Merging albums takes the more recently added album artwork, which is usually the second CD

[jake74]

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I’ve recently started merging singles that were released in a two part set. This was very common practice in the UK in the early 90s, lots of Smashing Pumpkins, Faith No More, Green Day etc came as two different releases with track 1 the same, the rest of the tracks as B-sides or live.

So, my query/complaing is that using the Merge feature works fine in terms of marking as Disc 1 and Disc 2, but it always uses the most recently imported disc as the artwork.

This is problematic because I’m pretty sure everyone rips CD1, then CD2, so CD2 is always the most recent, and the merged album inherits that artwork. Trying to edit the merge does not show any artwork from CD 1, so I have to go googling for it again, and Plex does not allow CD1 and CD2 to have different artwork.

Is this intended behaviour? Feels like it could use a little work, being respectful of which CD is tagged as disc 1 of 2 and using that artwork, or finding the artwork for both releases and allowing that choice, rather than defaulting to only artwork from the most recently ripped (usually CD2)

Thoughts?

[OttoKerner]

It depends on which of the two items is being marked first.

But that aside, you should rather solve that issue by organising the files and embedded the right meta tags, instead of editing metadata in Plex.

[jake74]

Hey Otto, thanks for the reply.

The discs were tagged as 1/2 and 2/2 when ripped with XLD but Plex didn’t merge them on import. I didn’t prefix the track names with any number indicating discs, but kept them in directories.

How should individual tracks be named if kept in one directory?

[jake74]

and when you say “which of the two is being marked first” what do you mean? Marked by what, Plex?

As the post says, the most recently added (ie, second CD if I’ve ripped in logical order) always takes priority, and doesn’t respect tags

[OttoKerner]

@jake74

and when you say “which of the two is being marked first” what do you mean?

Before you merge two items manually in Plex, you need to mark/select them.

[HowTo] Selecting multiple items for edit, playlist, etc.

Note: These instructions apply when browsing your libraries in Plex Web. They also work within collections. They do not apply to search results. To discuss or vote for feature requests regarding search results, please search the Feature Suggestions forum. When you hover over any Library item, some controls appear: [image] You can put the UI into Selection mode in either of two ways: By clicking on the ‘Select’ control for any item. OR Hold the Ctrl key and click on any item (you don’t ha…

@jake74

the most recently added (ie, second CD if I’ve ripped in logical order) always takes priority, and doesn’t respect tags

1. Don’t rip/download/copy directly into a media folder which has been added to Plex. This is asking for trouble. Alway prepare files in a separate location which has not been added to plex. Only after you have all files complete, correctly named, and all meta tags embedded, then move the files over in one fell swoop.
2. If you want Plex to give precedence to your embedded meta tags, tell it so by checking “prefer local metatags” in the properties of the library.

@jake74

How should individual tracks be named if kept in one directory?

Only tracks of the same album should be kept in a folder together.
The folder structure is shown here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/200265296-adding-music-media-from-folders/

An album in Plex is defined by a common Album Title and AlbumArtist. The track numbers should go into the appropriate meta tags.

Every album in Plex can have only one album art. Don’t try to add different art for every disc or even every track. It won’t work.

[jake74]

Before you merge two items manually in Plex, you need to mark/select them.

Ah yes, I understand that. Cannot remember which was clicked first before merge. Will pay attention on the next try. thanks.

1. Don’t rip/download/copy directly into a media folder which has been added to Plex. This is asking for trouble. Alway prepare files in a separate location which has not been added to plex. Only after you have all files complete, correctly named, and all meta tags embedded, then move the files over in one fell swoop.

This is the way I’ve always done it (used Plex for… 12+ years now?). Ripped to a folder on the local machine and copied over.

2. If you want Plex to give precedence to your embedded meta tags, tell it so by checking “prefer local metatags” in the properties of the library.

Will check that out, might solve some of the issues.

Only tracks of the same album should be kept in a folder together.

Good to know that I’ve been doing that correctly then

Every album in Plex can have only one album art. Don’t try to add different art for every disc or even every track. It won’t work.

This is where that limitation comes from. Shame. One album I have has artwork for each track (Nine Inch Nails – The Slip) if I were so inclined to use them. Shame I can’t use artwork per disc as a minimum.