Is there a way force plex to use a certain image size over plex choosing the crappy low res files windows creates from extracting the image from the Id3 tag? It’s been a pain in the ass going though 3000 albums and forcing plex to use higher res images. Second is there a way to hover over the image to see the resolution like in windows? Lastly, is there a way to delete the image files you do not want to be referenced without going though endless lines of code?
With respect to your 1st question, and assuming you’ve PLEX setup to read/use the embedded ID3 tags by default (my preference), the best and most direct way I know of is to upgrade/replace the embedded album art within the files, themselves. I recognize that this can be a significant undertaking but I’ve found no other way to ensure consistency and accuracy. Using a 3rd party program like MP3tag is much faster than doing it in PLEX. More importantly, using a 3rd party program updates the ID3 tags (as opposed to just the PLEX database) and ensures that your metadata (including album art) will shine in every MP3 player you use them with.
Is there a way to get rid of the other images stored in the database? Yes I do use mp3tag. Where do I find the setting to use only the mp3 tag for images?
Where do I find the setting to use only the mp3 tag for images?
There is no setting that is that specific, but if you configure your Plex server to prefer embedded data, it will only draw from online sources if there is no embedded or local source available.
You don’t necessarily need to embed the artwork in each individual file. You can keep a “cover.jpg” file in the same folder as the tracks. This would have the advantage of taking less disk space, since you only need one cover.jpg file, rather than embedding it into each track.
Take a look at this post for more info.
The problem with putting cover.jpg in the same folder as the tracks is that if you ever copy/move your files to a device that’s outside of your PLEX ecosystem and/or play them with an App that reads embedded tags by default, then you’ll be dealing with the same issue that prompted your question in the first place. My experience is that the best practice with MP3s is to clean up the embedded tags and force PLEX to use them.
The procedure I follow to update my tags and clear the PLEX database of unwanted images is to:
- Move the files out of the folder monitored by your Music library;
- Allow PLEX to rescan your Music library (thereby removing the tracks from your library);
- Use MP3tag to update your tags and album art (while the files are in an unmonitored folder);
- Move the files back into the folder monitored by your Music library;
- Allow PLEX to rescan your Music library (the updated tracks will be re-add to your library).
Notes: You can skip Item #3 if you only want to get rid of unwanted images. Also, if you’ve PLEX setup to rescan when changes are made to your libraries, then Items #2 and #5 will happen automatically.
The preference setting to use embedded tags can be found in the Advanced section of your Music Library settings. The following screen capture is for a Basic Music Library:
PS If you’re using Windows and your MP3 folders have previously been scanned by Windows Media Player, then you’ll want to delete all of the artwork that WMP downloaded to those folders BEFORE adding them to your PLEX library. Keep in mind that you’ll need to enable viewing of hidden AND system files before you’ll be able to see them in the folder. The files that WMP downloads and saves are named as follows: AlbumArt*.jpg and Folder.jpg.
srewobwj – Sounds like a plan… I’ll do that ASAP… I have 30,000+ tracks… It will take awhile…
I hear you. I’ve been chipping away at my library for a while now. I’m about 65% there and it’s shaping up nicely and definitely worth it.
