PLEX to recognize converted version in @Transcode sub-folder by multimedia console

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1 
My thread is a continuation of topic # 139565
`QNAP NAS, using the @Transcode folder` https://forums.plex.tv/t/qnap-nas-using-the-transcode-folder/139565

Idea
I’m trying to make Plex recognize and merge (auto) pre-transcoded versions of home videos to stream them on LG smart TV (webOS) smoothly. The original recordings are of 4K (with fairly high bitrate, GoPro Hero8 Black) typically which therefore get hardware transcoded in the background down to 360p and 720p by QNAP’s native Multimedia Console. This happens automatically upon file addition.

Problem
Now, what I am seeing is that both the original and the converted versions of these videos appear within the Home videos library - completely unnecessarily. For instance I observe 3 instances of my single GH014472 footage.

  1. GH014472
  2. GH014472.MP4.mobile360p
  3. GH014472.MP4.ipad720p

Screen Shot 2020-01-25 at 22.14.05
Screen Shot 2020-01-25 at 22.14.05888×563 130 KB

Workaround
Surely, manually merging any amount of related files is possible but definitely not something I want to do every time I get home and upload files to re-live my freshest memories.

Question
Now, I am wondering what I should change so that plex auto-merges corresponding transcoded versions of my home videos? Where should I tune and what? Ultimately, is there a way to set QNAP’s @Transcode sub-folders as proxy for converted versions? Shall I perhaps change the suffix policy (like mobile360p) by QNAP Multimedia Console?

Server Version#: 1.18.4.2171
QNAP TS-251A 
QNAP QTS: Version 4.4.1.1146 (2019/12/06)
2

Great question - I’d love to hear what the community thinks as well.

3

Plex uses this structure for multi version movies.

/Movies
   /Pulp Fiction (1994)
      Pulp Fiction (1994) - 1080p.mkv
      Pulp Fiction (1994) - SD.m4v

With a little clever scripting,

  1. Have the structure Plex expects
  2. Find the QNAP outputted files (find)
  3. Rename the suffix parts of the name to be Plex-compliant while keeping the root name and real file extension.
4

Hi, sorry to tell you but that doesn’t help me any futher. QNAP wouldn’t handle the transcoded files in any different folder than @transcode subfolder (unlike plex’s root expectation) to my knowledge.
So, moving the smaller resolution files to root would actually retrigger transcode process as them be missing - at least I assume.
Also, all native gallery handler apps (qphoto, qumagie, qnap) wouldn’t work with the transcoded files.

I need something else

5

I’ll tinker with it and discuss with QNAP but I think the Multimedia Console software is going to be the ultimate nemesis here.

I suspect careful use of a hard link will suffice.

6

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