Hi - I am a complete beginner to Plex and am exploring it for remote music streaming from my own library of ALAC files only. Not interested in streaming services or video.
What do I basically need in terms of NAS? What I don’t get it why there is so much technobabble around NAS drives and such - my current very basic WD MyCloud NAS can stream music remotely already (so it isn’t a complicated task) but the interface is clunky.
Literally all I want to do is stream my own ALAC files remotely over mobile. Plex does a not great job at simplifying what exactly I need to get set up.
Most technical restrictions are about a NAS’ limited support/resources when it comes to adjusting video content to the player’s capabilities. Audio streaming should be just fine.
Would you mind detailing what issues you experience? That’ll make it easier to guide you to how to complete the setup or fixing it.
There can be a number of different obstacles when it comes to running your own media server and accessing it remotely – not only involving Plex btw.
But nothing you cannot overcome
Question: are you using the Plex client for your mobile (iOS, Android? – without a Plex Pass those will require a one-time activation) or are you trying to play your audio through the Plex Web app?
Follow the installation wizard to name your server and prepare your libraries… with your requirements, you probably only need a single Music library. In this step you can tell Plex which folder contains your media and if you want Plex to build that library re-using the embedded metadata of your files (vs. having a folder structure / file naming that’ll allow Plex to recognize artist/album/title and download related metadata) https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288896-basic-setup-wizard/
Confirm that you can access your Plex Media Server from outside your home network (e.g. through a browser from your mobile via https://app.plex.tv/desktop
If you install the Plex for iOS app without the Plex Pass, this will require a one-time-activation (4.99$)
Yes – the WD MyCloud should do.
As long as you’re ok with a single music library (the only functional restriction of Plex on the MyCloud is that you can only have one library per media type).
Thanks for all your help so far - am steaming now and all working good except Plex seems to be pulling its own artwork for albums instead of my own. All artwork is embedded using iTunes.
Hover over the library name in your main navigation and click the vertical .... This should bring up the library context menu
Click Manage Library > Edit...
Switch to the Advanced tab
Scroll to the bottom of the settings page and change Album Art to `Local Files Only
If you want Plex to completely ignore online metadata you can also switch Agent to Personal Media Artists.
If you don’t like the default genres matched to your albums you can change Genres to Embedded Tags… same goes basically for all the checkboxes which define what online content should be added to your library.
Subscribed does not equal Plex Pass – and unless you use a different account in the forum it appears you don’t have a Plex Pass… hence the ad
As for the online data… you might need to perform a so called Plex Dance after changing the settings. Otherwise the existing media might be stuck to the previous scan/match.
move the album folders / content outside the folder linked to your library
double-check with an independent app ifthose posters are actually embedded (if you’re on a Mac you can e.g. use Subler). I’ve seen scenarios where iTunes stored the poster but didn’t actually embed it in the audio file.
do you have the library configured with Prefer local metadata checked and for Album Artwork to be pulled from Local Files or Both Plex Music and Local Files?
From what I understand, with those settings Plex should look for embedded artwork if there’s no dedicated poster image in the album folder
PS:
just cleaning up w/ 2 misconceptions to get your expectations straight…
(1) a lack of an immediate response does not equal “checking out” or dropping the thread
(2) Plex Ninjas are Plex users just like you (and me) … no support that’s at your service 24/7
You’re mistaken if you feel dangling a carot of you buying/cancelling a Plex Pass in front of me gives you a different response
