How do you find info for movies when adding them into your iTunes library

[jbelv]

I have several movie and tv files I'm adding to my iTunes library so that I may play them through my apple tv. I already know how to add information by right clicking "Get Info" and inputing everything into the various fields. My question is, how do you, or what is the easiest way to, find all of the information that goes into those fields and how do you know you have the right information?

Example: Batman the Dar Knight Rises.
Under the 'info" tab under "Get Info" the name is just "The Dark Knight Rises" but the Album is "The Dark Knight Trilogy". Since this is a 3 movie installment I understand why there is a different album title, but if you're trying to input information for a single film, how do you know if the album title is different from the name of the movie?

 

[MacUser09]

I use iDentify. Available from the app store. Others might use iFlicks, MetaX or MetaZ. You could also search imdb.com for info to double check. It's also worth remembering that the title of some films is changed for different countries.

 

[paulrbeers]

I have several movie and tv files I'm adding to my iTunes library so that I may play them through my apple tv. I already know how to add information by right clicking "Get Info" and inputing everything into the various fields. My question is, how do you, or what is the easiest way to, find all of the information that goes into those fields and how do you know you have the right information?

Example: Batman the Dar Knight Rises.
Under the 'info" tab under "Get Info" the name is just "The Dark Knight Rises" but the Album is "The Dark Knight Trilogy". Since this is a 3 movie installment I understand why there is a different album title, but if you're trying to input information for a single film, how do you know if the album title is different from the name of the movie?

I use Subler but any of the ones already mentioned will work.

 

[priitv8]

I use Subler but any of the ones already mentioned will work.

I also use Subler. IMHO it's the only one currently that knows how to fetch data directly from iTunes Store.

 

[westrock2000]

I have several movie and tv files I'm adding to my iTunes library so that I may play them through my apple tv. I already know how to add information by right clicking "Get Info" and inputing everything into the various fields.

You might eventually reach the level where you want all the same "data" that the iTunes purchased movies and shows get, including the rating and the "HD" symbol.

iTunes won't let you update that metadata. You will need an external program.

I use Dan Hinsley's MetaX on Windows (it connects to several databases for metadata and artwork). Subler is popular on OSX, but I have not used it.

Also those two programs can enable something called "web optimized" if you do not already have that enabled in Handbrake or whatever program you are using to rip. It moves the file info to the beginning of the file so that its the first thing accessed, and helps with streaming. It can help with ATV stuttering and buffering issues.

 

[DaPhatty]

YMMV but iFlicks and Subler gave me nothing but problems. I use Identify 2 exclusively for adding iTunes compatible metadata to my files. I paid for the full version (so I could access the automation features) but the free version works just fine.

If you do opt for Identify, download the app directly from the author's website. That way, you will receive software patch much sooner than via the App Store since Apple's approval process always delays the release of the newer versions.

 

[jjk454ss]

I've also been using Identify, I haven't tried the others, but Identify has been working great for me.

 

[Delmar]

Since MetaX is no longer supported I use MetaZ. It works great.

http://griff.github.io/metaz/

 

[Gjwilly]

I also use Dan Hinsley's MetaX for Windows but as a new Mac user I've found Subler to be the quickest, easiest, free solution.
Really nice is that, unlike MetaX, you no longer need to enter the season and episode number to search TV shows -- you just put in the name of the show and it automatically displays all available episodes.
I tried MetaZ but found it very counterintuitive.

 

[whoiare]

i actually use a combination of subler and indentify2 on my mac. Every now and then ill get a file that doesnt quite work with itunes. So i throw it into subler and it fixes it. I then send that into identify because subler doesnt add the HD tag, and identify automatically adds it into itunes.

 

[rayward]

i actually use a combination of subler and indentify2 on my mac. Every now and then ill get a file that doesnt quite work with itunes. So i throw it into subler and it fixes it. I then send that into identify because subler doesnt add the HD tag, and identify automatically adds it into itunes.

Subler does add the HD tag. I use it exclusively for tagging because it pulls all movie data from the iTunes store so, in addition to the movie's info, you get all the iTunes references (such as the Content ID) as well as the "clean" iTunes poster art.

 

[Phil A.]

I also use Dan Hinsley's MetaX for Windows but as a new Mac user I've found Subler to be the quickest, easiest, free solution.
Really nice is that, unlike MetaX, you no longer need to enter the season and episode number to search TV shows -- you just put in the name of the show and it automatically displays all available episodes.
I tried MetaZ but found it very counterintuitive.

MetaX is brilliant for TV shows - when ripping them I just use the file name format SnnEnn.m4v (i.e. S01E01.m4v for Series 1, Episode 1) and have the File Tagging for TV Shows set to %5 %6, with the title tagging set to %6.

Then, when you add them to MetaX, just search for the TV show, click on the TVDB search result and write it out. This changes the file name to episode title (i.e. 01 First Episode.m4v) and the title to the episode title (i.e. First Episode) and adds all the metadata, cover images, etc

Tagging TV shows doesn't get any easier than that

 

[Gjwilly]

MetaX is brilliant for TV shows - when ripping them I just use the file name format SnnEnn.m4v (i.e. S01E01.m4v for Series 1, Episode 1) and have the File Tagging for TV Shows set to %5 %6, with the title tagging set to %6.

Then, when you add them to MetaX, just search for the TV show, click on the TVDB search result and write it out. This changes the file name to episode title (i.e. 01 First Episode.m4v) and the title to the episode title (i.e. First Episode) and adds all the metadata, cover images, etc

Tagging TV shows doesn't get any easier than that

Sure, when you rip them yourself you get to name them whatever you like to make things easy but when you obtain them from other sources......


That's where Subler shines.
Doesn't matter what the file is called -- you just enter the name of the show one time and then you get to pick from all available episodes.
It's even pulled up unaired pilots, specials, and other oddball episodes that I've never been able to find through MetaX.