Move/organize media in storage location

Channels DVR Server
#1

Ok, this post will be half question and half feature request.

I have a folder called Channels DVR that the configuration is pointing to for all recordings made by Channels DVR. I also have 2 other folders called TV and TV2 that I’ve used to import media recorded by another application. I plan to do yet another import in about a week and will likely create a folder called TV3 for those files. Here’s my question. After I’ve completed an import, can I consolidate all of my source media into a single folder or does the import store info about the location of that file and not be able to find it if moved within the storage location?

Second part. This may be unimportant depending on the answer to part 1. Can you make it so that I can pick and choose which files within a folder I want to import? Currently, I can specify which folder contains the files, but there is no criteria/filtering. It seems to just assume that I want everything in that folder. I don’t want to put new media in a previously used import folder and have it import duplicates of all previous imports that I then have to clean up.

#2

  1. The original imported paths are saved

  2. There is no filter

We recommend organizing your files first and then importing the directory with the files you want filtered and organized already

#3

I suppose I can make that work by importing each show separately as a sub folder within my main TV folder. I’ll be dumping each set into its own folder anyway so they are grouped. It just means lots of small imports rather than 1 to get the rest. I can work with that since it won’t be a regular workflow after next week.

#4

When the TV import became available, I was a “kid in the candy store - ALONE!” Found out the hard way, organize first. Look at how Channels stores in its /Volumes/Drive1/Channels/TV/Show Name format. Follow that format. I use a Mac Mini as the server.

The epg info frequently does not match my previous software epg. Often the Channels epg does not match Wikipedia. Try a few episodes first. The import allows Seasons in the path so I use a /Volumes/Drive2/Imported TV/Show Title/Season 1/ Show Title - S01E01 - Episode Name.meg format.

If you move files later, be prepared to run “fix incorrect match” again if you needed to manually match the first time. Lots of extra work to rematch shows and episodes the second time. If you do move, check the Channels list of video names and add S01E01 as needed to avoid manual rematching.

PS Buy Large Disk Drives!

1 Like
#5

Appreciate it, Blue. I’ve done 2 imports and a bunch of fixing already in the Channels UI. I have one more import to do and do plan to organize well based on what a I’ve learned since. It’s unfortunate that Windows Media Center (all of my prior recordings) doesn’t have folder structure or season/episode info in the filename, so there’s a fair amount of setup if you want to get it right.

I am in the market for another hard drive. I currently have a 2tb external, 4tb external, and 3tb internal for media storage. Trying to determine if 6tb will suffice or if I need an 8. I don’t watch nearly as much broadcast tv as I used to due to Netflix and Prime.

#6

If your episodes are named correctly, I.e. Show Title S01E01 Episode Name.meg file, etc., you can just import into the Show Title folder (directory). You don’t need the season folder. In fact, all you need is a file named S01E01.meg to import it in the Show Title folder. I found adding the Show Title - S01E01 Episode Name might help down the road with any future software. It also makes viewing an video outside of Channels, with VLC, easier. Do it right the first time saves Time.

I hope Channels lasts for many years, but my last DVR software was sold to a German subsidiary of a Chinese Company. Paying for the epg in Euros was interesting.

#7

I will try that with my next import. Not sure if this helps, but I use an app on my phone call TV Show Tracker. It’s free and integrates with Trakt. In addition to tracking progress on shows and what is left on your to-do list, it also contains full names and descriptions for each episode as well as original air dates both past and future (when known for future). I’ve found this app helpful for manual post-import fixing. Perhaps more so than Wikipedia.

#8

Thanks for the tip!