NOTE: This repository is old. I updated my methodology and created a new repository called Plex-Post-Recording-Transcode-for-Windows-v2. This newer version uses ffmpeg along with powershell. This current one only uses DOS Batch files and feels a bit archaic, but it was written years ago just to try and save space from HDHomeRun and Plex only saving my media in very large .ts files. Even tho this version attempts to reencode in MKV, it's still not very efficient. So let's get on with the old stuff!
Post-Recording Transcoding Script for Plex Media Server using Handbrake-CLI
Since Plex requires you to store all scripts in the %LOCALAPPDATA%\Plex Media Server\Scripts folder, you should too. If you want to maintain log files, you will need to create a subfolder called C:\PlexScripts\Data to store your log files, or modify the first file to indicate your log file path.
Only 1 script 1-TV-Post-Record.bat will need to be configured in PMS in order to have this work. But you will need to download and install HandBrakeCLI 4 (or higher) to perform the conversion. To configure the script in PMS, in your PMS, click Settings, go to Live TV & DVR. Click on DVR Settings. Scroll down to PostProcessing Script and enter C:\PlexScripts\1-TV-Post-Record.bat
Of course, the C:\PlexScripts is how I configured mine. Also the scripts are hard coded with that path so if you wish to use a different path, please make the appropriate changes. So if you use D:\MyPlexScripts, then you will obviously need to make the change accordingly as well as make the subfolder D:\MyPlexScripts\Data as well.
1-TV-Post-Record.bat This is the file that initiates the whole scripting process by creating temporary file names and a work space to start the conversion process. It creates a log file and then launches the next batch file.
2-TV-Post-Convert.bat This script begins HandbrakeCLI with the required parameters. Please note the REM comment lines. Currently it is configured to use a GPU but if you have none, please make the appropriate changes.
3-TV-Post-Cleanup.bat This script finishes by cleaning up the temp files created as well as the .ts file. It also tells PMS to update the media library.