Use the Linux command line to query a movie file for metadata with this very useful utility. This gives the user a lot of very useful information about a file.
Install this useful utility.
4.4 Mon Dec 10 jason@Yog-Sothoth 0: $ sudo apt-get install mediainfo |
Then query a video file for useful metadata.
4.4 Mon Dec 10 jason@Yog-Sothoth 0: $ mediainfo The.Fifth.Element.1997.REMASTERED.1080p.BluRay.x264.AC3-ETRG.Sample.mp4 General Complete name : The.Fifth.Element.1997.REMASTERED.1080p.BluRay.x264.AC3-ETRG.Sample.mp4 Format : MPEG-4 Format profile : Base Media Codec ID : isom (isom/avc1/iso2) File size : 40.7 MiB Duration : 1 min 5 s Overall bit rate : 5 182 kb/s Encoded date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Tagged date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:23 |
This returns very useful information about the video file.
Some information about the video codec.
Video ID : 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : High@L4.1 Format settings : CABAC / 5 Ref Frames Format settings, CABAC : Yes Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames Codec ID : avc1 Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding Duration : 1 min 5 s Bit rate : 4 375 kb/s Maximum bit rate : 11.7 Mb/s Width : 1 920 pixels Height : 800 pixels Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.119 Stream size : 34.3 MiB (84%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Tagged date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Color range : Limited Color primaries : BT.709 Transfer characteristics : BT.709 Matrix coefficients : BT.709 Menus : 4 |
Also comprehensive information about the audio codec used.
Audio #1 ID : 2 Format : AAC Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Format profile : LC Codec ID : mp4a-40-2 Duration : 1 min 5 s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 160 kb/s Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF) Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 1.26 MiB (3%) Title : Stereo / Stereo Language : English Default : Yes Alternate group : 1 Encoded date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Tagged date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Audio #2 ID : 3 Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Codec ID : ac-3 Duration : 1 min 5 s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 640 kb/s Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF) Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 5.03 MiB (12%) Title : Surround Sound / Surround Sound Language : English Service kind : Complete Main Default : No Alternate group : 1 Encoded date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 Tagged date : UTC 2015-08-24 02:54:22 |
This file had two audio tracks, so is therefore listing both of them.
This is a very useful utility for working out what audio a video comes with, as many movies have multiple language options, like Japanese and English. This utility gives a lot of information about the file the user wants to know about, and I recommend installing it if you have a lot of movies and wish to find out more about them.
Another way, is to use FFMPEG.
4.4 Mon Dec 10 jason@Yog-Sothoth 0: $ ffprobe -hide_banner The.Fifth.Element.1997.REMASTERED.1080p.BluRay.x264.AC3-ETRG.mp4 |
This is a sample of the output.
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'The.Fifth.Element.1997.REMASTERED.1080p.BluRay.x264.AC3-ETRG.mp4': Metadata: major_brand : mp42 minor_version : 512 compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41 iTunEXTC : mpaa|PG-13|300| iTunMOVI : <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> : <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> : <plist version="1.0"> : <dict> : <key>cast</key> : <array> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Bruce Willis</string> : </dict> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Gary Oldman</string> : </dict> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Ian Holm</string> : </dict> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Chris Tucker</string> : </dict> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Milla Jovovich</string> : </dict> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Luke Perry</string> : </dict> : </array> : <key>directors</key> : <array> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Luc Besson</string> : </dict> : </array> : <key>producers</key> : <array> : <dict> : <key>name</key> : <string>Patrice Ledoux</string> |
This also retrieves the synopsis of the film.
title : The Fifth Element
artist : Luc Besson
genre : Sci-Fi & Fantasy
date : 1997
synopsis : In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr Zorg at bay.
encoder : HandBrake 0.10.1 2015030800
hd_video : 2
media_type : 9
Duration: 02:05:53.55, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 4536 kb/s |
Another very good way to get movie information.