<p>If you just want to look inside a video file, check its individual streams and all metadata, you can use <a href="https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo" rel="nofollow">MediaInfo</a>, which will show you everything there is to know about your file and the streams it contains.</p>

<p>If you want to extract, remux or reencode the video file's streams, you can use <a href="https://www.ffmpeg.org/" rel="nofollow">FFmpeg</a>. If you are not comfortable using a command-line tool, there are several GUI-based programs out there (most of which are built around FFmpeg), such as <a href="http://www.xmedia-recode.de/en" rel="nofollow">XMedia Recode</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-04T15:37:21.910Z
Thanks for responding, I had come across ffmpeg but wasn't sure how i needed to do first. Is it possible for a .mov to include multiple camera views of the same sequence and would mediainfo show me that?
Michael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-04T16:19:17.997Z
It is possible, but I haven't come across such an arrangement. Each camera angle will be present as a distinct 'stream' or 'track'.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-05T14:47:03.607Z
Mediainfo does show me the 4 video streams (ID 1,3,5,7) 4 audio streams  (ID 2,4,6,8) and a timecode stream inside 1 .mov file. Is it possible to split or export (forgive me I don't know the correct term to use) so I end up with right audio with the right stream in its own file. What do I do with the timecode stream?
Michael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-04T15:34:00.577Z
2016-03-06T12:23:44.057Z
2016-03-06T12:23:44.057Z
MoritzLost
<p>You can also try out <a href="http://atomicdumpster.com" rel="nofollow">Atomic Dumpster</a>. It will let you view the structure of a QuickTime file, viewing the data of the various tracks and the media.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-05T05:55:59.000Z
2016-03-05T05:55:59.000Z
user1118321
<p>Using ffmpeg, which numbers streams starting from 0, run</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -map 0:d video-0.mov
</code></pre>

<p>to extract the first audio and video + timecode into a new MOV.</p>

<p>Repeat for other streams by incrementing the index numbers after <code>a</code> and <code>v</code>. Retain the <code>-map 0:d</code>. It will copy the timecode over into each split file you make.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-06T20:34:42.090Z
Does it matter that my audio and video stream IDs don't match? Also can I export the timecode by itself and is there a value in having it as a standalone entity as in could i use it to create a database table with 1 row per timecode?
Michael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-07T06:21:38.423Z
As in `0:v:0` paired with `0:a:2`? No. They are independent and simply identify the stream to be mapped. The timecode really isn't a track. It's just a binary representation of the starting TC in seconds. The video editor/player then generates the number series as per the frame rate. Running `ffprobe file.mov` will show that starting value.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-07T16:33:55.007Z
How do I know which audio track should be matched with each video if the id codes can't be used? Is it a case of trail and error or exporting all the video streams then all the audio streams and manually matching ?
Michael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-07T17:01:49.410Z
I guess so. I would assume the person or s/w which created the file arranged the streams logically, so try first with matching IDs i.e. `0:v:2` and `0:a:2`.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-06T12:56:07.473Z
2016-03-07T17:03:25.397Z
2016-03-07T17:03:25.397Z
Gyan
<p>As a novice what tools do experts suggest I use to get a technical understanding of .mov container files?</p>

<p>I'd like to know whats inside the container and how I can get the data out safely without reducing the quality. Ideally splitting it into the various media formats detected</p>

<video>
Tools for exploring .mov containers
Michael
# Tools for exploring .mov containers

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-04)

As a novice what tools do experts suggest I use to get a technical understanding of .mov container files?

I'd like to know whats inside the container and how I can get the data out safely without reducing the quality. Ideally splitting it into the various media formats detected

**Tags:** video


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-03-04. Score: 4

If you just want to look inside a video file, check its individual streams and all metadata, you can use [MediaInfo](https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo), which will show you everything there is to know about your file and the streams it contains.

If you want to extract, remux or reencode the video file's streams, you can use [FFmpeg](https://www.ffmpeg.org/). If you are not comfortable using a command-line tool, there are several GUI-based programs out there (most of which are built around FFmpeg), such as [XMedia Recode](http://www.xmedia-recode.de/en).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for responding, I had come across ffmpeg but wasn't sure how i needed to do first. Is it possible for a .mov to include multiple camera views of the same sequence and would mediainfo show me that?  
> **username_2**: It is possible, but I haven't come across such an arrangement. Each camera angle will be present as a distinct 'stream' or 'track'.  
> **username_0**: Mediainfo does show me the 4 video streams (ID 1,3,5,7) 4 audio streams  (ID 2,4,6,8) and a timecode stream inside 1 .mov file. Is it possible to split or export (forgive me I don't know the correct term to use) so I end up with right audio with the right stream in its own file. What do I do with the timecode stream?  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-03-05. Score: 0

You can also try out [Atomic Dumpster](http://atomicdumpster.com). It will let you view the structure of a QuickTime file, viewing the data of the various tracks and the media.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-03-06. Score: 0

Using ffmpeg, which numbers streams starting from 0, run
ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -map 0:d video-0.mov

to extract the first audio and video + timecode into a new MOV.
Repeat for other streams by incrementing the index numbers after a and v. Retain the -map 0:d. It will copy the timecode over into each split file you make.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does it matter that my audio and video stream IDs don't match? Also can I export the timecode by itself and is there a value in having it as a standalone entity as in could i use it to create a database table with 1 row per timecode?  
> **username_2**: As in `0:v:0` paired with `0:a:2`? No. They are independent and simply identify the stream to be mapped. The timecode really isn't a track. It's just a binary representation of the starting TC in seconds. The video editor/player then generates the number series as per the frame rate. Running `ffprobe file.mov` will show that starting value.  
> **username_0**: How do I know which audio track should be matched with each video if the id codes can't be used? Is it a case of trail and error or exporting all the video streams then all the audio streams and manually matching ?  
> **username_2**: I guess so. I would assume the person or s/w which created the file arranged the streams logically, so try first with matching IDs i.e. `0:v:2` and `0:a:2`.  

---

