How much data can be shared with iTunes

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Server Version#: 1.21.0.3711 (downloaded but not installed yet)
Player Version#: 7.11

I am a long time user of iTunes on Mac but have decided to try Plex on my Apple TV so I don’t have to have iTunes running on a Mac every time I use the Apple TV. I am not moving away from iTunes at the moment so need to take both into account during Plex setup.

I have my media on a Synology NAS and the “Keep iTunes Media folder organised” turned on in iTunes so the folder structure is
Media/Music/Artist/Album/Track
Media/TV Shows/Show/Episode
I also have Podcasts in the library but no movies at the moment.

I’ve searched the forum and other sites for information but there are some things I’ve not been able to find and would like to confirm before setting up in a way which will cause problems.

I’m assuming that both Plex and iTunes will ignore anything in the media folder which it doesn’t use (eg the “Automatically Add to iTunes” folder in the case of Plex) and that ‘importing’ the media into Plex just means creating a database pointing to it without needing to copy it.

I’d like to check:

  1. Are my two assumptions correct?
  2. Other than the media files themselves, how much can be shared?

I have no idea where album artwork is stored in iTunes but would like to use that for Plex as well if I can. There is an “Album Artwork” subfolder in my iTunes folder but other than a handful of subfolders it has nothing in it.

In case the iTunes versions are relevant, I’m using 12.9.5.5 on MacOS 10.14.6 and 12.8.2.3 on MacOS 10.11.6

2

Regarding running Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS

Regarding Plex and iTunes folders

Do not point a Plex library at the iTunes Media folder, only at specific subfolders matching the media type.

You can point a Plex movie library at the iTunes Movies folder.

You can point a Plex TV library at the iTunes TV Shows folder.

iTunes naming does not match Plex requirements, but it is close enough for most items. You may have to manually correct some items in Plex.

For TV Shows you will need to use the TV show name as listed at thetvdb.com. You must also have the season and episode numbers correct in iTunes. iTunes embeds such data into the file. Plex will read that information and use it to help match against online databases. When setting up Plex, you must configure it to read the embedded metadata from TV shows (Settings -> Agents -> Shows, enable Local Media Assets).

Plex cannot play any DRM protected media, so any movies or TV shows purchased via iTunes will not play in Plex. You’ll see an error message if you try to play any DRM protected media.

Plex can read metadata embedded in the media files - tv/movie name, season, episode, cover art, etc. Other than that, there is no sharing of data between the two programs. Plex cannot import information from the iTunes Album Artwork or other such folders.

I cannot comment on how well Plex handles music, including music in iTunes libraries. I use Plex for movies, TV shows, and other videos. I do not have my music libraries in Plex.

3

@FordGuy61
Thanks for the quick and detailed reply.

I’d already read most of the information you mention but am glad you included the warning not to point Plex at the iTunes Media folder. The Installation & Setup link mentions that a media folder with subfolders for media types is a valid setup but sharing with other programs is not in the scope of that document so it hadn’t been clear.

I’m not usually an early adopter and have no plans to go to DSM 7 until it’s well established;-)

I’ve read the Plex requirements for naming and don’t think there’s anything in my library at the moment which conflict with it. The TV Shows also are (probably) in line with thetvdb.com listing which I hadn’t seen before although it’s not clear whether the file name has to be the English name or if it just needs to be searchable. I use original language titles for filenames.

I don’t have much with DRM protected media at the moment but hadn’t expected that to play.

The bulk of my media at the moment is music but I now feel confident that I can at least install and use Plex without breaking anything in iTunes

4

It is not about sharing with other programs. It is that the iTunes Media Folder contains multiple types of media - movies, TV shows, music, etc.

With Plex you have multiple libraries based on media type - movies, TV shows, etc. Mixing media types in a library is not permitted. A movie library can contain only movies, a TV Show library contains TV shows, etc.

Here’s an example of some of the libraries on my server. I have multiple libraries, but they are all based on media type (Having 4K media in separate libraries is not a requirement, just personal preference).
Screenshot (384)

You’ll get a feel for things when you install the Plex server and start adding content.

Plex should not break iTunes. It reads, but does not modify media files. Plex stores metadata in an internal database, not with or in the media files.

One of my Plex movie libraries is my iTunes movie directory (.../iTunes Media/Movies). I rarely use iTunes to play movies, but having Plex use the same directory never causes any problems.

You can tell Plex to exclude specific files and directories from appearing in libraries. To skip over DRM protected media, you create a file named .plexignore, then list each directory or file you want to exclude. It is a pain, but it works.

For the details, look for the Special Keyword File/Folder Exclusion documents in the Your Media section of Plex documentation.

Here’s a portion of a .plexignore file on my server. Its location is .../iTunes Media/Movies/.plexignore.

# iTunes DRM
Avengers_ Endgame/*
Big/*
Big Hero 6/*
Gravity/*
5

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.