# Does anyone know what "Plex Media Fingerprinter" does?

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229>\
**Category:** Live TV & DVR\
**Tags:** livetv-dvr\
**Created:** [December 21, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229 "2019-12-21T22:06:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WCTschumy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@WCTschumy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/WCTschumy)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/1 "2019-12-21T22:06:32Z")

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I was updating to the latest Plex Pass version of PMS and noticed a new .exe file called “plex media fingerprinter” - not sure what it does, but the name is unencouraging. The command line doesn’t provide a lot of insight into its function other than offering the ability to change the algorithm, etc. Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/2 "2019-12-21T22:21:34Z")

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Not sure about the exact algorithm / mechanism.  
When scanning your library, Plex creates a hash of your video files and stores it. This is used with subsequent scans… if a new file (name) is identified, Plex checks if it already knows that hash – if such a file is identified, Plex will not re-match it but link the newly found file to the existing record.

From what I’ve learned with other players, it’s not an actual full hash of the file but the hash of a certain amount of bytes from the file’s start and end. Otherwise the hash calculation would take… long.

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**Author:** ![WCTschumy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@WCTschumy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/WCTschumy)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/3 "2019-12-21T22:38:49Z")

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So it’s related to the “analyze” function? Or is it related to metadata? or both?

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**Author:** ![johnm\_ColaSC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/johnm_colasc/32/22053_2.png) [@johnm\_ColaSC](https://forums.plex.tv/u/johnm_ColaSC)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/4 "2019-12-21T22:39:03Z")

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Usage: Plex Media Fingerprinter.exe [OPTIONS] FILE [FILE…]

Generate fingerprints from audio files/streams.

Options:  
-format NAME Set the input format name  
-rate NUM Set the sample rate of the input audio  
-channels NUM Set the number of channels in the input audio  
-length SECS Restrict the duration of the processed input audio (default 120)  
-chunk SECS Split the input audio into chunks of this duration  
-algorithm NUM Set the algorigthm method (default 2)  
-overlap Overlap the chunks slightly to make sure audio on the edges is fingerprinted  
-ts Output UNIX timestamps for chunked results, useful when fingerprinting real-time audio stream  
-raw Output fingerprints in the uncompressed format  
-json Print the output in JSON format  
-text Print the output in text format  
-plain Print the just the fingerprint in text format  
-version Print version information

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**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/5 "2019-12-21T23:22:57Z")

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fingerprinter=“AcoustID” on Musicbrainz  
[https://musicbrainz.org/doc/Guides/AcoustID](https://musicbrainz.org/doc/Guides/AcoustID)

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/does-anyone-know-what-plex-media-fingerprinter-does/512229/6 "2020-03-20T23:22:57Z")

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