Work with metadata annotations in Compressor
You can embed metadata into files transcoded using the Apple Devices, Apple ProRes, MP3, MPEG-4, and QuickTime presets. Use metadata to annotate a media file with information that’s important for your workflow or for the person viewing your output file. You can add any of the annotation fields provided in Compressor, import metadata that’s used in another media file (like a QuickTime movie), or pass through existing metadata.
Add annotations to a media file
In Compressor, select the job that contains the source file you want to annotate.
In the Job Annotations area of the Job inspector, click the Fields pop-up menu, choose an annotation type, then enter text in the field that appears.
Repeat step 2 for each annotation type you want to add.
Note: You can also import metadata annotations from an external QuickTime movie or from an XML dictionary property list by clicking the Fields pop-up menu, then choosing Import. Compressor recognizes the following metadata categories in QuickTime movie files and XML property list files:
com.apple.quicktime.albumcom.apple.quicktime.artistcom.apple.quicktime.authorcom.apple.quicktime.commentcom.apple.quicktime.copyrightcom.apple.quicktime.creationdatecom.apple.quicktime.descriptioncom.apple.quicktime.directorcom.apple.quicktime.displaynamecom.apple.quicktime.genrecom.apple.quicktime.informationcom.apple.quicktime.keywordscom.apple.quicktime.location.ISO6709com.apple.quicktime.producercom.apple.quicktime.publishercom.apple.proapps.reelcom.apple.quicktime.softwarecom.apple.quicktime.titlecom.apple.quicktime.collection.usercom.apple.quicktime.rating.usercom.apple.quicktime.year
The annotations you added are shown in fields below the pop-up menu.
Note: If you see the message “Some source file annotations cannot be displayed,” your job contains metadata—lyrics, for example—that Compressor cannot display. See the next task.
Modify pass-through metadata
You can choose how to handle metadata in your transcoding presets.
Note: If you add an effect to an applied preset in the output row of a job, the effect applies to only that output. If you add an effect to a custom preset, the effect is applied whenever you apply the preset.
In the Compressor batch area, select an applied or custom preset.
In the Metadata section of the General inspector, choose an option:
Use Job Annotations: Includes the metadata from the Job Annotations listed in the Job Inspector. This is the default preset.
Pass through source file metadata: Passes the existing metadata from the source file to the transcode. Ignores Job Annotations listed in the Job Inspector.
Remove all metadata and annotations: Passes no metadata to the transcode.
Include metadata from the source file that cannot be displayed as a job annotation: Available when Use Job Annotations is selected. Includes the metadata from the Job Annotations listed in the Job inspector and passes the existing metadata from the source file to the transcode.
View annotations after transcoding
After Compressor transcodes a media file that has metadata, there are several ways to see the annotations:
In the macOS Finder, select the transcoded media file, choose File > Get Info, then click the disclosure triangle next to More Info.
Open the media file in QuickTime Player, then choose Window > Show Movie Inspector.
QuickTime Player displays several (but not all) categories of Compressor metadata at the top of the inspector.
After importing the media file into Final Cut Pro, select the clip and open the Info inspector. For more information, see the Final Cut Pro for Mac User Guide.
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