Some Plex help, please?

[DJ...]

I've been an avid fan of XBMC but decided to test Plex today.

I notice that even though my movies and tv shows are organised properly in their own folders and they have all of the metadata, Plex server doesn't pick it all up. Plex only picks up the covers for about 20% of my movies and absolutely no artwork for tv shows. I exported XBMC's database to individual files to ensure that all folders had the correct metadata and artwork.

So does Plex require a different folder structure or renaming of artwork?

My setup at the moment is a Macbook Air connected to a 3TB hardrive with all the data. This Mac runs the server and then there are a few other clients.

Another question: I downloaded Plex Constellation but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to tell Constellation to control which client, and how to tell it to stream to a specific client. It just seems to want to stream locally to the iPad.

And last but not least, how does one install Aeon skins in Plex in Mac?

Some help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Priapus]

I found the metadata on Plex poor. It didn't pick up half of the stuff (fan art and covers) - however it did pickup all the movies I had on the drive. Something which XBMC has issues with.

Plex is a spin off from XBMC - some devs left Team XBMC and started Plex.

Personally, having used both systems XBMC is just... better.

 

[Pho3nix]

Plex downloads the metadata after it has built up your library. On your server, run a Deep scan and leave it be for an hour odd. This got me up to 80% odd with the movies and needed Movie Renamer or something to correct the titles names.

Regarding Plex Constellation..Not much help there since I used the Official app and the remote function works well there. Might have configured it somewhere though, which devices you looking to stream the content too?

 

[DJ...]

Seems pretty redundant that you can't use locally stored artwork and metadata.

constellation is giving me the most hassles though. I cannot figure out how to tell it to control which client...

 

[Pho3nix]

Seems pretty redundant that you can't use locally stored artwork and metadata.

constellation is giving me the most hassles though. I cannot figure out how to tell it to control which client...

Back home today so will see if I can see if I changed anything

 

[douglasl]

Not sure about constellation, but the plex app has some icons on the bottom right of the screen. if you try them, one lists the connected devices. you select the device you want to control and a new icon pops up. tap the new icon and you in the remote.

I had some hassles initially getting plex to scan all the series and movies properly but after restarting the server and then forcing a deep scan everything is great now.

XBMC is great but I got tired of setting up everyone's XBMC every time I changed stuff on the server side. Plex allows you to just install a single client on each client device and then just manage everything on the server. I find Plex easier to use.

Similar to the android ios debate, for some the simplicity outweighs the additional possible functionality.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I must say I have never had issues with Plex not being able to retrieve metadata. Just make sure that you are connected to the internet and it will do it all for you. Plex will not use your existing metadata (.nfo files) ,as mentioned above, but will download new metadata on it's own so you'll have to give it some time to download and process everything.

I believe Plex will be able to pick up any media that is named with any of the popular naming conventions, just like XMBC.

Also, there is no need to download Constellation, get the proper Plex app. You can stream directly to the iPad and send the stream to any other Plex clients on the local network (there is a little TV icon at the bottom right hand corner of the Plex app for iPad, tap it and it will bring up a list of the players available.)

As for the skins, maybe this will help: http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/7767-aeon-skin-with-all-current-fixes-help-me-testfix/

I know there is a Windows skin chooser, not to sure if there is something similar for OSX.

 

[Roman4604]

I like the simplicity, so use i prefer plex.
Works on my 2 Samsung tv's, iPad, laptop, phone, and Mac mini.

Used to be quite an avid Plex user as well, but eventually got over the whole metadata thing. I'm not a hoarder so find there's little value in it for me.

These days I find DLNA quicker & more hassle free since its embedded in many devices/OSs. My SAB renames everything from SB & CP to uniform naming convention so easy to navigate all the media on my Serviio server. Only feature I miss with DLNA is remote file delete.