Anyone using iFlicks and Infuse?

[That-Guy]

Firstly this is my first attempt at managing my TV shows and automating the process a little.

The setup I have just setup is my Mac Mini with iFlicks on, and an Apple TV 4 with Infuse on. iFlicks places the TV Shows in a Shared Network Folder which is saved as a Favourite on Infuse. The setup works great for my first attempt. I have a few questions about iFlicks and Infuse so thought I would group them in one post:

iFlicks

• I currently have the preset on "Update Metadata and Rename" I have seen on these forums that setting the preset to "iTunes Compatible" means the TV Shows get processed faster. My question is if I use "iTunes Compatible" does that still get the correct Meta Data and Rename Files?

• At the moment all my TV shows end up in a single folder called TV Shows. I am trying to create a rule that means shows are put into folders based on show name and season, for example "Arrow > Season 1" and "Arrow > Season 2" I have played with the rules but not having much luck. My shows are currently being named as "Arrow S02E01" anyone have a working folder rule setup?

Infuse

• All shows display correctly with Meta Data and Cover Art but shows are not being displayed grouped. On the main screen I have "Arrow Season 1" and "Arrow season 2" is there a way to group shows together? have I missed a setting any where?

All help or suggestions welcome, this has been a big learning curve but loving it so far so all pointers and other software suggestions gratefully received.

 

[benjitek]

Take a look at Plex.

​

 

[Hermes Monster]

I haven't used iFlicks, but after a quick read of their website, it looks totally redundant to me. Infuse will add all the metadata and artwork for you, so I can't see why you need iFlicks? Apologies if I've misunderstood.

Let me tell you what I do...

I have a showRSS URL set up in uTorrent, which polls and downloads my chosen new TV shows automatically, and downloads them to my External HD, connected to my Airport Time Capsule. Infuse then sees them and does all the handwork for me, adds artwork and metadata (you can however create your own folders with artwork if you wish). I don't have more than one or two episodes at a time so can't comment on the season sorting issue I'm afraid. I think this is something they're working on though, check out the Infuse thread in this forum.

 

[JonHimself]

I can't speak to Infuse but do use iFlicks to convert and tag my shows before adding them to iTunes. I'm fairly certain about this information but not 100% positive.

The iTunes Compatible setting will take video that is already encoded in h264 but uses a non-compatible audio codec or file container and converts only what it needs to in order to make a compatible MP4 file. This will be the case for a lot of MKV files and saves you time by not reencoding the video stream. For AVI files it will have to reencode the video as it is most likely divx.

I have rules in iFlicks to change that setting. If the file is MKV I have the Presets set to iTunes Compativle, add metadata - yes, and send to iTunes - yes. If it is AVI the preset is Apple TV 2, add metadata - yes, and send to iTunes - yes. If the file is MP4 or m4v I have the preset to only add metadata - yes and send to iTunes - yes. I believe that these rules limit the reencoding to only files that need it.

I'm not sure about the file sorting because for me iTunes is handling that but if iFlicks doesn't work, Hazel definitely would be able to sort and file them based on file names.

 

[That-Guy]

Take a look at Plex.

View attachment 623404 ​

Plex was my next choice but didn't like the fact you needed to install their server software too. With Infuse you literally need to just share a folder on the network.

I haven't used iFlicks, but after a quick read of their website, it looks totally redundant to me. Infuse will add all the metadata and artwork for you, so I can't see why you need iFlicks? Apologies if I've misunderstood.

Let me tell you what I do...

I have a showRSS URL set up in uTorrent, which polls and downloads my chosen new TV shows automatically, and downloads them to my External HD, connected to my Airport Time Capsule. Infuse then sees them and does all the handwork for me, adds artwork and metadata (you can however create your own folders with artwork if you wish). I don't have more than one or two episodes at a time so can't comment on the season sorting issue I'm afraid. I think this is something they're working on though, check out the Infuse thread in this forum.

I use ShowRSS the reason I use iFlicks is because it watches a folder of your choice and just picks out the videos and moves them into a dedicated folder and leaves other files alone.

I sent an email to the Infuse team and apparently grouping by season should arrive in version 4.2. Hopefully this won't be too long as 4.1 came out today.

I can't speak to Infuse but do use iFlicks to convert and tag my shows before adding them to iTunes. I'm fairly certain about this information but not 100% positive.

The iTunes Compatible setting will take video that is already encoded in h264 but uses a non-compatible audio codec or file container and converts only what it needs to in order to make a compatible MP4 file. This will be the case for a lot of MKV files and saves you time by not reencoding the video stream. For AVI files it will have to reencode the video as it is most likely divx.

I have rules in iFlicks to change that setting. If the file is MKV I have the Presets set to iTunes Compativle, add metadata - yes, and send to iTunes - yes. If it is AVI the preset is Apple TV 2, add metadata - yes, and send to iTunes - yes. If the file is MP4 or m4v I have the preset to only add metadata - yes and send to iTunes - yes. I believe that these rules limit the reencoding to only files that need it.

I'm not sure about the file sorting because for me iTunes is handling that but if iFlicks doesn't work, Hazel definitely would be able to sort and file them based on file names.

Thanks will have a play with some rules and see how I get on.

 

[pirata]

MrMc, a build of kodi, works great for what you are trying to do with your tv shows. make sure they are named correctly, s01e01.....s02e01 ect. These are screenshots of my mbp running koi but mdmc on atv4 is pretty much the same.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

MrMc, a build of kodi, works great for what you are trying to do with your tv shows. make sure they are named correctly, e01s01.....e01s02 ect. These are screenshots of my mbp running koi but mdmc on atv4 is pretty much the same.

Shouldn't it be be s01e01.....s01e02 ect.?

 

[pirata]

Shouldn't it be be s01e01.....s01e02 ect.?

Yea you are correct I typed it backwards, I will edit my post. Thanks.

 

[benjitek]

Plex was my next choice but didn't like the fact you needed to install their server software too. With Infuse you literally need to just share a folder on the network.

The server software is not a huge deal. I use Infuse on my ATV4 to access my Plex Media Server via DLNA. I prefer the stability of Infuse as a player, especially with the recent update. Pulls metadata extremely fast, integrates with OpenSubtitles.org. FastForward, Scrubbing, and Rewind are more stable with Infuse. I'm liking how I can now edit metadata using Siri Dictation within the app. I prefer Plex for general library management though -- so I use both.

 

[jdag]

Is anyone using Infuse to play from a share outside of your own home? In other words, can it be used to share a library with friends/family as Plex can be used?

 

[oneMadRssn]

I currently have the preset on "Update Metadata and Rename" I have seen on these forums that setting the preset to "iTunes Compatible" means the TV Shows get processed faster. My question is if I use "iTunes Compatible" does that still get the correct Meta Data and Rename Files?

Yes. The same metadata and renaming occurs. iTunes Compatible is the most efficient setting, for both processor time and quality, if the goal is to load the files into iTunes. If you do not want the load the files into iTunes, I am not sure why you would want to use iFlicks at all.

iTunes Compatible will remux the file if it is encoded in a way iTunes understands but is in a different container or has the wrong audio encoding, or it will transcode the file if it is not encoded in a way iTunes understands. For example, an mkv encoded in h.264 will be very quickly remuxed into an mp4 of the same encodings, which will take just a minute and will not degrade quality at all. An mkv encoded in divx will be transcoded into h.264 and put into an mp4 container, but as with all transcoding, there will be some loss of quality.

At the moment all my TV shows end up in a single folder called TV Shows. I am trying to create a rule that means shows are put into folders based on show name and season, for example "Arrow > Season 1" and "Arrow > Season 2" I have played with the rules but not having much luck. My shows are currently being named as "Arrow S02E01" anyone have a working folder rule setup?

I think the whole point of iFlicks is to use iTunes to organize your files, rather than folders. If you have the option "Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized" selected in iTunes, it will do a pretty good job having everything properly organized by show and season and episode in your media folder, where you set that to be. By default it is in your home folder, but it can be changed in the iTunes settings as well.