The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It
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Not sure if this should be a separate topic.
I'm interested in knowing how people here are using Plex and their Media.
I have a Plex server that has basically about 12 films, and 6 or so TV series I've ripped from DVD. All I do is just use the client on our firesticks and stream the content.
How do people here use Plex? Is there more to it that I'm missing the point to?
How do you get your content? Are you ripping physical stuff or getting on demand stuff? What size is your server?
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@hobbit666 +1 to separate topic. Maybe @scottalanmiller can fork.
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Tagging @Grey
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I use it to stream videos that I'm editing so that we can watch them on the big screen to see how they look.
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Are people using the "pass" and what extra do you get?
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I originally started using Plex for my Music and then my small movie collections. I have a lifetime Plex Pass.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288566-what-is-plex-pass/
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@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Are people using the "pass" and what extra do you get?
I'm not.
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@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Are people using the "pass" and what extra do you get?
I have a plex compatible tuner hooked up, but I do rarely make use of it.
I use managed users, so all 4 of us in the house do not get our history crossed on what is watched and not.
I rarely uses the download to device functionality, because I typically have no issues streaming directly.
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I don't know anything about Plex, but am I correct in thinking it's a cloud based service/server that you upload your own content to and then share with whoever?
Like your own personal Netflix?
If so, how do you cover licensing and copyright issues?
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I have one, I don't share it outside of my house.
I have plex pass and a compatible tuner so I can record Jeopardy for the wife.
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We use ours for movies and music. All ripped from discs so far. Just looked at the dashboard - 7547 music tracks and 694 movies. No tuner card and no Plex Pass.
As of now we don't share with outside users.
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@siringo said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
I don't know anything about Plex, but am I correct in thinking it's a cloud based service/server that you upload your own content to and then share with whoever?
No. It's your own personal media server. Generally not shared on the internet (you can, but licensing becomes a PITA).
Like your own personal Netflix?
Yes, just not cloud based.
If so, how do you cover licensing and copyright issues?
It's for anything you can watch in your own house, so licensing and copyright shouldn't come into play.
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@travisdh1 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@siringo said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
I don't know anything about Plex, but am I correct in thinking it's a cloud based service/server that you upload your own content to and then share with whoever?
No. It's your own personal media server. Generally not shared on the internet (you can, but licensing becomes a PITA).
Like your own personal Netflix?
Yes, just not cloud based.
If so, how do you cover licensing and copyright issues?
It's for anything you can watch in your own house, so licensing and copyright shouldn't come into play.
Thanks alot, that clears it up.
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For those ripping content. What you using and what compression etc are you using? Trying to see how to get best results with low storage.
I'm only on 4tb server at the moment.
Might upgrade over the next 12 moths. If I change the server to something with 2.5" drives.
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@hobbit666 Just started this whole process yesterday. I setup a VM with Plex server and I'm using my NAS to store the media.
Based on recommendations from a separate thread, I'm using MakeMKV to rip the DVD content. I haven't taken any steps to change format, compression, etc. Currently I've got 19 movies taking up 97GB
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@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
For those ripping content. What you using and what compression etc are you using? Trying to see how to get best results with low storage.
I'm only on 4tb server at the moment.
Might upgrade over the next 12 moths. If I change the server to something with 2.5" drives.
If you are ripping on Windows, I recommend DVDFAB. I haven't run into anything it won't Rip. It's pricey, but worth it, IMO.
If you're on Linux, MakeMKV is also excellent. I'll rip it to MKV and then use Handbrake to convert it to MP4 and save a few GB.
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If you are not using 10-bit H.265 you are doing it wrong. Nothing is better for compression and retaining quality IMO.
I use 1080p30 for everything because I do not have 4k source material anyway.
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I used to rip BluRays with MakeMKV, DVDs went into shredder, it’s such a low quality compared to 1080p. Then I learned about Couchpotato, later Sonarr and Radarr, so I stopped ripping. My workflow with Plex is 100% automated, I don’t even have to add shows and/or movies I want to watch. Above applications allow you subscribe to various lists, top 250 IMDB, or highest grossing this week, etc. then search for it, send it to download client, when done downloading rename it, copy/move/hardlink to Plex library location, and finally notifying Plex so it scans it.
I have lifetime Plexpass, if you want to buy it, wait until Black Friday or Christmas’s, they usually have sales then, 50% off.
I don’t share my libraries with anyone, just me and my wife. Storage wise it’s about 90TB right now, growing daily. 2700+ movies, 12000+ tv show episodes, 37000+ music tracks. Believe it or not, that’s rather small library.
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@marcinozga said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
I used to rip BluRays with MakeMKV, DVDs went into shredder, it’s such a low quality compared to 1080p. Then I learned about Couchpotato, later Sonarr and Radarr, so I stopped ripping. My workflow with Plex is 100% automated, I don’t even have to add shows and/or movies I want to watch. Above applications allow you subscribe to various lists, top 250 IMDB, or highest grossing this week, etc. then search for it, send it to download client, when done downloading rename it, copy/move/hardlink to Plex library location, and finally notifying Plex so it scans it.
Hmm that sound interesting but is that above board if you haven't "purchased" the content?
I have lifetime Plexpass, if you want to buy it, wait until Black Friday or Christmas’s, they usually have sales then, 50% off.
Good tip will have to remember that one
I don’t share my libraries with anyone, just me and my wife. Storage wise it’s about 90TB right now, growing daily. 2700+ movies, 12000+ tv show episodes, 37000+ music tracks. Believe it or not, that’s rather small library.
My god how big is your NAS/Server?
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@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
My god how big is your NAS/Server?
Bigger than 90TB!!
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@dafyre said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
If you are ripping on Windows, I recommend DVDFAB. I haven't run into anything it won't Rip. It's pricey, but worth it, IMO.
Yeah used that several times back in the early days.
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@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
My god how big is your NAS/Server?
Bigger than 90TB!!
Ment more in physical size and what drives
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@hobbit666 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
My god how big is your NAS/Server?
It's on an OBR0 for the performance benefits of course
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Anyone used Jellyfin?
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@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
I looked at it, but haven't set up a media server yet. I need to for our music collection.
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@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
It's not quite there yet. It's better than before. It as a lot more clients now. I'm piloting Plex, Emby and Jellyfin.
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@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
Was just looking at it a few minutes ago.
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@travisdh1 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
I looked at it, but haven't set up a media server yet. I need to for our music collection.
I'm about to start the process of music conversion. Several thousand CDs to convert so that I don't need to store them anymore. What a pain that is going to be.
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@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@travisdh1 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
I looked at it, but haven't set up a media server yet. I need to for our music collection.
I'm about to start the process of music conversion. Several thousand CDs to convert so that I don't need to store them anymore. What a pain that is going to be.
Don't forget the laserdiscs!
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@travisdh1 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@travisdh1 said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
@scottalanmiller said in The Skinny on Plex: How Are People Using It:
Anyone used Jellyfin?
I looked at it, but haven't set up a media server yet. I need to for our music collection.
I'm about to start the process of music conversion. Several thousand CDs to convert so that I don't need to store them anymore. What a pain that is going to be.
Don't forget the laserdiscs!
If only there was a way to transfer them, argh.
