MediaInfo CLI Mastery: Complete Container Analysis Guide
Overview
MediaInfo CLI provides comprehensive container analysis capabilities, offering detailed insights into video, audio, and metadata structures within media files. This guide covers professional workflows for container analysis, format detection, and metadata extraction using MediaInfo's powerful command-line interface.
Key Takeaways
- Master MediaInfo CLI commands for container analysis
- Extract detailed format and codec information
- Automate container validation workflows
- Integrate MediaInfo with cloud-native solutions
What is MediaInfo?
MediaInfo is a versatile tool for displaying technical and tag information about video and audio files. The CLI version provides scriptable access to comprehensive format analysis, making it ideal for automated workflows and batch processing.
MediaInfo Key Features
- Container Detection: Identifies container formats and internal structure
- Codec Analysis: Detailed codec information and encoding parameters
- Metadata Extraction: Comprehensive technical and descriptive metadata
- Multiple Output Formats: JSON, XML, and custom text output formats
Why Use MediaInfo for Container Format Analysis?
Benefits
- Comprehensive Analysis - Deep container insights beyond basic format detection
- Cross-Platform Support - Consistent results across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Integration Friendly - Multiple output formats for easy automation
Common Challenges
- Complex Format Variations: Use comprehensive analysis flags to capture all container variants
- Output Format Selection: Choose appropriate output format based on downstream processing needs
- Large File Handling: Optimize analysis scope for performance with very large files
Step-by-Step Guide: Professional Container Analysis Workflow
Prerequisites
- MediaInfo CLI installed on your system
- Sample media files for testing
- Basic command-line knowledge
Step 1: Basic Container Analysis
mediainfo --Inform="General;%Format%, %FileSize%, %Duration%" input.mp4
Extract basic container information including format, file size, and duration using MediaInfo's inform template system.
Step 2: Detailed Stream Information
mediainfo --Full input.mp4
Generate comprehensive analysis showing all available metadata fields for every stream in the container.
Step 3: JSON Output for Automation
mediainfo --Output=JSON input.mp4
Output structured JSON data perfect for parsing and integration with automated processing pipelines.
Step 4: Custom Information Templates
mediainfo --Inform="Video;Resolution: %Width%x%Height%, Codec: %Format%" input.mp4
Create custom output templates to extract specific information fields for targeted analysis workflows.
Advanced MediaInfo Techniques
Batch Container Analysis
find . -name "*.mp4" -exec mediainfo --Output=JSON {} \; > container_analysis.json
Process multiple files and aggregate results for comprehensive container inventory and analysis.
Container Validation Scripting
mediainfo --Inform="General;%Format%|%Codec%" input.* | grep -E "MP4|H.264"
Validate container and codec combinations for quality control and compliance checking.
Real-World Use Cases
Use Case 1: Format Compliance Checking
Scenario: Validate uploaded content meets platform requirements Solution: Extract format specifications and compare against requirements
mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Format%,%Width%,%Height%,%FrameRate%" input.mp4
Use Case 2: Container Migration Planning
Scenario: Analyze existing library for format migration Solution: Inventory container types and compatibility requirements
mediainfo --Output=XML *.* | xmlstarlet sel -t -v '//track[@type="General"]/Format'
Use Case 3: Quality Assurance Automation
Scenario: Automated testing of encoded content Solution: Validate container integrity and specification compliance
mediainfo --Inform="General;%StreamCount%,%IsStreamable%" input.mp4
MediaInfo vs Alternatives
| Feature | MediaInfo | FFprobe | ExifTool | Probe.dev API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container Support | ||||
| Metadata Detail | ||||
| Output Formats |
Performance and Best Practices
Optimization Tips
- Use Specific Information Templates: Target specific metadata fields to improve processing speed and reduce output size
- Choose Appropriate Output Format: Select JSON for automation, XML for detailed analysis, text for human readability
- Batch Processing Optimization: Use find and xargs for efficient large-scale container analysis
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Assuming Universal Format Support: Test with your specific container formats and validate output completeness
- Over-Complex Information Templates: Start with simple templates and gradually add complexity as needed
- Ignoring Container Variations: Account for different container implementations and optional features
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Issue 1: Missing Container Information
Symptoms: Incomplete or empty output for known formats Solution: Update MediaInfo to latest version and verify file integrity
Issue 2: Template Parsing Errors
Symptoms: Malformed output from custom templates Solution: Validate template syntax and field name accuracy
Issue 3: Large File Processing Issues
Symptoms: Slow analysis or timeout on large files Solution: Use targeted analysis and consider file sampling for very large media
Industry Standards and Compliance
ISO/IEC 14496 (MP4)
International standard for MPEG-4 container format and structure
Matroska Specification
Open standard for MKV container format and features
AVI Format Specification
Microsoft AVI container format and compatibility requirements
Cloud-Native Alternative: Probe.dev API
While MediaInfo is powerful for local analysis, modern media workflows demand cloud-scale solutions. Probe.dev transforms MediaInfo's capabilities into a scalable, API-first service.
Why Choose Probe.dev Over MediaInfo?
Scalability
- MediaInfo: Limited to local processing power
- Probe.dev: Elastic cloud infrastructure handles any file size
⚡ Performance
- MediaInfo: Analysis speed depends on file size and container complexity
- Probe.dev: 58% faster analysis with optimized cloud processing
🧠 Intelligence
- MediaInfo: Raw technical data only
- Probe.dev: ML-enhanced insights trained on 1B+ media assets
Integration
- MediaInfo: CLI scripting and error handling required
- Probe.dev: Clean REST API with comprehensive error handling
Migration Example: MediaInfo → Probe.dev
Traditional MediaInfo Approach:
mediainfo --Full input.mp4
Probe.dev API Approach:
const response = await fetch('https://api.probe.dev/v1/probe/file', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
url: 'https://your-storage.com/video.mp4',
probe_report: {
enabled: true,
diff: true
},
ffprobe: {
enabled: true,
output_format: "json"
},
mediainfo: {
enabled: true,
output: "JSON"
},
inject_json: true
})
});
const result = await response.json();
// Access MediaInfo data through result.mediainfo.response
Additional Resources
Documentation
Tools and Libraries
Community
Conclusion
MediaInfo CLI provides comprehensive container analysis capabilities essential for modern media workflows. While excellent for detailed local analysis, cloud-scale operations benefit from API-driven solutions that provide enhanced analysis capabilities with simplified integration.
Next Steps
- Practice with different container formats and information templates
- Build automated container validation workflows for your content pipeline
- Explore advanced output formatting and batch processing techniques
- Try Probe.dev's cloud-native MediaInfo alternative →
About the Author: The Probe DEV team consists of media engineering experts with decades of experience in video processing, cloud infrastructure, and API development. Founded by the creator of Encoding.com, we're passionate about modernizing media analysis workflows.
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