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.

For a video about the Metadata panel, see the Adobe website.

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.

Fields under the File and the Speech Transcript headings show XMP metadata. Using Speech Search, you can transcribe words spoken in a clip to text. Then search the text to find where a specific word is spoken in the clip. For more information about using Speech Search, see Analyze speech for text XMP metadata.

For more information about XMP metadata, see the overview on the Adobe web site.

For more information about XMP metadata, see the white paper on the Adobe web site.

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 OnLocation and Encore provide one set of metadata properties for all assets. However, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Soundbooth divide the Metadata panel into separate sections for different asset types.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Separates metadata in these sections:

Clip

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.

File

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.

After Effects

Separates metadata in these sections:

Project

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.

Files

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

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

Soundbooth

Separates metadata in these sections:

File

Displays properties for the currently displayed audio or ASND file. This metadata is stored directly in such files, so it appears in other applications. (Adobe Bridge, however, does not display metadata for ASND files.)

Clip

Displays properties for multitrack clips you select in the Editor panel. This metadata is stored in the containing ASND file, so it appears only in Soundbooth.

Adobe Premiere Pro and Soundbooth also provide a Speech Analysis section with metadata that appears only in those applications.

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.

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.

1. Select the desired files or clips.

2. In the Metadata panel, edit text or adjust values as needed.

   If you selected multiple items, the panel displays properties as follows:

   • If a property matches for all items, the matching entry appears.

   • If a property differs, <Multiple Values> appears. To apply matching values, click the text box, and type.

1. Select the files or clips you want to search.

2. In the search box at the top of the Metadata panel, enter the text you want to find.

   The list of metadata collapses to reveal only properties that contain your search string.

3. (Adobe Premiere Pro only) To navigate through the search results, click the Previous and Next buttons   to the right of the search box, or press Tab.

4. To exit the search mode and return to the full list of metadata, click the close button  to the right of the search box.

Metadata panel

A.

Before search, all properties appear

B.

After search, only properties with search string appear. In Adobe Premiere Pro, Previous and Next buttons navigate through search results.

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

1. From the options menu  for the Metadata panel, select Metadata Display.

2. To show or hide schemas or properties, select or deselect them from the list.

1. Do one of the following, if necessary:

   • If the Metadata panel is not open, select Window > Metadata.

   • If the contents of the Metadata panel are hidden behind another panel, click the Metadata tab to bring the panel forward.

2. Click the panel menu button in the Metadata panel, and select Metadata Display.
3. Click the triangle next to Premiere Project Metadata to view all the clip information fields.
4. Do one of the following:

   • Check the Premiere Project Metadata box to display all clip information,

   • Check only the boxes near the names of the clip information fields you want to display.

5. Click OK.

1. In the Metadata panel, drag the scroll bar under the Clip heading downward until you see the fields with empty link buttons to the right.
2. Click the link buttons near any fields you want to link to XMP metadata.

   A chain icon appears in the link button for any linked field.