Plexamp File/Folder Structure and Metadata/Tag questions not explained in the Help Article

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

After reviewing the help article (https://support.plex.tv/articles/200265296-adding-music-media-from-folders/), there were more questions related to specific naming of files and metadata based on other factors that were not covered. Below are a few questions I have related to Plex, how it organizes based off naming conventions.

QUESTION: Organizing Albums by Year in the Folder Structure

I want to be able to organize my Albums by the year in my folder structure but was told I would be unable to do that because the way Plex’s metadata is pulling art, assets and organizing data will not show correctly. I’ve noticed in my Plex Dashboard, that a few Artists are missing their profile photos, information, etc. because of this.

Here’s what I currently have now:
/music/artist/(year) album name/CD #/101 - Trackname.ext

How can this be achieved for both Folder Structure and Plex’s method for gather information for showing up correctly?

QUESTION: Track Metadata / Tags - Featured Artists

What is the correct way to include featuring artists for a track’s metadata?
Sample: Track Name (feat. Artist Name)

If you do keep the featuring artist in the track name, which sample is the correct way:

  • Track Name (feat. Artist Name)
  • Track Name (feat. Artist Name 1, Artist Name 2)
  • Track Name (Feat. Artist Name)
  • Track Name (Feat. Artist Name 1, Artist Name 2)
  • Track Name - Feat. Artist Name
  • Track Name - Feat. Artist Name 1, Artist Name 2

Does the track’s name have to have the featuring artist separated by a semi-colon under the artist track metadata or a comma?
Example:
Artist Name 1; Artist Name 2; Artist Name 3
-or-
Artists, Artist Name 1, Artist Name 2, Artist Name 3

Does this also apply to the file structure or do you keep the feat. Artist out of the file name:
Example:

  • 101 - Trackname (feat. Artist).ext

QUESTION: Track Metadata / Tags - Singles, Remixes, etc.

What is the correct way for Singles, Remixes, etc. for a track’s metadata?
Example:

  • Track Name (Remix).ext
  • -or-
  • Track Name (Single).ext

For the file structure, does this also apply:
Example:

  • 101 - Trackname (Remix).ext
  • -or-
  • 101 - Trackname (Single).ext

What is the correct way on naming the album name for Singles, Remixes, etc. in the Folder Structure?
Examples:

  • /music/artist/album name (single)/
  • /music/artist/album name ‘single’/
  • /music/artist/album name - single/

QUESTION: Organizing Albums by Type in the Folder Structure

Is it possible to organize albums by the type using the following structure:
Examples:

  • /music/artist/albums/album name/
  • /music/artist/remixes/album name/
  • /music/artist/singles/album name/

Thank you very much and hope I can get some clarity to file/folder structures and to the way Plex will help organize libraries.

2
  1. Organizing Albums by Year in the Folder Structure - At least for movies/tv shows, Plex will ignore everything in square braces, so [year] album name might be better for matching, but it’s not something I’ve tested. I could also see Plex being confused with the CDX folders.
  2. Track Metadata / Tags - Featured Artists - I’m not sure if the filename has much/any say in what artists will be added to the track, that will depend on the artist tag in the file. I use semicolons to split them, but other syntax might work as well.
  3. Track Metadata / Tags - Singles, Remixes, etc. - Set the releasetype tag of the track. In some cases, you may need multiple tags (e.g. releasetype=album and releasetype=live for a live album).
  4. Organizing Albums by Type in the Folder Structure - Can’t say for certain, since it’s not something I’ve tried. If your track metadata is clean (especially if you run it through Picard, which will embed ids that I believe Plex uses for matching), Plex will have a better chance of figuring it out, though I’d probably test it out with a single artist to make sure. You’re likely to have an easier time by following the expected artist/album/track pattern though.

Most of the above also assumes you have ‘Prefer local metadata’ enabled (Manage Library > Edit > Advanced), otherwise it will just be overwritten with whatever MusicBrainz release Plex matches it against.

3

I use TagScanner as a method for metadata for tracks.

Would I have to add a new field called, “releasetype” and then add the live, album data?

Does it have to be “releasetype” or can the field be named, “release type”?

Also, what are all the release type names? UPDATE: Found this resource: Release Group / Type - MusicBrainz

4

I’m not familiar with TagScanner, but that’s the gist of it, yes. Here’s an example of the tags for a live album: https://i.imgur.com/a43woQG.png.

5

You can’t.

Plex has no concept for doing that.
The only way is to add “(feat. Name1, Name2 …)” to the track’s Title.

6

I don’t know how TagScanner calls it internally, but the frame name is RELEASETYPE for FLAC/Vorbis, and TXXX:MusicBrainz Album Type for id3v2.

Bear in mind that Plex (a year ago) introduced a bug where it cannot read multi-valued id3v2.4 tags anymore, so you have to save the tag as album;live (i.e. with semicolon separator), not as separate values album and live. This bug doesn’t happen with FLAC.

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