Encoded/Tagged date & Title fields in MP4 video file (VirtualDub + MP4Box)

[spinik]

Hi everyone!

I learned how to make MP4 vid in VirtualDub using MP4Box+x264+NeroAAC. I used guidelines published in this thread:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/355062-VirtualDub-MPEG-2-MPEG-4-saving

BUT! I have found that muxing with MP4Box adds Encoded/Tagged date and Title fields into the final MP4 file. One can see this for example in Media Player Classic's properties in MediaInfo tab. General, Video and Audio sections have all those dates and the Title field in Video section has something like "videoname.mp4.264 - Imported with GPAC etc." filled in...

I know that all this information is entered during the proces of muxing. Nonetheless, I haven't been able to find a solution for this so far, after several hours of googling!

So if there's anyone who knows how to get rid of these accidental info fields in an MP4 file, please, just tell me! Thanks a lot in advance!

[Selur]

First thing required is to figure out which fields in the container are the problems.

a. What version of mp4box do you use? (have you tried the latest version?)
b.What exactly does the MediaInfo output show?
c. What does your muxing call look like?

If I call for example:

MP4Box -add "H:\Temp\test_16_06_43_2310_01.265"#video:fps=25 -brand hvc1 -itags tool="Hybrid 2013.11.26.1" -tmp "H:\Temp" -new "H:\Output\16_06_43_2310__02.mp4"

for muxing.

MediaInfo -full "Path to file" gives me:

General
Count                                    : 284
Count of stream of this kind             : 1
Kind of stream                           : General
Kind of stream                           : General
Stream identifier                        : 0
Count of video streams                   : 1
Video_Format_List                        : HEVC
Video_Format_WithHint_List               : HEVC
Codecs Video                             : HEVC
Complete name                            : h:\Output\test.mp4
Folder name                              : h:\Output
File name                                : test
File extension                           : mp4
Format                                   : hvc1
Format                                   : hvc1
Commercial name                          : hvc1
Internet media type                      : video/mp4
Codec ID                                 : hvc1
Codec                                    : hvc1
Codec                                    : hvc1
Codec/Extensions usually used            : mp4 m4v m4a m4b m4p 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma f4v
File size                                : 135302
File size                                : 132 KiB
File size                                : 132 KiB
File size                                : 132 KiB
File size                                : 132 KiB
File size                                : 132.1 KiB
Duration                                 : 17160
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 00:00:17.160
Overall bit rate                         : 63078
Overall bit rate                         : 63.1 Kbps
Stream size                              : 6229
Stream size                              : 6.08 KiB (5%)
Stream size                              : 6 KiB
Stream size                              : 6.1 KiB
Stream size                              : 6.08 KiB
Stream size                              : 6.083 KiB
Stream size                              : 6.08 KiB (5%)
Proportion of this stream                : 0.04604
HeaderSize                               : 6162
DataSize                                 : 129081
FooterSize                               : 59
IsStreamable                             : Yes
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19
File creation date                       : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19.546
File creation date (local)               : 2013-11-26 16:07:19.546
File last modification date              : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19.548
File last modification date (local)      : 2013-11-26 16:07:19.548
Writing application                      : Hybrid 2013.11.26.1

Video
Count                                    : 263
Count of stream of this kind             : 1
Kind of stream                           : Video
Kind of stream                           : Video
Stream identifier                        : 0
StreamOrder                              : 0
ID                                       : 1
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : HEVC
Format/Info                              : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format/Url                               : http://www.itu.int
Commercial name                          : HEVC
Format profile                           : Main@L6.3
Internet media type                      : video/H265
Codec ID                                 : hvc1
Codec ID/Info                            : High Efficiency Video Coding
Codec ID/Url                             : http://www.itu.int/
Codec                                    : HEVC
Codec                                    : HEVC
Codec/CC                                 : hvc1
Codec profile                            : Main@L6.3
Duration                                 : 17160
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 17s 160ms
Duration                                 : 00:00:17.160
Bit rate                                 : 60174
Bit rate                                 : 60.2 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 164944
Maximum bit rate                         : 165 Kbps
Width                                    : 640
Width                                    : 640 pixels
Height                                   : 352
Height                                   : 352 pixels
Pixel aspect ratio                       : 1.000
Display aspect ratio                     : 1.818
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Rotation                                 : 0.000
Frame rate mode                          : CFR
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000
Frame rate                               : 25.000 fps
Frame count                              : 429
Resolution                               : 8
Resolution                               : 8 bits
Colorimetry                              : 4:2:0
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.011
Delay                                    : 0
Delay                                    : 00:00:00.000
Delay, origin                            : Container
Delay, origin                            : Container
Stream size                              : 129073
Stream size                              : 126 KiB (95%)
Stream size                              : 126 KiB
Stream size                              : 126 KiB
Stream size                              : 126 KiB
Stream size                              : 126.0 KiB
Stream size                              : 126 KiB (95%)
Proportion of this stream                : 0.95396
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 15:07:19

but no "Imported with GPAC",...

Cu Selur

[spinik]

Hi Selur!

a. I use latest MP4Box 0.5.0 from GPAC website.
b. MediaInfo shows as follows, see code...
c. Mux params I used in VD external encoder set-up: -add \"%(outputname).264\" -add \"%(outputname).aac\" -fps %(fps) \"%(outputname)\"

General
Complete name                  : test.mp4
Format                         : MPEG-4
Format profile                 : Base Media
Codec ID                       : isom
File size                      : 982 KiB
Duration                       : 10s 27ms
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 802 Kbps
Encoded date                   : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:39
Tagged date                    : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:39

Video
ID                             : 1
Format                         : AVC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                 : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC         : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames      : 4 frames
Codec ID                       : avc1
Codec ID/Info                  : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                       : 10s 0ms
Bit rate                       : 635 Kbps
Maximum bit rate               : 1 007 Kbps
Width                          : 720 pixels
Height                         : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 4:3
Frame rate mode                : Constant
Frame rate                     : 25.000 fps
Standard                       : PAL
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.061
Stream size                    : 776 KiB (79%)
Title                          : test.mp4.264 - Imported with GPAC 0.5.0-rev4065
Writing library                : x264 core 140 r2377 1ca7bb9
Encoding settings              : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=1 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=23.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                   : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:39
Tagged date                    : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:40

Audio
ID                             : 2
Format                         : AAC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                 : LC
Codec ID                       : 40
Duration                       : 10s 27ms
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 164 Kbps
Maximum bit rate               : 177 Kbps
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Channel positions              : Front: L R
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 200 KiB (20%)
Encoded date                   : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:39
Tagged date                    : UTC 2013-11-26 14:01:40

So, my questions are:

1) Is there any reason why there is "test.mp4.264 - Imported with GPAC 0.5.0-rev4065" in the Title field and in the file details also (see pic below)? In other worlds: Can I get rid of it for good during the muxing process itself?

2) Can I get rid of all Encoded\Tagged date entries also? I've seen many MP4 (x264+NeroAAC) vids that didn't have them, so I'm curious...

Thanks anyway for any help!

[Selur]

simplest solution: use another mp4 muxer (in example ffmpeg or l-smash)

Checking if MP4Box could be used:
I first thought looking at the MP4Box documentation using another hdlr-code might help, problem is:

//"handler name" is for debugging purposes. Let's stick our name here ;)
  switch (MediaType) {
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_VISUAL :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_VMHD);
      str = "GPAC ISO Video Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_AUDIO :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_SMHD);
      str = "GPAC ISO Audio Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_HINT :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_HMHD);
      str = "GPAC ISO Hint Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_META :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC Timed MetaData Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_OD :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 OD Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_OCR :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 OCR Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_SCENE :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 Scene Description Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_MPEG7 :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 MPEG-7 Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_OCI :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 OCI Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_IPMP :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 IPMP Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_MPEGJ :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC MPEG-4 MPEG-J Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_TEXT :
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_SUBT :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC Streaming Text Handler";
      break;
    case GF_ISOM_MEDIA_DIMS :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_VMHD);
      MediaType = GF_ISOM_MEDIA_SCENE;
      str = "GPAC DIMS Handler";
      break;
    default :
      mediaInfo = gf_isom_box_new(GF_ISOM_BOX_TYPE_NMHD);
      str = "GPAC IsoMedia Handler";
      break;
  }

source: http://sourceforge.net/p/gpac/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/gpac/src/isomedia/track.c
MP4Box will always set a these additional infos.
-> Only solution to change this behavior in MP4Box would be to:
a. ask the GPAC developers to add an option to not add these infos (-> by adding a feature request for this to their bug tracker)
b. modify the source code and compile MP4Box yourself

regarding 2.: not sure which internal info in MP4Box maps to the info MediaInfo is displaying there, so the general solution is probably the same as for 1. :/
either use another muxer or make a feature request to the developers.


---
general side note using a hex editor one could remove/modify these infos.

Cu Selur

[hello_hello]

I had a quick play with My MP4 Box GUI and looking at it's command line the titles can be specified.

-add "E:\video.h264:fps=23.976:delay=0:name=video" -add "E:\audio.aac:delay=0:name=audio" -itags tool="My MP4Box GUI 0.6.0.6 <http://my-mp4box-gui.zymichost.com>" -new "E:\test.mp4"

MeGUI's MP4 muxer also uses MP4Box for the work and MeGUI's command line as written to the log file seemed to confirm the above (MeGUI doesn't add titles and tags. It won't let you modify the command line as My MP4Box GUI does though).

--[Information] [27/11/13 6:48:08 AM] Job commandline: "C:\Program Files\MeGUI\tools\mp4box\mp4box.exe" -add "E:\video.h264#trackID=1:fps=23.976:name=" -add "E:\audio.aac#trackID=1:name=" -tmp "D:\\" -new "D:\video-muxed.mp4"

Maybe you have to specify blank track names as MeGUI does in order for MP4Box not to add it's default titles?
My test muxing above used the track titles and writing application name the command lines suggest they would.... or wouldn't.

[Selur]

@hello_hello: setting a container title and names for the streams should not change the hdlr info, but may be mpc-hc will ignore the hdlr info if the streams got names,...

[hello_hello]

MediaInfo must ignore them too. Here's an MP4 I just muxed after deleting the track names from the My MP4Box GUI command line (I left them blank as MeGUI does):

General
Complete name                            : E:\test.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom
File size                                : 63.3 MiB
Duration                                 : 30mn 45s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 288 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 20:15:15
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 20:15:15
Writing application                      : My MP4Box GUI 0.6.0.6 <http://my-mp4box-gui.zymichost.com>

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 5 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3mn 59s
Bit rate                                 : 1 394 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 13.3 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.063
Stream size                              : 39.8 MiB (63%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 19:33:03
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 20:15:16
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 30mn 45s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 105 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 154 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 23.1 MiB (36%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 20:15:15
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 20:15:16

[Selur]

MediaInfo doesn't show the hdlr-info to begin with.

[hello_hello]

Then why are we talking about it?

All I can tell you is what happened when I tested. When I deleted the names from the command line completely while muxing .264 and .aac streams (not leaving the name field blank), the following was added to the title under audio. There was no title displayed for the video by MediaInfo. I've no idea what causes the titles to be added along with "Imported with GPAC", all I know is when I repeated the same muxing job again while specifying blank track names in the command line, MediaInfo no longer displayed titles for either track. No "Imported with GPAC" to be found.

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 30mn 45s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 105 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 154 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 23.1 MiB (36%)
Title                                    : audio.aac:delay=0: - Imported with GPAC 0.5.0-rev4065
Encoded date                             : UTC 2013-11-26 20:35:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2013-11-26 20:35:26

[hello_hello]

PS Most of the MP4s I checked also had "Encoded date" and "Tagged date" fields. If there's a way to stop MP4Box writing those, I'm not sure how.

[Selur]

If there's a way to stop MP4Box writing those, I'm not sure how.

there is not, unless you modify the source code,..

Then why are we talking about it?

The properties screenshot from spinik If it shows only the stuff that MediaInfo detects than simply using empty name tags will work, if not it gets complicated.

[spinik]

Hey all!

Yes, I think we came up to a conclusion:

1) As for the dates, we can't do anything about them. It's true that they are present in many MP4 vids I've seen and now you even explained me the whole situation.

2) Regarding the strange Title line showing itself in the file details and the MediaInfo, it's true that :name= parameter does the trick. I've just made my muxing line to look like this:

-add "%(outputname).264:name=GPAC ISO Video Handler" -add "%(outputname).aac:name=GPAC ISO Audio Handler" -fps %(fps) "%(outputname)"

And as the new screenshot shows, the file details are now the same as in most GPAC encoded MP4 vids. And the Title entry in MediaInfo is gone too. (Not to mention that leaving the :name= blank would do the trick also, in a slightly different way.)

So, nice workaround then. Thanks for assistance, all of ya!