Server Version#: 1.41.3.9314
Player Version#: 4.11.5
I have a waution about how Plexamp handles Plex Smart Playlists. I understand that that Smart Playlists are meant to be dynamic (obviously). So, say if I were to add or remove music from my library that matches a Smart Playlist’s critera, the tracks in that Smart Playlist would auotmatically update. I can see that happeneing in Plex as I modify a Smart Playlist’s rules, add music to the library, etc.
My question is about how Plexamp handles playing out a Smart Playlist. If I start playing a Smart Playlist in Plexamp, then make changes in Plex (change the rules, add matching music tracks, etc.), will Plexamp also “pick up” on those changes without me having to quit & restart playing out the Smart Playlist?
My experience so far is that Smart Playlist changes made in Plex aren’t picked up automatically when playing out that Smart Playlist in Plexamp. Now, the Smart Playlist of interest is pretty big (more than 5K tracks). But, I know that I’ve added over 100 new tacks with matching criteria to that playlist over two months ago, and I’ve to hear one of them play out yet.
I just performed a quick test here by creating a playlist containing tracks which haven’t been played in the last week. I checked the playlist in Plexamp and its track count matched what the web app showed.
I then modified the playlist to show tracks not played in the last 10 weeks so the number of total tracks decreased. After closing the playlist (I’d left it visible) and opening it back up, the track count decrease was reflected. So the update occurred more-or-less immediately. Though it may take.a tad longer in your case since your playlist is larger than my entire collection .
This is on an iOS device running Plexamp 4.12.2 (you’re a bit behind). The Plex Media Server version is 1.41.7.9749 (the most recent Plex Pass beta).
So in my case I never really close the playlist in Pkexamp on my phone (unless the app or the phone crashes). It starts/stops when I get in/out of the car. I might start it playing out again in the house on my Sonos system, then back in the car, etc. The seamlessness is a great feature of Plexamp. So when you say that you stopped & started the playlist, maybe that results in a different UX?
I didn’t stop and start the playlist. I viewed it in the Library tab (Library → Playlists → Tap Playlist Poster). I then updated the playlist criteria in the web app. I viewed the playlist again after backing out to the main library view and the change in the number of tracks was reflected.
I’m not sure of the behavior if you constantly leave the playlist playing. I’m not sure if it’s quite that dynamic. I may be able to test with a smaller playlist though.
You might have to stop playback (long press on Pause) and restart the playlist, if you want the changes to be effective immediately.
Otherwise it may take a while until the current play queue is updated.
Keep also in mind that Plexamp usually does pre-cache quite a few of the tracks in the current play queue.
Thanks for the confirmation! It seems like this behavior is different than what would happen if I played out directly through Plex. I understand that Plexamp is not Plex. :). But it would be nice if the Smart Playlist functionality was orthogonal between the two. If I have to stop/start a playlist in Plexamp every time that there’s a change, I will have to add some “last played” rules to avoid hearing the same songs over again. I was hoping that Plexamp would honor Plex’s Smart Playlist functionality to dynamically adjust to number of plays, last played, etc. I would just use the Plex app, except that there’s no CarPlay app for Plex.
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