Default recording folder & missing shows

[carefulkelly 1]

I have 2 issues that are surely related. (Windows 11).

1. My library links showed show correct sample images but not media files. I checked naming conventions, renamed parent folders, etc. Rescanned/refreshed metadata multiple times. I have now deleted all my libraries and created a new one in a new folder away from the default c:...roaming/emby /data/ recordings location.

Every time I try to record a show emby still drops the new show back into the default c drive / recordings folder again. 

I went to the help section and found this info on DVR settings.   https://emby.media/support/articles/DVR-Settings.html   However, I see no such entry in the server settings.  How do I force all new live tv show recordings to use a new default folder. Is the help file out of date? 

2  Even with the recreated library my media remains absent. My filters are unmodified and set to show any. I recorded a new show, which again triggered a new media library but both are without content. The library with old content still displays cover images, the new library link image is blank. 

Thanks.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

1. My library links showed show correct sample images but not media files. I checked naming conventions, renamed parent folders, etc.

HI there, can you please provide a specific example?

How to Report a Problem

Thanks !

 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

Every time I try to record a show emby still drops the new show back into the default c drive / recordings folder again. 

Also for this, can you please provide a specific example?

How to Report a Problem

Thanks !

 

[carefulkelly 1]

I have attached a screenshot showing my emby homepage with the sample images for each of my two recording folders and the tv shows they contain, however when I click these images to show the linked shows in emby it indicates that the folders are empty.  However, when I go to the folders in windows explorer there are several shows in each. 

Additionally, as I had mentioned above, I tried to set Emby to record to my (preferred) external HDD (O/Recorded TV), but every time I try to record a show in emby it still drops the new show back into the default emby c drive location c/users/...../ "recordings" folder again. 

Again, as I mentioned above, the help files appear out of date as to how to force Emby to record to a new folder.

And on a side note, the "how to report a problem" page that is linked in all your reply messages is also out of date.  The help page indicates that logs are located under advanced/logs in the server. But now it appears there is a dedicated /logs section in the server.   @sa2000

 Thanks for your assistance with this. Looking forward to organizing my emby experience

embyserver (1).txt embyserver-63905846400.txt

[carefulkelly 1]

Please note that there are no filter conditions in the emby folder view settings, it is set to "any" condition.

[carefulkelly 1]

Correction:
I did not check the files within my windows folders. While they populated with the correct show listings, inside the folders (in either media location) the only files are simply 1kb .nfo files. 1 being [show name].nfo  and 1 being tvshow.nfo. along with a poster.jpg. Obviously, that's why the cover art is showing but no media files. 

So clearly they are not recording. I am confident my guide data is correct as I previously learned how to do this for the channels I needed + I refreshed it multiple times today. 

 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

However, when I go to the folders in windows explorer there are several shows in each. 

Hi, in Emby library setup, what folders are added to each library?

[sa2000 673]

15 hours ago, carefulkelly said:

And on a side note, the "how to report a problem" page that is linked in all your reply messages is also out of date.  The help page indicates that logs are located under advanced/logs in the server. But now it appears there is a dedicated /logs section in the server

I have corrected this

15 hours ago, carefulkelly said:

Additionally, as I had mentioned above, I tried to set Emby to record to my (preferred) external HDD (O/Recorded TV), but every time I try to record a show in emby it still drops the new show back into the default emby c drive location c/users/...../ "recordings" folder again

What do you have set in the Live TV Advanced Settings for recording paths ? There are 3 settings. Example of what I have on of my emby servers.

 

9 hours ago, carefulkelly said:

While they populated with the correct show listings, inside the folders (in either media location) the only files are simply 1kb .nfo files. 1 being [show name].nfo  and 1 being tvshow.nfo. along with a poster.jpg. Obviously, that's why the cover art is showing but no media files. 

Could you enable debug logging on Emby Server - Settings / Logs / Settings

Restart the server

Record an airing

If the recording media files do not get created, capture the embyserver log and upload please together with a screenshot of the folder explorer view

 

Edited February 6 by sa2000

[carefulkelly 1]

My default recording folders were not set. As I am testing this out, I am wondering about the location of active recordings. When I record test shows, Emby immediately creates a folder in windows explorer folder for that show, but it is not showing any .ts or other file in the folder that indicates it is actually caching/adding data as recording progresses. Is the final destination folder the cache folder as well or is there another? I see a .grab folder but it is empty, so I guess not, is that even an Emby folder? 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

I see a .grab folder but it is empty, so I guess not, is that even an Emby folder? 

Hi ,no, this is not.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

When I record test shows, Emby immediately creates a folder in windows explorer folder for that show, but it is not showing any .ts or other file in the folder that indicates it is actually caching/adding data as recording progresses. Is the final destination folder the cache folder as well or is there another?

HI there, can you please provide a specific example?

How to Report a Problem

Thanks !

 

[sa2000 673]

On 06/02/2026 at 16:52, carefulkelly said:

As I am testing this out, I am wondering about the location of active recordings.

I expect the default to be 

C:\Users\Den\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\data\livetv\recordings

On 06/02/2026 at 16:52, carefulkelly said:

I see a .grab folder but it is empty

This is Plex Live TV recordings folder. Not emby

Please provide logs as requested for a recording that is going wrong

On 06/02/2026 at 12:08, sa2000 said:

If the recording media files do not get created, capture the embyserver log and upload please together with a screenshot of the folder explorer view

 

 

Edited February 9 by sa2000

[carefulkelly 1]

Nothing is working for me right now. 

I can't record live tv on the fly. I get the "No compatible streams are currently available" message. 

Even though folders are created scheduled tv shows still do not save..

See attached logs.

I have no more words.

ffmpeg-transcode-c92e9bd2-da1e-40d3-a22e-84e9f24b1eab_1.txt embyserver (2).txt ffmpeg-transcode-424aea59-2d68-4bd7-89ca-72fb895da242_1.txt

[Luke 42077]

1 hour ago, carefulkelly said:

Nothing is working for me right now. 

I can't record live tv on the fly. I get the "No compatible streams are currently available" message. 

Even though folders are created scheduled tv shows still do not save..

See attached logs.

I have no more words.

ffmpeg-transcode-c92e9bd2-da1e-40d3-a22e-84e9f24b1eab_1.txt 8.78 kB · 0 downloads embyserver (2).txt 613.83 kB · 0 downloads ffmpeg-transcode-424aea59-2d68-4bd7-89ca-72fb895da242_1.txt 8.78 kB · 0 downloads

Is something wrong with your O drive or with Hauppauge WinTV?

2026-02-18 17:30:08.208 Error LiveStreamService-0HNJF8JQRQ787:00000001: Error processing request
	*** Error Report ***
	Version: 4.9.3.0
	Command line: C:\Users\Den\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system\EmbyServer.dll -noautorunwebapp
	Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10.0.26200
	OS/Process: x64/x64
	Framework: .NET 8.0.22
	Runtime: C:/Users/Den/AppData/Roaming/Emby-Server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
	Processor count: 4
	Data path: C:\Users\Den\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata
	Application path: C:\Users\Den\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system
	System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'O:\Recorded TV\Videos\Pause Buffer\livetv-3980.ts'.

Try reverting WinTV settings back to default and see if that helps.

[sa2000 673]

The default pause buffer location is in "C:\Users\Public\Videos" - did you change it in WinTV settings to "O:\Recorded TV\Videos" ?

Does the folder exist ?

This is my setting which uses the default for the pause buffer

With default setup, there should be a WinTV folder under c:\users\public - locate that and then look for the Logs folder and log.txt 

The log file would have log lines relating to the pause buffer file

 

[sa2000 673]

Maybe if you change the Hauppauge Pause Buffer location, you need to create the path yourself first, creating each of these folders 

O:\Recorded TV\Videos
O:\Recorded TV\Videos\Pause Buffer

 

Edited 7 hours ago by sa2000