# Ffmpeg conversion (transcoding, reencoding)

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Tags:** server-windows, server-mac, server-linux\
**Created:** [January 21, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127 "2022-01-21T17:14:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mcandre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mcandre/32/210047_2.png) [@mcandre](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mcandre)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127/1 "2022-01-21T17:14:26Z")

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Plex could expand its support for more media formats, with ffmpeg conversion.

Currently, users of some legacy niche formats such as FLV, MPEG-1, or certain DivX AVI files, must manually convert the videos. But computers are supposed to automate rote, laborious tasks. This is something that Plex could automate for us 🙂

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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:** [January 21, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127/2 "2022-01-21T17:16:55Z")

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There’s quite a number of very capable apps that’ll do exactly that for you – Handbrake to name one (also supporting a transcoding queue so you can keep feeding it and let it work while you’re busy elsewhere…).

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**Author:** ![mcandre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mcandre/32/210047_2.png) [@mcandre](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mcandre)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127/3 "2022-01-21T21:33:42Z")

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NO.

I specifically cited ffmpeg as such a tool and specifically called out the annoyance of requiring users to manually convert between different formats. This is easily something that the Plex server could manage on behalf of the user.

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**Author:** ![FlaTechNole21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FlaTechNole21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FlaTechNole21)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127/4 "2022-01-21T21:54:37Z")

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Optimized Versions is the closest you’ll get. You can perform it on an entire library if you want:

> **[Creating Optimized Versions | Plex Support](https://support.plex.tv/articles/213095317-creating-optimized-versions/)**
>
> Tip!: The Media Optimizer feature requires Plex Media Server version 0.9.14.3 or newer. Setting up an optimization for media is...

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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:** [April 21, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/ffmpeg-conversion-transcoding-reencoding/772127/5 "2022-04-21T21:55:19Z")

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