Metadata in MTS/CPI files at DVinfo.net

Matt Davis · January 6th, 2013, 10:38 AM

I know that, in theory, my Sony FS100 and Canon C100 cameras are recording metadata that's recorded along with the video data - camera data, User Bits (Time and Date of recording), even GPS information on the FS100.

The UserBits and GPS data would be invaluable to folks trying to manage a lot of footage outside of the MTS and AVCHD file structure, and NLEs such as Premiere Pro and FCPX pride themselves on their Metadata foundation.

Yet both of them don't seem to import any useful metadata (Sony's software for the PC sees GPS and camera info, even UserBits - so it is in there somewhere).

Do you folks know a way of accessing this?

Colin McFadden · January 6th, 2013, 10:41 AM

We pull a fair amount of this - for example, GPS data we'll decode and store both in both Apple formats, plus the premiere (adobe xml) format inside the resulting MOV.

There's not really a standard for any of this metadata (in terms of what gets encoded and how exactly) and manufacturers tend not to publish it, so often we need to add support on a case by case basis.

If there are specific things you want supported, best way to get that done is to contact us (support@divergentmedia.com) and be able to provide some sample files. For example, if there's a specific userbit flag you need, get us a file with the flag set and with it not set (and all other settings identical) - that way when we dig into the guts of the file, it's easier to narrow down what we're looking for. It seems absurd, but often decoding this stuff is a matter of us digging through hex printouts of files with a highlighter, looking for individual bits.

-Colin

January 6th, 2013, 10:38 AM	#1
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Metadata in MTS/CPI files I know that, in theory, my Sony FS100 and Canon C100 cameras are recording metadata that's recorded along with the video data - camera data, User Bits (Time and Date of recording), even GPS information on the FS100. The UserBits and GPS data would be invaluable to folks trying to manage a lot of footage outside of the MTS and AVCHD file structure, and NLEs such as Premiere Pro and FCPX pride themselves on their Metadata foundation. Yet both of them don't seem to import any useful metadata (Sony's software for the PC sees GPS and camera info, even UserBits - so it is in there somewhere). Do you folks know a way of accessing this? __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

January 6th, 2013, 10:41 AM	#2
Colin McFadden Sponsor: divergent media Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 201	Re: Metadata in MTS/CPI files We pull a fair amount of this - for example, GPS data we'll decode and store both in both Apple formats, plus the premiere (adobe xml) format inside the resulting MOV. There's not really a standard for any of this metadata (in terms of what gets encoded and how exactly) and manufacturers tend not to publish it, so often we need to add support on a case by case basis. If there are specific things you want supported, best way to get that done is to contact us (support@divergentmedia.com) and be able to provide some sample files. For example, if there's a specific userbit flag you need, get us a file with the flag set and with it not set (and all other settings identical) - that way when we dig into the guts of the file, it's easier to narrow down what we're looking for. It seems absurd, but often decoding this stuff is a matter of us digging through hex printouts of files with a highlighter, looking for individual bits. -Colin __________________ Divergent Media Support www.divergentmedia.com