Calabi Labs · Guide · 2026-05-26

How to add iphone 15 pro max metadata to a video

How to Add iPhone 15 Pro Max Metadata to a Video

iPhone 15 Pro Max records video with rich technical metadata — including codec (HEVC/ProRes), frame rate, resolution (4K at 60fps), color space (HLG/Dolby Vision), and lens data — that's often stripped or altered when you edit or convert the file. Adding the correct metadata back ensures proper compatibility, playback, and color grading across editors and platforms.

What Metadata Matters on iPhone 15 Pro Max Video Files

Metadata Field	Typical iPhone 15 Pro Max Value	Why It Matters
Codec	HEVC (H.265) or Apple ProRes	Affects editing software compatibility
Frame Rate	24, 30, 60, or 120 fps	Matching frame rate prevents audio sync issues
Resolution	3840 × 2160 (4K UHD)	Preserves sharpness on high-res displays
Color Space	BT.2020 / HLG / Dolby Vision	Critical for accurate color on HDR displays
Device Model	iPhone 15 Pro Max	Identifies the source for proxy workflows
Lens	0.99mm f/1.78 (main)	Helps editors match color/science across clips
Capture Date/Time	UTC timestamp	Sorts and syncs footage correctly
Gyro/Gyroscope Data	Rotation vectors	Enables gyroscope-based stabilization in tools

How to Add iPhone 15 Pro Max Metadata — 3 Methods

Method 1: FFmpeg (Free, Cross-Platform)

FFmpeg is the fastest way to inject or correct metadata on the command line.

Tag HEVC video with correct codec metadata: ``bash ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy \ -metadata device="iPhone 15 Pro Max" \ -metadata make="Apple" \ -metadata model="iPhone 15 Pro Max" \ -metadata comment="Recorded on iPhone 15 Pro Max Main Camera" \ -tag:v hvc1 \ -map_metadata 0 \ output.mov ``

Force ProRes 422 HQ with full metadata: ``bash ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 \ -metadata make="Apple" \ -metadata model="iPhone 15 Pro Max" \ -metadata creation_time="$(date -Iseconds)" \ -color_primaries bt2020 \ -color_trc arib-b67 \ -colorspace bt2020_ncl \ output.mov ``

Key flags:

-c copy — re-muxes without re-encoding (fast, lossless)
-tag:v hvc1 — wraps HEVC in an MOV container with correct fourcc for broad compatibility
-map_metadata 0 — copies all existing metadata from the source

Method 2: ExifTool (Free, Detailed)

ExifTool gives fine-grained control over individual metadata fields.

Add device and technical metadata: ```bash

Install on macOS

brew install exiftool

Inject iPhone 15 Pro Max metadata

exiftool -overwrite_original \ -Model="iPhone 15 Pro Max" \ -Make="Apple" \ -LensModel="iPhone 15 Pro Max back camera 6.765mm f/1.78" \ -FocalLength="6.765mm" \ -FNumber="1.78" \ -ExposureTime="1/120" \ -ISO="200" \ -CreateDate="2024:03:15 14:32:01" \ -PixelXDimension="3840" \ -PixelYDimension="2160" \ -ColorSpace="sRGB" \ -ColorSpace_sRGB="1" \ -VideoCodec="HEVC" \ -FrameRate="60" \ -Megapixels="48" \ -SubSecCreateDate="2024:03:15 14:32:01.000" \ input.mov ```

ExifTool is especially useful for batch-processing multiple clips from a shoot.

Method 3: Add Metadata with Calabi (Fastest, No Coding)

If you want a visual tool that handles iPhone 15 Pro Max metadata cleanly without a terminal, Calabi lets you drag in your video, pick your device preset, set your fields, and export — all in a browser window with zero signup.

Steps:

Open calabilabs.com
Drop your video file
Select iPhone 15 Pro Max from the device preset list
Add any custom fields (client name, project ID, shoot date)
Click Export — metadata is written into the file, ready for your NLE or delivery

Calabi preserves the original codec and quality; it doesn't re-encode your video just to add metadata.

Common Issues & Fixes

Metadata is stripped after editing in Premiere/DaVinci Resolve

Re-import the original file and re-embed using the method above
Use -map_metadata 0 -id3v2_padding 0 in FFmpeg to copy all source metadata after a re-export

Video shows wrong colors on playback

Add color metadata manually: -color_primaries bt2020 -color_trc arib-b67 -colorspace bt2020_ncl

ProRes files not recognized by some players

Add the mda2 or ap4x atom; FFmpeg's -tag:v ap4h forces QuickTime-compatible tagging

Batch-adding metadata to an entire folder ```bash

FFmpeg batch

for f in *.mov; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c copy \ -metadata device="iPhone 15 Pro Max" \ -metadata make="Apple" \ -map_metadata 0 \ "marked_${f}" done

ExifTool batch

exiftool -overwrite_original -Model="iPhone 15 Pro Max" -Make="Apple" -r . ```

Quick Checklist Before Delivery

[ ] Codec field matches the actual encoding (HEVC / ProRes)
[ ] Frame rate matches source (24/30/60/120 fps)
[ ] Resolution is 3840×2160 for 4K clips
[ ] Color space is set (BT.2020 for HDR, sRGB for SDR)
[ ] Device name "iPhone 15 Pro Max" is present
[ ] Creation date is in UTC with timezone offset
[ ] File plays correctly in your target editor or platform

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