(HidlUtils, ConvertOffloadInfo) {
     AudioOffloadInfo offloadInfo = {};
-    offloadInfo.base.sampleRateHz = 44100;
-    offloadInfo.base.channelMask = toString(xsd::AudioChannelMask::AUDIO_CHANNEL_OUT_STEREO);
-    offloadInfo.base.format = toString(xsd::AudioFormat::AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT);
+    offloadInfo.base = generateValidConfigBase(false /*isInput*/);
     offloadInfo.streamType = toString(xsd::AudioStreamType::AUDIO_STREAM_MUSIC);
     offloadInfo.bitRatePerSecond = 320;
     offloadInfo.durationMicroseconds = -1;
@@ -783,33 +781,76 @@
 
 TEST(HidlUtils, ConvertInvalidConfig) {
     AudioConfig invalid;
-    audio_config_t halInvalid = AUDIO_CONFIG_INITIALIZER;
-    halInvalid.channel_mask = kInvalidHalChannelMask;
-    halInvalid.format = kInvalidHalFormat;
-    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE, HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalid, false /*isInput*/, &invalid));
-    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE, HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalid, true /*isInput*/, &invalid));
-    invalid.base.channelMask = "random string";
-    invalid.base.format = "random string";
-    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(invalid, &halInvalid));
+    audio_config_t halInvalidChannelMask = AUDIO_CONFIG_INITIALIZER;
+    halInvalidChannelMask.channel_mask = kInvalidHalChannelMask;
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalidChannelMask, false /*isInput*/, &invalid));
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalidChannelMask, true /*isInput*/, &invalid));
+    audio_config_t halInvalidFormat = AUDIO_CONFIG_INITIALIZER;
+    halInvalidFormat.format = kInvalidHalFormat;
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalidFormat, false /*isInput*/, &invalid));
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halInvalidFormat, true /*isInput*/, &invalid));
+
+    AudioConfig invalidChannelMask;
+    audio_config_t halInvalid;
+    invalidChannelMask.base.channelMask = "random string";
+    invalidChannelMask.base.format = toString(xsd::AudioFormat::AUDIO_FORMAT_DEFAULT);
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(invalidChannelMask, &halInvalid));
+    AudioConfig invalidFormat;
+    invalidFormat.base.format = "random string";
+    invalidFormat.base.channelMask = toString(xsd::AudioChannelMask::AUDIO_CHANNEL_NONE);
+    EXPECT_EQ(BAD_VALUE, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(invalidFormat, &halInvalid));
+}
+
+TEST(HidlUtils, ConvertConfigDefault) {
+    audio_config_t halDefault = AUDIO_CONFIG_INITIALIZER;
+    AudioConfig defaultOut, defaultIn;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halDefault, false /*isInput*/, &defaultOut));
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halDefault, true /*isInput*/, &defaultIn));
+    EXPECT_EQ(defaultOut, defaultIn);
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(defaultOut, &halDefault));
+
+    // Note: empty channel mask and config are not valid values.
+    AudioConfig defaultCfg{};
+    defaultCfg.base.channelMask = toString(xsd::AudioChannelMask::AUDIO_CHANNEL_NONE);
+    defaultCfg.base.format = toString(xsd::AudioFormat::AUDIO_FORMAT_DEFAULT);
+    audio_config_t halDefaultCfg;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(defaultCfg, &halDefaultCfg));
+    AudioConfig defaultCfgBackOut, defaultCfgBackIn;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halDefaultCfg, false /*isInput*/, &defaultCfgBackOut));
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halDefaultCfg, true /*isInput*/, &defaultCfgBackIn));
+    EXPECT_EQ(defaultCfgBackOut, defaultCfgBackIn);
+    EXPECT_EQ(defaultCfg, defaultCfgBackOut);
 }
 
 TEST(HidlUtils, ConvertConfig) {
-    AudioConfig config = {};
-    config.base.sampleRateHz = 44100;
-    config.base.channelMask = toString(xsd::AudioChannelMask::AUDIO_CHANNEL_OUT_STEREO);
-    config.base.format = toString(xsd::AudioFormat::AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT);
-    audio_config_t halConfig;
-    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(config, &halConfig));
-    AudioConfig configBack;
-    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halConfig, false /*isInput*/, &configBack));
-    EXPECT_EQ(config, configBack);
+    AudioConfig configOut{};
+    configOut.base = generateValidConfigBase(false /*isInput*/);
+    audio_config_t halConfigOut;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(configOut, &halConfigOut));
+    AudioConfig configOutBack;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halConfigOut, false /*isInput*/, &configOutBack));
+    EXPECT_EQ(configOut, configOutBack);
+
+    AudioConfig configIn{};
+    configIn.base = generateValidConfigBase(true /*isInput*/);
+    audio_config_t halConfigIn;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioConfigToHal(configIn, &halConfigIn));
+    AudioConfig configInBack;
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioConfigFromHal(halConfigIn, true /*isInput*/, &configInBack));
+    EXPECT_EQ(configIn, configInBack);
 }
 
 TEST(HidlUtils, ConvertConfigWithOffloadInfo) {
     AudioConfig config = {};
-    config.base.sampleRateHz = 44100;
-    config.base.channelMask = toString(xsd::AudioChannelMask::AUDIO_CHANNEL_OUT_STEREO);
-    config.base.format = toString(xsd::AudioFormat::AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_16_BIT);
+    config.base = generateValidConfigBase(false /*isInput*/);
     config.offloadInfo.info(
             AudioOffloadInfo{.base = config.base,
                              .streamType = toString(xsd::AudioStreamType::AUDIO_STREAM_MUSIC),
@@ -952,20 +993,51 @@
     char halEmptyTags[AUDIO_ATTRIBUTES_TAGS_MAX_SIZE] = {};
     EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsToHal(emptyTags, halEmptyTags));
     hidl_vec<AudioTag> emptyTagsBack;
-    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(halEmptyTags, &emptyTagsBack));
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(HidlUtils::splitAudioTags(halEmptyTags), &emptyTagsBack));
     EXPECT_EQ(emptyTags, emptyTagsBack);
 
     hidl_vec<AudioTag> oneTag = {{"VX_GOOGLE_VR"}};
     char halOneTag[AUDIO_ATTRIBUTES_TAGS_MAX_SIZE] = {};
     EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsToHal(oneTag, halOneTag));
     hidl_vec<AudioTag> oneTagBack;
-    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(halOneTag, &oneTagBack));
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(HidlUtils::splitAudioTags(halOneTag), &oneTagBack));
     EXPECT_EQ(oneTag, oneTagBack);
 
     hidl_vec<AudioTag> twoTags = {{"VX_GOOGLE_VR_42", "VX_GOOGLE_1E100"}};
     char halTwoTags[AUDIO_ATTRIBUTES_TAGS_MAX_SIZE] = {};
     EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsToHal(twoTags, halTwoTags));
     hidl_vec<AudioTag> twoTagsBack;
-    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR, HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(halTwoTags, &twoTagsBack));
+    EXPECT_EQ(NO_ERROR,
+              HidlUtils::audioTagsFromHal(HidlUtils::splitAudioTags(halTwoTags), &twoTagsBack));
     EXPECT_EQ(twoTags, twoTagsBack);
 }
+
+template <typename T>
+class FilterTest : public ::testing::Test {};
+using FilterTestTypeParams = ::testing::Types<hidl_vec<AudioTag>, std::vector<std::string>>;
+TYPED_TEST_SUITE(FilterTest, FilterTestTypeParams);
+
+TYPED_TEST(FilterTest, FilterOutNonVendorTags) {
+    TypeParam emptyTags;
+    EXPECT_EQ(emptyTags, HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(emptyTags));
+
+    TypeParam allVendorTags = {{"VX_GOOGLE_VR_42", "VX_GOOGLE_1E100"}};
+    EXPECT_EQ(allVendorTags, HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(allVendorTags));
+
+    TypeParam oneVendorTag = {{"", "VX_GOOGLE_VR", "random_string"}};
+    TypeParam oneVendorTagOnly = HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(oneVendorTag);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, oneVendorTagOnly.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(oneVendorTag[1], oneVendorTagOnly[0]);
+
+    // The vendor extension isn't valid, however it must not be filtered out
+    // so the converter can detect the issue.
+    TypeParam oneMaybeVendorTag = {{"", "random string", "VX_GOOGLE_$$"}};
+    TypeParam oneMaybeVendorTagOnly = HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(oneMaybeVendorTag);
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, oneMaybeVendorTagOnly.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(oneMaybeVendorTag[2], oneMaybeVendorTagOnly[0]);
+
+    TypeParam noVendorTags = {{"", "random string", "V_"}};
+    EXPECT_EQ(emptyTags, HidlUtils::filterOutNonVendorTags(noVendorTags));
+}