Tin Man Server

Complete command reference for Tin Man Server CLI operations.

Command Structure

tinman-server [general-options] <inputs> <command> [command-options]

Note: Press Ctrl+C to cancel any running operation.

General Options

These options must come before your input files:

Option
Description

--threads N

Number of concurrent threads (1-5, default: 1)

--progress=no-json

Output progress as human-readable text instead of JSON

--no-recursive

Don't scan subfolders (default: recursive)

--help

Show help message

--version

Show version information

Input Methods

Method
Example
Description

Single file

tinman-server /path/file.R3D ...

Process one file

Multiple files

tinman-server /path/file1.R3D /path/file2.braw ...

Process multiple files

Folder

tinman-server /path/footage/ ...

Process all supported files in folder (recursive by default)

File list

tinman-server @filelist.txt ...

Text file containing list of files/folders to process

Commands

generate-config

Generate a default report configuration file that can be customized and reused.

Options:

  • --output FILE - Output config file path (required)

Example:

tinman-server generate-config --output my-config.json

metadata

Extract metadata from media files and generate reports in multiple formats.

Options:

Option
Description

--config FILE

Filepath to JSON file for report options

--output-dir DIR

Output directory for report files

--name REPORTNAME

Name to use for the report

--format FORMAT

Output format: json, pdf, csv, xlsx (default: pdf). Multiple formats can be specified

--rec709

Convert PDF thumbnails to Rec. 709 colorspace

--rec709tonemap

Convert PDF thumbnails to Rec. 709 colorspace with tone mapping when needed

Examples:

# PDF report (default)
tinman-server /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/

# CSV report
tinman-server /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/ --format csv

# Multiple formats at once
tinman-server /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/ --format csv pdf xlsx

# Using custom config file
tinman-server /path/footage/ metadata --config my-config.json --output-dir /path/reports/

# With threading
tinman-server --threads 3 /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/ --format csv

export

Export and transcode media files using system presets or custom preset files.

Options:

Option
Description

--list-presets

List all available system export presets

--preset FILE

Export preset (system preset name or path to custom JSON file)

--output-dir DIR

Output directory for exported files

--naming PATTERN

Naming pattern with tokens: {source}, {date}, {timecode}, {reel} (default: {source})

--index-prefix STR

Character before frame number for sequences: ., -, _ (default: none)

--index-min-size N

Frame padding 4-12 for sequences (default: auto)

--index-offset VAL

Starting frame: 0, 1, offset, tc (default: 0)

Examples:

# List all available presets
tinman-server export --list-presets

# Export using system preset
tinman-server /path/footage/ export --preset mov_prores422_hq --output-dir /path/exports/

# Export using custom preset JSON file
tinman-server /path/footage/ export --preset /path/my-preset.json --output-dir /path/exports/

# Export with custom naming pattern
tinman-server /path/footage/ export --preset mp4_h264_10mbps --output-dir /path/exports/ \
  --naming "{date}_{source}_{timecode}"

# Export image sequence with custom frame numbering
tinman-server /path/file.R3D export --preset imageseq_dpx_10bit_rgb_be \
  --output-dir /path/exports/ --index-prefix "." --index-min-size 6 --index-offset 1

# Export with threading
tinman-server --threads 3 /path/footage/ export --preset mov_prores422_hq --output-dir /path/exports/

System Export Presets

Image Sequences:

  • imageseq_dpx_10bit_rgb_be - DPX 10-bit RGB Big Endian

  • imageseq_tiff_16bit_rgb - TIFF 16-bit RGB

MOV - Apple ProRes:

  • mov_prores422_proxy - ProRes 422 Proxy

  • mov_prores422_lt - ProRes 422 LT

  • mov_prores422 - ProRes 422

  • mov_prores422_hq - ProRes 422 HQ

  • mov_prores4444_yuv - ProRes 4444 YUV

  • mov_prores4444_rgb - ProRes 4444 RGB

  • mov_prores4444_xq_yuv - ProRes 4444 XQ YUV

  • mov_prores4444_xq_rgb - ProRes 4444 XQ RGB

MOV - Avid DNxHR:

  • mov_dnx_lb - DNxHR LB

  • mov_dnx_sq - DNxHR SQ

  • mov_dnx_hq - DNxHR HQ

  • mov_dnx_hqx - DNxHR HQX

  • mov_dnx_444 - DNxHR 444

MOV - Samsung OpenAPV:

  • mov_apv422_10_sq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 10-bit SQ

  • mov_apv422_10_lq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 10-bit LQ

  • mov_apv422_10_hq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 10-bit HQ

  • mov_apv422_12_sq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 12-bit SQ

  • mov_apv422_12_lq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 12-bit LQ

  • mov_apv422_12_hq - Samsung OpenAPV 422 12-bit HQ

  • mov_apv444_10_uq - Samsung OpenAPV 4444 10-bit UQ

  • mov_apv444_12_uq - Samsung OpenAPV 4444 12-bit UQ

MOV - Passthrough:

  • mov_passthru - MOV Passthrough (rewrap without transcoding)

MP4 - H.264:

  • mp4_h264_10mbps - H.264 10 Mbps

  • mp4_h264_20mbps - H.264 20 Mbps

MP4 - H.265 (HEVC):

  • mp4_h265_main_10mbps - H.265 Main Profile 10 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main_20mbps - H.265 Main Profile 20 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main10_10mbps - H.265 Main10 Profile 10 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main10_20mbps - H.265 Main10 Profile 20 Mbps

MP4 - H.265 Main 4:2:2 (macOS only):

  • mp4_h265_main422_8bit_10mbps - H.265 Main 4:2:2 8-bit 10 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main422_8bit_20mbps - H.265 Main 4:2:2 8-bit 20 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main422_10bit_10mbps - H.265 Main 4:2:2 10-bit 10 Mbps

  • mp4_h265_main422_10bit_20mbps - H.265 Main 4:2:2 10-bit 20 Mbps

MXF OP-Atom - Avid DNxHR:

  • mxf_opatom_dnx_lb - MXF OP-Atom DNxHR LB

  • mxf_opatom_dnx_sq - MXF OP-Atom DNxHR SQ

  • mxf_opatom_dnx_hq - MXF OP-Atom DNxHR HQ

  • mxf_opatom_dnx_hqx - MXF OP-Atom DNxHR HQX

  • mxf_opatom_dnx_444 - MXF OP-Atom DNxHR 444

MXF OP-Atom - Passthrough:

  • mxf_opatom_passthru - MXF OP-Atom Passthrough

MXF OP1a - Apple ProRes:

  • mxf_op1a_prores422_proxy - MXF OP1a ProRes 422 Proxy

  • mxf_op1a_prores422_lt - MXF OP1a ProRes 422 LT

  • mxf_op1a_prores422 - MXF OP1a ProRes 422

  • mxf_op1a_prores422_hq - MXF OP1a ProRes 422 HQ

  • mxf_op1a_prores4444_yuv - MXF OP1a ProRes 4444 YUV

  • mxf_op1a_prores4444_rgb - MXF OP1a ProRes 4444 RGB

  • mxf_op1a_prores4444_xq_yuv - MXF OP1a ProRes 4444 XQ YUV

  • mxf_op1a_prores4444_xq_rgb - MXF OP1a ProRes 4444 XQ RGB

MXF OP1a - Avid DNxHR:

  • mxf_op1a_dnx_lb - MXF OP1a DNxHR LB

  • mxf_op1a_dnx_sq - MXF OP1a DNxHR SQ

  • mxf_op1a_dnx_hq - MXF OP1a DNxHR HQ

  • mxf_op1a_dnx_hqx - MXF OP1a DNxHR HQX

  • mxf_op1a_dnx_444 - MXF OP1a DNxHR 444

MXF OP1a - Sony XAVC (Windows only):

  • mxf_op1a_xavchd_intra_interlaced_class100cbg - XAVC HD Intra Interlaced Class 100

  • mxf_op1a_xavchd_intra_progressive_class100cbg - XAVC HD Intra Progressive Class 100

  • mxf_op1a_xavc2k_intra_class100cbg - XAVC 2K Intra Class 100

  • mxf_op1a_xavcqfhd_intra_class300cbg - XAVC QFHD Intra Class 300

  • mxf_op1a_xavcqfhd_intra_class480cbg - XAVC QFHD Intra Class 480

  • mxf_op1a_xavc4k_intra_class300cbg - XAVC 4K Intra Class 300

  • mxf_op1a_xavc4k_intra_class480cbg - XAVC 4K Intra Class 480

MXF OP1a - Passthrough:

  • mxf_op1a_passthru - MXF OP1a Passthrough

thumbnail

Generate thumbnail JPEG images with extensive control over size, quality, timing, and naming. This command is currently free

Options:

Option
Description

--output-dir DIR

Output directory for thumbnails (required, created if needed)

--size WIDTH

Max width in pixels, height maintains aspect (120-1024, default: 320)

--quality N

JPEG quality 1-100 (default: 85)

--startframe FRAME

Starting frame number (default: 0, overrides --starttimecode)

--starttimecode TC

Starting timecode (default: first frame)

--time-interval SECONDS

Generate thumbnail every N seconds (default: single frame)

--time-count N

Max number of thumbnails per file (default: 1)

--position-count N

Generate N evenly distributed thumbnails (min: 2, overrides time-based options)

--rec709

Convert thumbnails to Rec. 709 colorspace

--rec709tonemap

Convert thumbnails to Rec. 709 colorspace with tone mapping when needed

--usesubdirs

Create subdirectory per source file (batch mode only)

--fileoverwrite

Overwrite existing thumbnail files (default: skip with error)

--nameprefix NAME

Prefix to add before source filename (default: none)

--nameseparator SEP

Separator: none, dash, dot, underscore (default: underscore)

--nameindex TYPE

Index type: frame, timecode, sequence (default: sequence)

Position-based generation examples:

  • --position-count 3 = 0%, 50%, 100% (start, middle, end)

  • --position-count 6 = 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%

Examples:

# Single thumbnail per file at default size (320px)
tinman-server /path/footage/ thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/

# Three evenly distributed thumbnails (start/middle/end)
tinman-server /path/footage/ thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/ --position-count 3

# Six evenly distributed thumbnails
tinman-server /path/footage/ thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/ --position-count 6

# Five thumbnails with 1 second intervals, organized in subdirectories
tinman-server /path/footage/ thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/ \
  --time-count 5 --time-interval 1.0 --usesubdirs

# Custom naming with prefix and timecode index
tinman-server /path/file.R3D thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/ \
  --nameprefix Dailies --nameindex timecode

# High resolution with Rec. 709 Tone-Mapping conversion
tinman-server /path/file.braw thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/ \
  --startframe 100 --size 104--quality 95 --rec709tonemap

copy

Copy files with SHA256 checksum verification. This command is currently free

Options:

Option
Description

--output-dir DIR

Destination directory (required)

--overwrite

Overwrite existing files (default: skip)

Examples:

# Copy single file with verification
tinman-server /path/input.R3D copy --output-dir /path/backup/

# Copy folder preserving structure
tinman-server /path/footage/day1/ copy --output-dir /path/backup/day1/

# Copy with threading for speed
tinman-server --threads 5 /path/footage/ copy --output-dir /path/backup/

# Overwrite existing files
tinman-server /path/footage/ copy --output-dir /path/backup/ --overwrite

Command Chaining

Multiple commands can be executed in a single invocation:

# Generate both metadata report and thumbnails
tinman-server /path/input.R3D metadata --output-dir /path/reports/ thumbnail --output-dir /path/thumbs/

Progress Output

By default, Tin Man Server outputs JSON-formatted progress for automation:

# JSON progress (default)
tinman-server /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/

# Human-readable progress
tinman-server --progress=no-json /path/footage/ metadata --output-dir /path/reports/

The JSON progress output includes file processing status, progress percentage, errors and warnings, operation results, and timing metrics. Progress updates are throttled to 10% increments for batch operations to reduce output volume.

Tips

  • Press Ctrl+C to cancel any running operation

  • Use --threads to process multiple files concurrently (max 5)

  • The copy command is currently free

  • The thumbnail command is currently free

  • File inputs are processed recursively by default; use --no-recursive to process only top-level files

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