Setting the DateShot metadata in CS4 at DVinfo.net

Roger Wilson · March 24th, 2009, 09:33 PM

When capturing HD footage from my Canon XH-A1 camcorder using Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, the original date and time the footage was shot does not get stored with the video's metadata. Personally, I want this piece of information so that I can sort, filter, etc. based on when the video was shot.

Adobe has done a great job with the XMP metadata capabilities in CS4, but they have missed a few key scenarios. Add to that the facts that Premiere Pro doesn't store the original timecode or scene detection when working with HDV assets, I've decided to abandon capturing with it.

Instead, I've started using HDV Split to capture video. This is a simple utility application provides automatic scene detection and allows me to name the files using the original date/time the video was shot. So I'm using the following naming convention: TTTT YYYY-MM-DD hh.mm.ss, where TTTT is the tape number and the rest represents a date/time. This gets me closer to my goal of having the date/time stored with the video, but what I really want is for this to be included in the XMP metadata.

So, this evening, I wrote a script for Adobe Bridge which will parse out the date/time from the clip's name and set the Video/dateShot and IPTC Core/Date Created properties.

To use this script:

Download the ZIP file
Unpack the zip file to your Adobe Bridge Startup Scripts directory. In Adobe Bridge, select "Preferences..." from the Edit menu, then navigate to the Start Up scripts section, click the "Revel Scripts" button.
Restart Adobe Bridge
You'll be prompted asking you to confirm that you'd like to activate the script.
On an AVI file which has a date/time in the format YYYY-MM-DD hh.mm.ss in the name, right click, and choose the "Set Date Shot/Created based on Name" option. (You may also select several files.)
You'll notice in the Metadata Window that Date Created and Date Shot properties are now set to the same value as the date/time in the name.

Note: This script will only add to files which already have some type of metadata, for example the tape name.

Within Adobe Bridge, you can now sort and filter using the Date Created field.

Jiri Fiala · March 24th, 2009, 11:54 PM

Great work, thanks!

Jon R. Hand · March 26th, 2009, 04:02 PM

TMPGEnc - Products: TMPGEnc KARMA.. Product Information

A free Bridge-like program that shows original time/date stamp of CanonA1 files, and other mpeg2 format files.... I use it daily.

Jiri Fiala · March 26th, 2009, 07:43 PM

Nice, too bad it`s Windows-only.

Colin Browell · March 27th, 2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

TMPGEnc ... A free Bridge-like program that shows original time/date stamp of CanonA1 files, and other mpeg2 format files

It only seems to be showing the file system's modified and created dates, not the actual date the video was recorded.

Quote:

HDV Split ... a simple utility application provides automatic scene detection and allows me to name the files using the original date/time the video was shot.

It's a handy little app. You might be interested to know that DVMP Pro can add the recording date and time to the filename of DV, Raw DV, HDV, MOD and AVCHD (mts/m2ts) files.

Alternatively it can change the file's "Date Modified" property to the recording date and time, which avoids the need to have longer file names.

http://www.dvmp.co.uk

Roger Wilson · March 28th, 2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin Browell

... You might be interested to know that DVMP Pro can add the recording date and time to the filename of DV, Raw DV, HDV, MOD and AVCHD (mts/m2ts) files.

Alternatively it can change the file's "Date Modified" property to the recording date and time, which avoids the need to have longer file names.

Thanks for the pointer to the DVMP application. I downloaded the trial, but I could not get it to recognize my Canon XH-A1; looks like it may only capture from DV sources, not HDV. Or did I miss something?

Colin Browell · March 28th, 2009, 05:30 PM

You're right Roger. The "Capture DV" module is just that. There's no HDV capture facility as yet, but it should capture with the camera in DV mode. See

DVMP Pro 3 - DV Capture

The HDV facilities that are available at present are summarised in a table on the home page

DVMP Pro 3 - view and edit date/time stamp, datacode/datecode, timecode, and camera exposure details in HDV and DV AVI files

March 24th, 2009, 09:33 PM	#1
Roger Wilson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 85	Setting the DateShot metadata in CS4 When capturing HD footage from my Canon XH-A1 camcorder using Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, the original date and time the footage was shot does not get stored with the video's metadata. Personally, I want this piece of information so that I can sort, filter, etc. based on when the video was shot. Adobe has done a great job with the XMP metadata capabilities in CS4, but they have missed a few key scenarios. Add to that the facts that Premiere Pro doesn't store the original timecode or scene detection when working with HDV assets, I've decided to abandon capturing with it. Instead, I've started using HDV Split to capture video. This is a simple utility application provides automatic scene detection and allows me to name the files using the original date/time the video was shot. So I'm using the following naming convention: TTTT YYYY-MM-DD hh.mm.ss, where TTTT is the tape number and the rest represents a date/time. This gets me closer to my goal of having the date/time stored with the video, but what I really want is for this to be included in the XMP metadata. So, this evening, I wrote a script for Adobe Bridge which will parse out the date/time from the clip's name and set the Video/dateShot and IPTC Core/Date Created properties. To use this script: Download the ZIP file Unpack the zip file to your Adobe Bridge Startup Scripts directory. In Adobe Bridge, select "Preferences..." from the Edit menu, then navigate to the Start Up scripts section, click the "Revel Scripts" button. Restart Adobe Bridge You'll be prompted asking you to confirm that you'd like to activate the script. On an AVI file which has a date/time in the format YYYY-MM-DD hh.mm.ss in the name, right click, and choose the "Set Date Shot/Created based on Name" option. (You may also select several files.) You'll notice in the Metadata Window that Date Created and Date Shot properties are now set to the same value as the date/time in the name. Note: This script will only add to files which already have some type of metadata, for example the tape name. Within Adobe Bridge, you can now sort and filter using the Date Created field.

March 26th, 2009, 04:02 PM	#3
Jon R. Hand Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 33	try this awesome free program TMPGEnc - Products: TMPGEnc KARMA.. Product Information A free Bridge-like program that shows original time/date stamp of CanonA1 files, and other mpeg2 format files.... I use it daily.

March 24th, 2009, 11:54 PM	#2
Jiri Fiala Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brno Czech Republic Posts: 453	Great work, thanks!

March 26th, 2009, 07:43 PM	#4
Jiri Fiala Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brno Czech Republic Posts: 453	Nice, too bad it`s Windows-only.

March 28th, 2009, 05:30 PM	#7
Colin Browell Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK Posts: 55	You're right Roger. The "Capture DV" module is just that. There's no HDV capture facility as yet, but it should capture with the camera in DV mode. See DVMP Pro 3 - DV Capture The HDV facilities that are available at present are summarised in a table on the home page DVMP Pro 3 - view and edit date/time stamp, datacode/datecode, timecode, and camera exposure details in HDV and DV AVI files