Hardware transcoding is rapid enough to work with a live stream without pre-processing. Some NAS include extra hardware built to transcode, whereas lesser systems use is entirely dependent on software solutions.Ī software transcoding will work fine if the NAS has time to pre-process the files, assuming they are not required in real-time. And this needs to be done quickly enough to allow the stream to play smoothly. Re-encoding the stream for the client display ensures the best performance, typically by not streaming 4K video to a phone with only a 720p screen.ĭuring this operation, video files must be decoded, scaled, have audio reintegrated, and then re-encoded. During transcoding, video is reorganized from the source encoding and resolution into one that the receiving device requires. Plex is a very powerful tool, but it requires a level of performance from the NAS that’s generally considered to be above entry-level devices for those that wish to transcode video. How we picked the best NAS for Plex in 2022

Best plex media server nas