Current quality settings are a mess in my opinion, so this is my suggestion to rework or reorganize them:
Quality settings should have two options: “Auto” and “Manual” settings, also correct me if I’m wrong but the server should have an option to set an upload limit according to the upload speed of the internet service we have to avoid incorrect transcodings.
1- “Auto” should work depending on the type of connection, I’m not an expert in computer programming but I guess this is how “auto” should work:
If external connection is wifi
Then If bitrate of music file is higher than the limitation in server settings
Then transcode the file to a quality below the limitation
Or else play the file directly
If external connection is mobile data
Then ALWAYS transcode the file to reduce mobile data usage.
Many countries in development, like mine, only have 1Mbps of upload speed at home, so if the file is in FLAC format, then the server should transcode it to a quality suitable for that upload speed, however, if the file is in Mp3 format with their maximum quality limited to 320Kbps CBR (not to mention VBR) then the server should determine if it plays fine without interruptions with that upload speed to avoid transcoding of the same file.
2- “Manual” should let us select a manual quality regardless of the type of connection, this is the current setting and it’s for people who want full control of what their server transcode/play.
This settings should apply to videos as well, however, apps already have an option to adapt the quality for videos so this should apply to music as well.
I count on your upvote for Plex developers to take this suggestion into account.
