Fix create & modify dates for quicktime tags in a mp4 file recorded with GoPRO Hero 5 using pyexifinfo & exiftool

fix_gopro_mp4_dates.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import glob
import subprocess
from datetime import date, datetime, time, timedelta
from typing import List

# pip install -U pyexifinfo
# https://github.com/guinslym/pyexifinfo
import pyexifinfo as exif


def get_file_names(*, extension: str = "mp4") -> List[str]:
    return sorted(glob.glob(f"./*.{extension}"))


def get_create_date(
    filename: str,
    *,
    track: int = 0,
    tag: str = "QuickTime:CreateDate",
    pattern: str = "%Y:%m:%d %H:%M:%S",
) -> datetime:
    details = exif.get_json(filename)
    raw_create_date = details[track][tag]
    return datetime.strptime(raw_create_date, pattern)


def adjust(
    input_datetime: datetime,
    new_date: date,
    *,
    hours_offset: int = 0,
    minutes_offset: int = 0,
) -> datetime:
    if hours_offset != 0 or minutes_offset != 0:
        new_time = input_datetime + timedelta(
            hours=hours_offset,
            minutes=minutes_offset,
        )
    else:
        new_time = time(
            hour=input_datetime.hour,
            minute=input_datetime.minute,
            second=input_datetime.second,
        )
    new_datetime = datetime(
        new_date.year,
        new_date.month,
        new_date.day,
        new_time.hour,
        new_time.minute,
        new_time.second
    )
    return new_datetime


def set_dates(
    file_name: str,
    new_datetime: datetime,
    *,
    pattern: str = "%Y:%m:%d %H:%M:%S"
):
    formatted = datetime.strftime(new_datetime, pattern)
    cmd_list = [
        "exiftool",
        f"-quicktime:createdate='{formatted}'",
        f"-quicktime:modifydate='{formatted}'",
        f"-quicktime:trackcreatedate='{formatted}'",
        f"-quicktime:trackmodifydate='{formatted}'",
        f"-quicktime:mediamodifydate='{formatted}'",
        f"-quicktime:mediacreatedate='{formatted}'",
        file_name
    ]
    print(cmd_list)
    # Uncomment the next line ONLY WHEN you're happy with the new values
    #subprocess.run(cmd_list, check=True)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    file_names = get_file_names()
    for name in file_names:
        print(f"\nDates for {name}:")
        create_date = get_create_date(name)
        print(f"Original create date: {create_date}")
        adjusted = adjust(
            create_date,
            date(2022, 6, 12),
            hours_offset=0,
            minutes_offset=-27
        )
        print(f"Adjusted create date: {adjusted}")
        set_dates(name, adjusted)

This is a very quick and dirty way to fix the recording date of your GoPRO video.

Usage:

1. set new date in line #87
2. set hours and minutes offsets in lines #88 & #89
3. run the script and check that the new dates match your needs
4. uncomment line #76 & re-run the script