Saving metadata next to media files - pro and contra

[Guest Normal]

I am fairly new to Emby but it's awesome so far.

 

I just ask me an important question right now:

should I save metadata next to the media files or not?

 

I have quite a few movies for which I've uploaded custom made "thumb" images. Once their are uploaded, they are just gone "forever" in the emby config folder. I can find them, but it would take hours I think.

 

What are the pros and cons of saving metadata files next to the media files?

Is it slower? Faster?

 

One thing for sure it is: it is easier to edit the files.

 

 

What do you think?

 

My setup:

self made NAS with Intel G3930, 1x 4 GB RAM, 1x 4 TB Seagate NAS drive (with my media and emby config directory on it) plus 2 backup NAS drives of 2 TB each.

For my OS I use Debian with OpenMediaVault and Emby inside a Docker image. My HDD is an old Werstern Digital Scorpio 80 GB.

Edited September 6, 2018 by Normal

[jasonmcroy 316]

From what I understand, keeping your metadata next to your files in the same folder, is for the purpose of easier editing. 

 

I have used it both ways in the past and I didn't see too much difference in the speed aspect. Maybe it's a little faster if your Emby setup is on a SSD vs a regular HDD, but I am not sure. 

 

I ended up not saving my metadata beside my media files because I don't do any editing of the posters that are pulled down (other than choosing a different poster from within the app itself) and I like my folders to look "clean". That is just a personal preference.

 

If you do a lot of editing of your posters and such then keeping them stored beside your media files is probably the direction you want to go.

[PenkethBoy 2068]

If you never edit the metadata change sortname, remove stuff, add stuff etc then it does not matter as the data is re downloaded if you rebuild or refresh an item

 

However if you want a speedier rebuild, want to customise metadata, images etc - then save with your media

 

As for speed in general use - it makes zero difference as the images with your media are also stored in the emby cache and thats where they come from to show in Emby

 

Up to you - depending on your use case

[Guest Normal]

I edit sort names very often. Also I add custom made images for Thumb view.

Is there a way to get all my custom image stuff so I can save it next to my media without loosing anything when changing to this new system of saving metadata?

[Luke 42083]

We don't have any mechanisms to migrate existing metadata, but for future metadata yes it sounds like based on your usage, you will want to save locally next to the media files.

[Guest Normal]

Let's say I recreate my library completely and I already have the nfo files. Would Emby load the meta data from these nfo files?

Because I've many movies with custom sortnames etc.

 

Maybe I would try to locate all these nfo files on my own before re-doing my library.

[PenkethBoy 2068]

yes emby does read nfo files from your media directories 

 

nfo's are not saved to the cache - the data is in the library.db

[Guest Normal]

So refreshing the meta data (without replacing existing data) should just read the nfo file and put that data into the db file.

 

Ok I will try later. Maybe the weekend because it already took me hours the last few days having the library I have currently.