# Transcoder Assistant Helper Service **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Tags:** server-windows, server-mac, server-linux, server-asustor, server-synology\ **Created:** [August 26, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497 "2020-08-26T22:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xXxPeepsxXx1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xXxPeepsxXx1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/xXxPeepsxXx1)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497/1 "2020-08-26T22:50:11Z")
I’ll try to keep this as a simple request, however here is the idea, say someone has a network attached storage device (NAS), while it runs great at direct play, it is extremely bad at transcoding larger files. However (the idea) if one where to have a second computer on that same network, why not have the ability to shift the work load of transcoding that file or converting it if wanted to that PC? Basically a shared work load across multiple devices for higher intensity work loads to ease or get rid of entirely the lag of the transcoder that many users experience. I have an asustor NAS myself and I have this issue. I also have a mac mini that I installed windows on and running a plex server off of that as well as a redundant server for myself. It is setup to use the same media library from the NAS. Basically all my media is stored on the NAS, but plex is able to do the same functions on the Mac Mini. However now I have two servers essentially running. It would be awesome to only have the one server and maybe a side piece of software that would run on Windows just as a transcoder helper service when needed. Just a thought, yes I know some will say “just run it off the mac mini then” however this could be helpful to those who only wish to have it be used as a transcoder assistant and not the actual server, it would also help prevent opening more devices to the open internet then needed, especially when remote viewing is setup when I’m not at home and want to watch something. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497/2 "2020-08-26T23:00:39Z")
Same as this? > [@Distributed Transcoding/Scaling](https://forums.plex.tv/t/distributed-transcoding-scaling/76681): > > I realize this is a longshot but right now my plex server is a quad socket system and it's barely keeping up with user load, looking at 8 socket systems and they are just astronomically expensive which got me thinking about the huge surplus of cheap dual socket blade servers   what if there was a way of scaling plex itself to have separate compute/transcode nodes instead of just having one giant server...   so for example, you have one box running plex itself, then several slaved boxes that … ---
**Author:** ![xXxPeepsxXx1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xXxPeepsxXx1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/xXxPeepsxXx1)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497/3 "2020-08-26T23:04:09Z")
Yes!!! I tried searching for something similar before posting but I guess I didn’t type the right search term in. ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497/4 "2020-08-26T23:04:18Z")
Also: > [@\[Release\] UnicornTranscoder, create a Plex Transcoding Cluster](https://forums.plex.tv/t/release-unicorntranscoder-create-a-plex-transcoding-cluster/281679/95): > > Unicorn Transcoder 2.4.2 Changelog Support Plex 1.18.9.2578-513b381af We have a sexy logo now smiling_face_with_three_heartsUpdate notes Shutdown your transcoder/load-balancer Update Plex to 1.18.9.2578-513b381af Remove Plex Relay Pull the 2.4.2 version npm i npm run install restart ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-assistant-helper-service/627497/5 "2020-08-27T05:44:31Z")