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How iTunes 10.6 Differentiates 720p & 1080p - for the video library/tagging community

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brianus

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 17, 2005
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I've run a few test files through the new iTunes 10.6, and I can report:

* iTunes will support both 720p and 1080p versions of the same video reported as one entry, the same way it supports SD and HD copies. However, it does not have an "HD 1080p" badge or anything like that.

* iTunes gives you a choice on whether to prefer SD, 720p, or 1080p playback

* Presumably this choice will also extend to syncing options for the new iPad and iPhone 4S

* Here's the nitty gritty on how HD files are tagged: basically, whereas before the HDVD atom was either 0 (SD) or 1 (HD), now the accepted values are 0 (SD), 1 (720p) and 2 (1080p). Presently there is no software that will allow you to set HDVD to 2; hopefully Subler will be updated soon to allow this. For now, you can set it with a hex editor like 0xED.
 
For Windows users the mp4tags.exe tool, part of the mp4v2 project, can also set the HDVideo atom to whatever value you want.

Example:
"C:\mp4tags.exe" "C:\Star Trek (2009) [1920x1808 2chAAC].m4v" -hdvideo 2 -contentid 1234567890

The help only lists 0/1 as an option, but it seems to set it to whatever integer you pass.

Like Subler, you'd need to also update the Content ID to be the same on each file you want to be combined in iTunes.
 
Last edited:
evildrzoidberg said:
Like Subler, you'd need to also update the Content ID to be the same on each file you want to be combined in iTunes.
Click to expand...

After adding identical content IDs to the file they don't combine in iTunes 10.6 for me. Ritsuka, do you do anything additional in subler to get them to combine? I see by looking at some iTunes store files I purchased that they have asset information in the plist ...

<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>asset-info</key>
<dict>
<key>file-size</key>
<integer>1472872492</integer>
<key>flavor</key>
<string>7:720p</string>
<key>high-definition</key>
<true/>
<key>screen-format</key>
<string>widescreen</string>
<key>soundtrack</key>
<string>DD,DS</string>
</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

but I didn't see any references to that in the forums as far as needing it to work.
 
You also need to make sure the "media kind" of the two files matches, and is set. I don't know what the atom or plist property is called, but if you omit it iTunes will ignore identical cnIDs. So for the above movie, both files should have the "media kind" set to "movie".
 
It's called 'STIK'. I did make sure media kind is the same. All tags for the 3 movies are the same, except the HDVideo tag. I'll have to dig into it more this weekend.

I'll take a look at Subler's this weekend and see what changes it makes. It's been on my list to do for a while anyway since everyone says it's a fantastic tool .. I just haven't gotten to it yet because Windows is my primary conversion platform.
 
Hmm.. I've never used mp4tags so I can't be sure what the issue is, but in Subler, the combination of media kind + cnID + hdvd atom is all that's required. Did you set the media kind in iTunes, or with mp4tags? It doesn't work if you set it in iTunes' "Get Info" dialog -- it doesn't actually modify the tags in the file, just shifts it from one Library section to another. Of course, any modifications you're making to the files should come before you add them to iTunes; iTunes will *not* always pick up changes to files already in its library when messing with these particular tags.

Also bear in mind that if you're only combining 720 & 1080 files, there will be no visual indication of this in iTunes. The only way you can tell both sizes are there -- other than looking in your iTunes Media folder -- is to toggle between defaulting to 1080 or 720 playback in iTunes Preferences, and you'll notice that the movie's file size (but nothing else) will change.
 
Last edited:
brianus said:
Did you set the media kind in iTunes, or with mp4tags? Of course, any modifications you're making to the files should come before you add them to iTunes; iTunes will *not* always pick up changes to files already in its library when messing with these particular tags.
Click to expand...

I added 3 files to iTunes with the same info ... 1 640x360, 1 720P, 1 1080P.

I actually set it with AtomicParsley before I added them to iTunes. I wrote a custom tagging application in .NET that's a front-end for AtomicParsley & mp4tags, so all tags for the files are exactly the same, including the stik (and except the HDVideo atom), before I add them. I've been adding the HD atom for a long time, as well as the extended info like actors, rating, etc... you see in the descriptions on the AppleTV. However, I've never added the cnID to try and combine the files, mostly because I was too lazy to get around to creating an automatic algorithm to do it, and I'm finally getting around to it now.

From everything I've read and what's been said in this forum I thought I had done what was needed, but something must be affecting it. I'll play around more this weekend. At least you have helped me confirm it's a problem, and not some missing tag I'm forgetting.

Thanks much for your help :)
 
Hmm.. Just as a test have you tried using a different media kind, like TV Show? I vaguely recall something about there being two different values meaning "Movie", and Apple changed them at one point. Maybe it's just a no longer supported value? Just a thought
 
Yes, I did. I found a thread about that that for it to work the stik had to be either TV or "Short Film". I did try it, and it didn't work, but I think the issue was that I was using an older version of AtomicParsley that wasn't properly wiping the tags when I purged them. I updated, and now using "Short Film" everything is working as it should!

Thanks for your help brianus!
 
evildrzoidberg said:
Yes, I did. I found a thread about that that for it to work the stik had to be either TV or "Short Film". I did try it, and it didn't work, but I think the issue was that I was using an older version of AtomicParsley that wasn't properly wiping the tags when I purged them. I updated, and now using "Short Film" everything is working as it should!

Thanks for your help brianus!
Click to expand...

What is this you have to use Short Film instead of Movie? Care to link to the article/thread you mentioned sir?
 
I did a quick search and I can't find the articles I found last night. I didn't bookmark them.

However, the help for AtomicParsley indicates this as well:
Code: 
--cnID, (num) Set iTunes Catalog ID, used for combining SD and HD encodes in iTunes on the "cnID" atom

         To combine you must set "hdvd" atom on one file and must have same "stik" on both file
         Must not use "stik" of value Movie(0), use Short Film(9)
         
         iTunes Catalog numbers can be obtained by finding the item in the iTunes Store.  Once item
         is found in the iTunes Store right click on picture of item and select copy link.  Paste this link
         into a document or web browser to display the catalog number ID.
         
         An example link for the video Street Kings is:
         http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMovie?id=278743714&s=143441
         Here you can see the cnID is 278743714
         
         Alternatively you can use iMDB numbers, however these will not match the iTunes catalog.

The documentation about Apple Tags on the MP4V2 site indicates that Movie (0) is also no longer used:
Code: 
Media Type (stik)
Media Type	 stik
Movie (is now 9)	 0
Normal (Music)	 1
Audiobook	 2
Music Video	 6
Movie	 9
TV Show	 10
Booklet	 11
Ringtone	 14

Also, looking at what Apple does with its iTunes Store video, you can see they no longer use the Movie (0) stick, and also use "Short Film".

Here is the atom list from Harry Potter 7 from the iTunes store, downloaded in December:
Code: 
Atom "©nam" contains: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Atom "©ART" contains: David Yates
Atom "©gen" contains: Action & Adventure
Atom "cpil" contains: false
Atom "pgap" contains: false
Atom "©day" contains: 2010-11-19T08:00:00Z
Atom "apID" contains: 
Atom "cprt" contains: © 2010 Warner Bros. Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
Atom "cnID" contains: 409469299
Atom "atID" contains: 289440783
Atom "geID" contains: 4401
Atom "sfID" contains: United States (143441)
Atom "akID" contains: 0
Atom "desc" contains: Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the Horcruxes--the keys to Voldemort's immortality. On their own, without the guidance or protection of their professors, the three friends must now rely on one another mo
Atom "stik" contains: Short Film
Atom "purd" contains: 2011-07-09 06:46:08
Atom "xid " contains: WarnerBrosEnt:upc:883316304617
Atom "----" [com.apple.iTunes;iTunEXTC] contains: mpaa|PG-13|300|For some sequences of intense action violence, frightening images and brief sensuality.
Atom "ldes" contains: Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the Horcruxes--the keys to Voldemort's immortality. On their own, without the guidance or protection of their professors, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, the Wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort's Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. Harry's only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale--the legend of the Deathly Hallows.
Atom "----" [com.apple.iTunes;iTunMOVI] contains: <?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>asset-info</key>
	<dict>
		<key>file-size</key>
		<integer>2001432960</integer>
		<key>flavor</key>
		<string>4:640x480LC-128</string>
		<key>screen-format</key>
		<string>widescreen</string>
		<key>soundtrack</key>
		<string>DD,DS</string>
	</dict>
	<key>cast</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>271500730</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Daniel Radcliffe</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>271278235</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Rupert Grint</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>271500732</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Emma Watson</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>207105061</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Helena Bonham Carter</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>272486531</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Robbie Coltrane</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>281077783</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Ralph Fiennes</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>208716236</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Michael Gambon</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>280504581</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>Alan Rickman</string>
		</dict>
	</array>
	<key>codirectors</key>
	<array/>
	<key>copy-warning</key>
	<string>FBI ANTI-PIRACY WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED COPYING IS PUNISHABLE UNDER FEDERAL LAW.</string>
	<key>directors</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>273696794</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>David Yates</string>
		</dict>
	</array>
	<key>producers</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>271500752</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>David Heyman</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>326568794</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>David Barron</string>
		</dict>
		<dict>
			<key>adamId</key>
			<integer>389434530</integer>
			<key>name</key>
			<string>J.K. Rowling</string>
		</dict>
	</array>
	<key>screenwriters</key>
	<array/>
	<key>studio</key>
	<string>Warner Bros.</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Atom "covr" contains: 1 piece of artwork
 
I like how they label it... Sd =720p Hd =1080p... A couple days ago Sd=480i Hd =720p
 
Just a heads up that iDentify 2 has been updated and now includes SD, 720p HD, and 1080p HD (vs. old SD or HD) tags. I tested by tagging 3 respective copies of the same movie (old not-Retina iPhone resolution, 720p, and 1080p) with the same cNID and the appropriate SD/HD tag and then imported to iTunes. All three movies appear under a single listing--just wish iTunes differentiated further with 720p or 1080p.
 
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