<p>You can use the companion ffprobe tool, which really is meant for machine-parseable text.</p>
<pre><code>ffprobe -v 0 -show_entries format=start_time -of compact=p=0:nk=1 &quot;input&quot;
</code></pre>
<p>This will print a value with the form <code>x.yyyyyy</code> or <code>N/A</code> for formats without timestamps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-31T13:58:48.970Z
2021-03-31T13:58:48.970Z
Gyan
<p>I need to get the start time of some videoclips (very precise, ideally precise at 0.1 sec). I have been told that I may be able to do so using ffmpeg. I managed to install it but am not sure how to obtain this information.</p>
<p>I tried with</p>
<pre><code>path &gt; ffmpeg -i test.mp4 -f ffmetadata test_metadata.txt
</code></pre>
<p>But then the <strong>test_metadata.txt</strong> file just contains the following</p>
<pre><code>;FFMETADATA1
major_brand=mp42
minor_version=0
compatible_brands=mp42isom
encoder=Lavf58.77.100
</code></pre>
<p>Any suggestion? Also I am happy to use other commands/software. Can't use online services as video are sensible and I must adhere to GDPR</p>

<video><ffmpeg><metadata><time>
get metadata for video start time with ffmpeg
FrAiello
# get metadata for video start time with ffmpeg

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-31)

I need to get the start time of some videoclips (very precise, ideally precise at 0.1 sec). I have been told that I may be able to do so using ffmpeg. I managed to install it but am not sure how to obtain this information.
I tried with
path > ffmpeg -i test.mp4 -f ffmetadata test_metadata.txt

But then the test_metadata.txt file just contains the following
;FFMETADATA1
major_brand=mp42
minor_version=0
compatible_brands=mp42isom
encoder=Lavf58.77.100

Any suggestion? Also I am happy to use other commands/software. Can't use online services as video are sensible and I must adhere to GDPR

**Tags:** video, ffmpeg, metadata, time


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-31. Score: 1

You can use the companion ffprobe tool, which really is meant for machine-parseable text.
ffprobe -v 0 -show_entries format=start_time -of compact=p=0:nk=1 "input"

This will print a value with the form x.yyyyyy or N/A for formats without timestamps.


---

