This is the directory that Plex will use for music. That said, Plex does offer step-by-step instructions on this, and I'll summarize those instructions here for your convenience: Organizing your music is very simple, and if you already maintain a music collection for iTunes or another music player, your job is done.
Otherwise, the service will just show you a mess of random tracks. Once you have a digital music collection, you need to organize it for Plex. That means ripping your CDs, buying DRM-free music through platforms like Amazon or Bandcamp, and removing DRM from music you've purchased from iTunes. Again, this process is totally free you just need to create a Plex account and patiently follow the Plex instructions.īecause you are creating a streaming service, you need to search for some MP3, WAV, FLAC and other music files. Once you've selected a device for your Plex media server, follow the platform's quickstart instructions to set everything up. (However, I wouldn't call this a long-term solution, as Plex can slow down your computer when it's active and will wear out your storage drives under heavy use.)
It won't affect your computer's normal functionality, because Plex is basically software that streams files from your computer to the Internet. Now, if you want to test out Plex before buying hardware, you can always run Media Server from your primary desktop or laptop.
As for a NAS device, well, they're literally designed to be servers and are often the best option for hardcore Plex builds.Īll of the Plex solutions above can back up data automatically, though a PC or NAS is the best choice if data redundancy is a priority. If you're going the PC route, I'd suggest going with something small and efficient like an Intel NUC, although you could also just pull an old Acer or Dell out of your closet. If you want something with a little more flexibility or power, you should use a computer or NAS device for your Plex server. (Note that both of these solutions require external storage.) And even if these products are not Great powerful, they're good enough to stream 4K video, so they'll have no problem streaming audio.
The NVIDIA Shield TV and Raspberry Pi 4 are much more energy efficient than full-size computers, so they should have minimal impact on your electricity bill. But as always, I suggest using an NVIDIA Shield TV Stick or a Raspberry Pi 4 microcomputer. It just needs reasonable storage space and a stable internet connection, preferably via an Ethernet cable. You can turn any old computer into a Plex media server. That said, this feature works best with well-known songs, not bootlegs or obscure stuff. Plex can even use the "Audio Fingerprint" to help identify misnamed tracks, which is a big help if you have a massive and slightly disorganized music library. Additionally, Plex can tell you about upcoming gigs, and if you don't mind reviews, it can show you album reviews. It automatically applies album art, organizes artists with photos and bios, and even displays music lyrics. Of course, Plex can also add a ton of data to your music collection. And unlike those "real" streaming services, it has built-in visualizers, deep EQ settings, volume options, and fade controls. Plex supports playback of virtually all file formats, even lossless formats like FLAC. And since Plex is free, you can effectively create your own music streaming service without spending a dime. You can also use the service for audio, be it music or audiobooks. It lets you stream your video collection to any device inside or outside your home, and its fantastic interface automatically fills in the gaps by providing cover art, summaries, and other information for your video files.īut Plex isn't just for movies.
Plex is best known as a movie streaming platform. Use Plexamp or Prism apps for streaming.