Managing metadata in Premiere Pro

To streamline your workflow and organize your files, use XMP metadata. Metadata is a set of descriptive information about a file. Video and audio files automatically include basic metadata properties, such as date, duration, and file type. You can add details with properties such as location, director, copyright, and much more.

With the Metadata panel, you can share this information about assets throughout Adobe video and audio applications. Unlike conventional clip properties, which are limited to only one application’s Project or Files panel, metadata properties are embedded in source files, so the data automatically appears in other applications. This sharing of metadata lets you quickly track and manage video assets as they move through your production workflow.

About schemas and properties

A metadata schema is a collection of properties specific to a given workflow. The Dynamic Media schema, for example, includes properties like Scene and Shot Location that are ideal for digital video projects. Exif schemas, by contrast, include properties tailored to digital photography, like Exposure Time and Aperture Value. More general properties, like Date and Title, appear in the Dublin Core schema. To display different properties, see Show or hide metadata.

About the XMP standard

Adobe applications store metadata using the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP). XMP is built on XML, which facilitates the exchange of metadata across a variety of applications and publishing workflows. Metadata in most other formats (such as Exif, GPS, and TIFF) automatically transfers to XMP so you can more easily view and manage it.

In most cases, XMP metadata is stored directly in source files. If a particular file format doesn’t support XMP, however, metadata is stored in a separate sidecar file.

Project assets without corresponding files don’t support XMP. Examples from Adobe Premiere Pro include Bars and Tone, Universal Counting Leader, Color Matte, Titles, Black Video, and Transparent Video.

About the Metadata panel in Premiere Pro

The Metadata panel shows both clip-instance metadata and XMP file metadata for a selected asset. Fields under the Clip heading show clip-instance metadata: information about a clip selected in the Project panel, or in a sequence. Clip instance metadata is stored in the Premiere Pro project file, not in the file to which the clip points. Only Premiere Pro reads clip instance metadata not, other applications. However, in Premiere Pro you can link some clip metadata fields with XMP metadata fields. This option allows applications outside Premiere Pro to access the clip-based metadata by way of the XMP fields.

If you never use subclips and never import multiple instances of master clips, then each clip in your project is unique. You can use XMP File properties exclusively, so all your metadata is recorded into the source file, visible to other applications. Alternatively, you can use the traditional Clip properties, but turn linking on for all of them. Premiere Pro automatically copies the clip data into the matching XMP properties from that point on.

The Metalogging workspace

The Metalogging workspace is for entering metadata after importing, capturing, or digitizing media into Premiere Pro. The Project panel and the Metadata panels are maximized to make entering metadata easier.

To enable the Metalogging workspace, choose Window>Workspace>Metalogging.

About file, clip, and project XMP metadata

For the most part, Adobe video and audio applications deal with XMP metadata very similarly. Some small distinctions exist, however, reflecting the unique workflow stage that each application addresses. When using applications in tandem, an understanding of these slightly different approaches can help you get the most out of metadata.

Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects divide the Metadata panel into separate sections for different asset types.

Separates metadata in these sections:

Displays properties for clip instances you select in the Project panel or Timeline panel. This metadata is stored in project files, so it appears only in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Displays properties for source files you select in the Project panel. This metadata is stored directly in the source files, so it appears in other applications, including Adobe Bridge.

Separates metadata in these sections:

Displays properties for the overall project. If you select Include Source XMP Metadata in the Output Module Settings dialog box, this information is embedded into files you output from the Render Queue.

Displays properties for source files you select in the Project panel. (If you select a proxy, properties for the actual file appear.)

For After Effects, both Project and File properties are stored directly in files, so you can access this metadata in Adobe Bridge.

Using clip metadata and file metadata

XMP file metadata is information about a source file stored in the source file. Clip metadata is information about a clip, stored in a Premiere Pro project file. In Premiere Pro, any number of clips can point to the same source file. For example, a group of subclips, each with different In points and Out points, point to the same source file. Also, if you import a file twice, but give each imported clip a different name, both clips point to the same source file.

Use the XMP metadata fields to store data that applies to the source file, and all clip instances that point to it. Use the clip metadata fields to store data specific to each unique clip. Link clip metadata fields to XMP metadata fields when you want clip metadata copied to the source file. Do not link a clip metadata field to an XMP metadata field for more than one clip pointing to the same source file, however.

Edit XMP metadata

In Adobe video applications, similarly named properties are linked in the Metadata and Project panels. However, the Metadata panel provides more extensive properties and lets you edit them for multiple files simultaneously.

Search XMP metadata

Show or hide XMP metadata

To optimize the Metadata panel for your workflow, show or hide entire schemas or individual properties, displaying only those that you need.

Save, switch, or delete metadata sets

If you use multiple workflows, each requiring different sets of displayed metadata, you can save sets and switch between them.

Create schemas and properties

If you have a unique, customized workflow that the default metadata options don’t address, create your own schemas and properties.

View clip data in the Metadata panel

You can show or hide clip information in the Metadata panel like any other metadata. Premiere Pro saves clip information in the schema named Premiere Project Metadata.

For more information about showing or hiding metadata schemas, see Show or hide XMP metadata.

Link clip data to XMP metadata

In the Metadata panel, the Clip property value fields are internal. They reside in the Premiere Pro project file, and are readable by Premiere Pro alone. However, some of the property value fields in the Clip section have a link option box next to them. After you select the link option, Premiere Pro automatically enters the information that you enter into the Clip value field into a corresponding XMP field.

When you select the link option, the metadata panel links a clip data field to an XMP metadata field in one of the schema. Selecting this option does not copy existing clip data into XMP fields. Premiere Pro does copy any clip data added after the link is made into the linked XMP fields. In most cases, the XMP field has the same name as the clip data field linked to it. In the following two cases, the XMP fields have names different from the clip data fields linked to them: