Transcoding offloading

[cyruspy 5]

Is it possible to offload the transcoding (mostly batch conversion) to a machine that's not the Emby server?.

I have a modest NAS serving content via Emby as a container and a second more capable and power hungry machine that can do better for transcoding but don't want to have 24x7 online.

Is there any support to add that machine as a transcoding worker to receive the original media, convert it and send it back to emby?

[GrimReaper 4785]

2 minutes ago, cyruspy said:

Is it possible to offload the transcoding (mostly batch conversion) to a machine that's not the Emby server?

Not currently. 

You can lend your support here:

 

[RanmaCanada 500]

On 26/02/2026 at 14:26, cyruspy said:

Is it possible to offload the transcoding (mostly batch conversion) to a machine that's not the Emby server?.

I have a modest NAS serving content via Emby as a container and a second more capable and power hungry machine that can do better for transcoding but don't want to have 24x7 online.

Is there any support to add that machine as a transcoding worker to receive the original media, convert it and send it back to emby?

You would just setup tasks to do that yourself outside of Emby. It would be the same as the optimize media option that is in Plex, but you would handle that manually or use automated tools like tdar, or better yet, just get an intel N100 or N150 machine, or a 12th gen or newer laptop to be your Emby server. They will perform far better, and use minimal power. My i5-1235u server uses 15-20 watts, and mostly sits idle at 8 watts, about the same as a high powered LED light bulb.

Edited 9 hours ago by RanmaCanada

[Cheeseburger 8]

For the batch conversion part, there's standalone software that can help you out, but you will have to learn it and more or less keep track of your progress yourself. If you are happy to work in the Emby environment, you could just install a second Emby on that powerful machine, add the same folders to a library in there, and let it convert all the stuff you want. No need to set everything up, just the relevant library part really. After that the original Emby server should be able to pick up those new versions.