Using ExtendScript how to get the Video Codec Type of projectItem?

[Premiopolis]

Working with ExtendScript/PPro API in an Adobe Custom HTML Panel, I'm trying evaluate the 'Video Codec Type' of a projectItem with the same level of detail as you find revealed in the `Properties` menu item (PPro > File Menu > Get Properties for... > Selection)

The Properties panel of the PPro UI you get pretty detailed info for "Video Codec Type", (e.g. "MP4/MOV H.264 4:2:0")

The closest equivalent found to date involves using XMPMetadata & ProjectMetadata, but the result, at best, is something like "AVC HD", "AVC1", and frequently nothing at all.

Is there a way to obtaining more detailed codec information using PPRo ExtendScript?

[Bruce Bullis · Accepted solution]

Nothing beyond what you've already found in the project metadata.

[Premiopolis]

Thanks, good to know where the limits are.

So how is it that in Premiere's UI, the Properties feature digs out more info, and more importantly, is something that could be accessed using the C++ API (as opposed to the JS / ExtendScript API).

Sort of a side question, but possibly relevant: I'm now seeing in the Chrome inspector for Premiere a new "Target": for Adobe UXP.  Does this mean UXP is now available for Premiere?  Or is that just a preview of coming attractions?  If, by chance, UXP is now available, will the API be expanding to achieve things like, say getting more detailed codec info?

[bbb_999]

I'm not sure which C++ API you mean, can access that information?

> How is it that...

The API grows via developer requests. What workflow(s) would you create, given that information?

Third party UXP support is not yet available in PPro; it's early to speculate about eventual API expansion. 

[Premiopolis]

UXP:

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Looking forward to it.

which C++ API?

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Premiere Pro Extensions SDK

What workflow(s) would you create, given that information?

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A current client who's looking to intergrate their external App with PPro & AE.  There's an back-and-forth data-flow, and one of the bits of info they want is the codec, file format, color space, etc.

[Premiopolis]

Ok, following up on this...

I scoured the metadata and the ExtendScript API to see if there was anything that could be cobbled together that might match what's represented in  File > Get Properties for... menu option.

Found nothing.

And yet, we know somewhere in the bowels of Premiere it has the ability to discern

• codec
• media container
• color space

Any reason to think the Plugins API can access this info?

[guntramp26642460]

> What workflow(s) would you create, given that information?

We have original media on a server. Users usually use media which was already formatted.

We are creating a workflow, so the user can see what material inside the bins has original media stored on the server. It would be nice to display the codec of the projectItems, so the user can see and choose if the original material is needed and import it on demand.

[Bruce Bullis · Accepted solution]

Codec: There's a metadata column available in the Project panel (and via PPro's private project metadata API).
Media container: The projectItem's file path tells you that.

Color space : You can get both the current and original colorspaces, for projectItems.