Can i optimize my entire library, and delete the originals to save disk space

General Discussions Plex Features
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Hi,

i want to optimize my entire library to android 720p stereo, and delete the originals, regardless of their original format or resolution.

I only own a 1080p TV with a stereo soundbar, and use the Nvidea Shield as a media player.
My interest is in story lines and i care little for how huge the resolution is or how many channels of audio there are (as i only have a stereo sound bar)

is there a way to make Plex automatically create an optimized version of everything at the same settings, and then delete the original file to save storage space, and standardize my video library.

Thanks for your help.

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No, optimzed versions are always created additionally to the originals.

Given enough storage space on your server, you could set up optimization for the whole library.
But once finished, you’ll have to first backup the optimized versions to a different storage space, outside of Plex’s sight
Then delete the original versions, update the library, move in the optimized files, update library again.

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Thanks for the help.

BTW: is there a reason this is not a feature option?
It seems to me that if it is something that can be completed manually, there could be a checkbox that could enable a macro to complete this option with very little programing. It would be of great benefit to anyone with less storage and processing power than required to transcode live streams.

Thanks

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Adding this as a feature would solve one of my biggest problems with live TV: the combination of MPEG2 and the Apple TV’s inability to play it without transcoding. Right now I optimize everything recorded at original quality so playback & scrubbing on the ATV is snappy. This of course means every show takes up 2x+ the storage space. Since you (Plex) won’t add accelerated MPEG2 playback to the ATV client, why not just give us this simple capability to automatically remove the original after optimization? Bam, problem solved.

And before anybody asks:

  1. I’m not interested in using another client since I’m already paying for a Plex Pass
  2. I’m not interested in doing this manually because we have computers for a reason
  3. I’m not interested in adding a post-processing script + 3rd party toolchain because then I’d have something else to maintain
  4. I’m not interested in building a transcoding beast because I love my Synology NAS

I think that covers everything. :slight_smile:

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