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Removing m4v metadata originally embedded with MetaX?
- Thread starter marcel-v
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I think that this has to do with iFlicks only writing to certain metadata tags and ignoring others. I'm testing iFlicks beta which is unlocked for 70+ days. I have noticed that it doesn't have nearly as many available tags/fields as identify2 which I bought this week, on sale for $8.
I brought files (from a friend) into iFlicks and tagged them. Then testing, I brought the file into identify2 and noticed a lot of metadata referring to a torrent release group that iFlicks never touched those fields/tags. Those were in the encoded by, producer, and copyright fields. I called my friend and he admitted he downloaded that movie and didn't rip it himself.
So basically iFlicks is ignoring many of the fields.
I'll probably buy iFlicks because I like the mkv and avi/xvid remuxing, and GUI is great.
I like identify2 for it's ability to rename files according to your meta data which is worth the $8 just for retagging and renaming tv episodes.
They are both great apps with very responsive developers.
Hi Spacepower, thanks for the reply! I bought identify too, I think we must have both snapped it up when it was on special on macupdate. I must say I still prefer iFlicks because the metadata seems to be more consistent, however it does not embed the data. My aim at the moment is to remove all the previous metadata gathered with MetaX.
If its not embedding the meta data you must be using it wrong. I have my library in two locations. My main here is where I do all my ripping etc, and use iFlicks. Whenever I go to my other place I take all the files I've done and drop them into iTunes there, and it all comes in, so its definitely embedding it.
I use to use MetaX, but the issues got to be so many hence the move to iFlicks. Never noticed hangover stuff left from MetaX, but must admit I don't rewrite metadata often. iFlicks just gets it right for me first time.
Must admit though, the artist field in iTunes is not the actors in iFlicks. iTunes doesn't seem to have an 'actors' field, so I copy the actors across once its in iTunes to the artists field, tacking them onto the directors name if it has one.
I've bought both iDentify and MKVTools but I must say that, as of the latest beta, iFlicks looks like a great way to combine the two of them into one scriptable step. I don't think I'll ever use anything apart from Handbrake for actual transcoding, but for remuxing and tagging in one, iFlicks looks pretty good.
I use both, I use iFlicks after first adding the movie to iTunes. Works very well and finds almost everything. I use MetaX to add chapter information. I have not seen iFlicks do anything with these fields. Even if MetaX cannot find the movie I have the DVD jacket to give me the names when possible.
My only complaint with Flicks is it always changes the encoding field to iFlicks, I use Handbrake to rip and MetaX always left that field alone.
They both seem to have similar information in all the other fields, the only difference being the source. I believe IFlick goes to ImDB while MetaX uses direct type from the user base. Either one will over write previous encoded Metadata when you use them.
I need more info, are you updating movies that are already in iTunes? If this is the case then you need to do a command-I (get info) in iTunes to write the new metadata to the iTunes Library file. This is what the identify2 developer recommends.
If not please give more info about your workflow.
One problem I have seen with iFlicks, and it depends on the data it gets online.....
The order of the actor names is hard to rearrange in that little box. I noticed this on a James bond movie where 20 or so actors populated the field except all the stars were on the bottom, therefore they do not show up on the AppleTv.
I like both apps, and if you are tagging a lot, I have a huge backlog, then they are definitely worth the money.
I'm basically just trying to find a way to remove all previous metadata from my movies and then use iflicks to make a reference file. currently atomic parsley is always crashing and metax does not work with a long list of files.
What fields of metadata are you trying to remove?
Why are you making a reference file?
I'm not understanding your process or goals, please explain.
Ok, basically I want to embed all my pre-existing movies and tv shows with iflicks, but because this is not possible i therefore need to use the '.mov reference file' option (in iflicks) so that i can view them with the artwork and info on my apple tv 2. the reason i prefer iflicks is that the artwork is generally more consistent (ie dimensions/pixels). If there is a way to embed the data without re encoding the entire file i would love to use that option, however it isn't possible or i am overlooking a method or option to do so.
ps. thanks for the ongoing support spacepower, i appreciate it very much!
Hey Marcel, I'm still here but had to wait till the weekend to experiment more.
I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to do....
When you mention .mov reference files, are you talking about AVI files?
You can tag in iFlicks, then tag in identify2 but keep the artwork from iFlicks.
You can also tell iDentify which sites to get info from, and which tags it can replace.
What file type are the pre-existing files? Avi, MKV etc....
Ok, firstly all my handbrake encoded movies (h264 m4v files) have been tagged with metax. I am desperate to remove all metadata from all movies in one go. Then I want to be able to use the method you mentioned above. I am under the impression that the only way to gather metadata using iflicks is to create a .mov reference file for the iflicks metadata, the other options seem to re-encode the entire movie. However I am interested in the method you mentioned above; using both iflicks and identify.
my first goal is to remove all previously stored metadata stored with metax.
I too would like to know how to do this. I've tagged all of my movie files using metax and now most are unwatchable. I've tested one by going back in and retagging it with different information, now the video works but the audio doesn't. I'm hoping that by deleting all of the meta data the videos will work again.
In iFlicks, there is an option, I think it is called flatten in version 1.2.1 and maybe 1.2.3. In the iFlicks 1.3.x beta it's called iTunes Compatible.
This will write the metadata to the original file without the need to encode or write a new file.
There is no need to use the reference file in your situation.
If I recall, the reference file was used to "trick" a first gen AppleTV or iOS device into playing an avi file. Maybe it was just a trick to play in iTunes? I forget.
This will write the metadata to the original file without the need to encode or write a new file.
There is no need to use the reference file in your situation.
If I recall, the reference file was used to "trick" a first gen AppleTV or iOS device into playing an avi file. Maybe it was just a trick to play in iTunes? I forget.
I'm not sure if you can recover your files or you'll have to redo all of them.
Search this forum and the handbrake forum.
One idea you could try and please report back with your results.
Try MKVtools, extract the raw video and audio out of your movies. You will end up with xxxxxx.h264 file for the video and xxxxx.aac file for the audio, also maybe a xxxxxx.ac3 audio track.
Then try to put them back together with MKVtools.