True but since CW and Recently Added are locked together I can’t drop one without dropping both.
So, if we are forced to have several Recently Added sections just to get each libraries CW I will probably stop using both.
I seldom use OD/CW anyway.
First of all, there shouldn’t be a need for separate libraries based on resolution, it should be smart enough to know which is the best version to pick for the user based on what quality they’re requesting. Secondly, there should only be one OD/CW hub per server, allowing content from different libraries to mix
Are you referring to the include in Home Screen option in the library? Otherwise, CW and RA shouldn’t be locked together.
I think you are forgetting that most of Plex users we are sharing libraries with are not technically advanced people. They have set 720p/2Mbps stream or they are watching on mobile phone in SD quality and they click Play on whatever first thing they see in Plex home screen or search results. That’s why many of us - Plex server owners - separate libraries in 4k and non-4k content. And we choose to not share 4k content with remote users. So they don’t trigger 4k transcoding to 720p. Instead they can transcode 1080p or lower quality content to their selected quality.
So I would strongly disagree that there is no need to separate library based on resolution/quality. Until Plex gives granular control (like never transcode 4k) and/or to force quality settings on remote users (always set to original quality) - we will need to split libraries based on resolution/quality.
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Right, but what I’m saying is that the MediaDecisionEngine should take that into account, and unless a user is requesting a bitrate higher than the 1080p version, we’d always pick the lowest quality option that is closest (yet above) their request as the one to transcode from.
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That means you would need to store each 4k content also in lower quality on server. I have some content only in 4k media, no lower quality.
Sorry, I’m referring to RA on the home screen.
I have multiple RA in the home screen- one for each library.
That question wasn’t directed at you, but multiple RA on the Home Screen is currently working as designed. Having multiple OD or CW would not be as designed.
A couple of reasons I use multiple Libraries, some better than others. I assume these are all “long tail” behaviors.
- Documentaries
- Many of these are a real bummer, so I want to exclude them from the Dashboard, and when browsing for light entertainment.
- I don’t want to share these with kids based on content rating alone. I know that I could use Sharing Labels but I’ve already split the Libraries.
- Languages
- I split these primarily because a few users get annoyed when they accidentally choose a foreign language movie.
- Using different Libraries makes it easier to bulk-set audio tracks & subtitles (using outside tools).
- If Plex supported “Original Language” as an audio preference that would help a lot.
- 4K and HDR media
- Bandwidth + transcoding performance issues, so I don’t want to share these to less sophisticated users.
- I could get a faster server, but I’m stubborn.
- I’d rather not split these; I’d prefer more granular sharing + transcoding entitlements.
- I know this is a whole kettle of monkeys, and Plex should choose an appropriate version, and it’s getting better about it.
- This is probably the “worst” reason I use multiple Libraries today.
- Weird stuff gets a Library
- I don’t want to mix alternate movie editions into the main Library.
- Most of my users want the regular version(s) of Star Wars. When they search for Star Wars, there are already enough results.
- You have to be in a real mood to want the MST3K version of a movie, or the Happy Ending of Blade Runner (1982).
But I don’t split based on Genre or Content Rating because those aren’t “exclusive” criteria. Many Westerns are also Romance and Drama and even Sci-Fi. Plenty of PG/12A movies are entertaining to any age of viewer.
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Yes, I am.
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Ah, in that case, not much can be done at present, but as I mentioned before, we’re looking to improve the curation of hubs in the coming year 
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Thanks for the insights! Hopefully, some of these are issues that the new work will cover. Languages is a tricky one, but there are some things to help with 4K HDR, like the MDE stuff I mentioned before, or creating optimised versions to minimise the real time stress on your server, but understandably, not everyone wants to do that. We were talking a bit about editions internally too, but nothing I can share at this time I’m afraid.
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Some of my libraries;
- Childrens animated movies and TV shows (cartoons)
- Old 70’s - 90’s TV Shows
- Current season TV Shows
- Previous season(s) TV Shows
- Recent Movies, movies released in the past 3 years.
- Archived Movies, movies released 4+ years ago.
I understand that some of this could be managed with Labels but that adds another step for me and a search requirement for users.
In general, people don’t use filters or search functions with any software.
Why split them like that, if I may ask?
Exciting to hear that there’s discussion about editions. 
Yay!
I’m already a big fan of Optimized versions. Sometimes the whole system feels clumsy, but automatic version selection has improved a ton.
I don’t mind having Documentaries and Languages split out. It reminds me of going to the rental store, back when that was a thing. Being able to exclude them from the home screen, while including them in search, is perfect.
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I will caveat that by saying sometimes discussions don’t lead anywhere, or end up being scheduled later 
But it should be clear that we’re aware of limitations with editions at present.
Mainly so libraries don’t become overwhelming.
I’ve got about 250 TV Shows and 500 Movies. I know others have many more than that.
Forgot, I have Stand-up Comedy and Music Videos (concerts) as separate movies libraries too.
Interesting! I have a similar volume for movies, but about double for TV shows. I have all the movies in one library, then TV Shows split between DVR and non-DVR content.
Part of this may be my own OCD. 
I just don’t want Sanford & Son in the same library as the current season of Bull. Just doesn’t fit.
I think @Volts reference to the old video store shelves may be where it started. I wonder how many of us multi library people are old farts?
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I mean, how old is old? The team at Plex ranges from 20-somethings to 50+ (Personally, I’m 31, and wouldn’t consider myself old )
