Video Commander

A MediaInfo Alternative for macOS

MediaInfo tells you what a file says it is. That is usually enough, right up until a file reports perfectly reasonable values and still refuses to play.

Video Commander gives you the same codec and track metadata, then lets you open the structure underneath it: the ISOBMFF box tree, per-sample timestamps, GOP layout, and DRM signalling.

Video Commander, a MediaInfo alternative for macOS, showing track and codec metadata

Download for macOS Try it in your browser

The browser demo parses files locally. Nothing is uploaded.

Where Video Commander Goes Further

The box structure behind the summary, not just the summary
Sample tables with timestamps, sizes, and sync flags
GOP and keyframe layout for streaming work
HLS and DASH manifest inspection and validation
PSSH and DRM signalling parsed, not just flagged
Convert, VMAF, and packaging in the same window

MediaInfo vs Video Commander

Feature	MediaInfo	Video Commander
Codec, resolution, and bitrate	Text or tree report	Structured overview panel
Container metadata and tags	Reported per track	Reported per track
ISOBMFF / MP4 box structure	Not shown	Expandable box tree with hex dump
Per-sample timestamps and sync flags	Not shown	Paged sample table per track
GOP and keyframe layout	Not shown	Dedicated GOP view
HLS and DASH manifests	Not supported	Manifest parsing and conformance checks
DRM and encryption signalling	Basic encryption flag	PSSH parsing and DRM system details
Encode, measure VMAF, package	Inspection only	Built into the same app

MediaInfo reads a wider range of formats and remains a great general-purpose tool. Video Commander is aimed at streaming and delivery work, where the question is usually why a file behaves the way it does.

Read the Structure, Not Just the Summary

When a file plays in VLC but not in Safari, the summary rarely explains it. The answer is usually in the structure: an hvc1 versus hev1 sample entry, a profile the target device will not decode, or a moov atom sitting at the end of the file. Video Commander shows you all three.

ISOBMFF box tree showing the moov, trak, and mdia hierarchy

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use Video Commander instead of MediaInfo?: MediaInfo reports what a file declares about itself, and for a quick summary it does that well. Video Commander also shows you the structure those declarations come from: the ISOBMFF box tree, per-sample timestamps and sync flags, GOP layout, and DRM signalling. That matters when a file reports plausible values but still misbehaves in a player.
Is MediaInfo still worth using?: Yes. It is free, actively maintained, and reads a far wider range of formats than Video Commander does. The two are complementary: MediaInfo for a fast answer across almost any file, Video Commander when you need to see why an MP4 behaves the way it does.
Does it read MKV and other containers?: Video Commander inspects MP4 and the ISOBMFF family in the most depth, and also supports MKV and AVI. The browser playground is MP4 only; MKV and AVI need the desktop app.
Can I try it without installing anything?: Yes. The browser playground runs the real inspection engine compiled to WebAssembly, so you can drop an MP4 into a tab and see the same overview, box tree, and sample views. Files are parsed locally and never uploaded.
Does it run on Apple Silicon?: Yes. Video Commander runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and is also available for Windows.
Is it free?: Video Commander is free for personal use. Pro is a one-time $39 for commercial and client work, with free updates for life.

Try It on Your Own File

Get the desktop app for macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, or open the playground first and drop in an MP4 to see what it reads.

Download for macOS Open the playground

Free to start. Pro for commercial work.

Video Commander is free for personal use. For client and commercial projects, Pro is a one-time $39 — with free updates for life.

Download free See pricing