How to Install Emby With Hardware Transcoding on Your Synology NAS

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How to Install Emby With Hardware Transcoding on Your Synology NAS

Emby is a media server designed to organize, play, and stream audio and video to a variety of devices. Bringing all of your home videos, music, and photos together into one place has never been easier. Your personal Emby Server automatically converts and streams your media on-the-fly to play on any device. Hardware transcoding makes media streaming from your NAS faster and more efficient. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Emby with Hardware Transcoding on your Synology NAS using Docker & Portainer.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Emby v4.8.10.0 release.

  • STEP 1

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  • STEP 2

Install Portainer using my step by step guide. If you already have Portainer installed on your Synology NAS, skip this STEP. Attention: Make sure you have installed the latest Portainer version.

  • STEP 3

Use the link below to check if your Synology NAS model supports Hardware Transcoding. If you don’t find your model in the list below, then it means your NAS does not support Hardware Transcoding. In this case, you can Install Emby on your Synology NAS without Hardware Transcoding. ⚠️Remember: for using Hardware Transcoding with Emby, it’s also mandatory to have an Emby Premiere License.

🚀 CHECK IF YOUR NAS SUPPORTS HARDWARE TRANSCODING

  • STEP 4

Go to File Station and open the docker folder. Inside the docker folder, create one new folder and name it embyht. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 5

Now create four new folders inside the embyht folder that you created at STEP 4 and name them tvshows, music, movies, config. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 6

SSH into your Synology NAS by following the guide on How to SSH into a Synology NAS.

  • STEP 7

Find your GIDLIST number. This STEP is mandatory for Hardware Transcoding. You will need this code later at STEP 9. After you SSH into your Synology NAS, type in the following instructions:

sudo synogroup --get videodriver

GIDLIST Synology NAS Emby

  • STEP 8

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on Stacks then + Add stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

1 Synology Portainer Add Stack

  • STEP 9

In the Name field type in embyht. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Note: Copy Paste the code below in the Portainer Stacks Web editor.

services:
  emby:
    image: emby/embyserver:latest
    container_name: Emby
    environment:
      TZ: Europe/Bucharest
      UID: 1026
      GID: 100
      GIDLIST: 937
    ports:
      - 8096:8096
      - 8920:8920
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/embyht/config:/config:rw
      - /volume1/docker/embyht/tvshows:/tvshows:rw
      - /volume1/docker/embyht/music:/music:rw
      - /volume1/docker/embyht/movies:/movies:rw
    devices:
      - /dev/dri/renderD128:/dev/dri/renderD128
      - /dev/dri/card0:/dev/dri/card0
    restart: on-failure:5
    network_mode: host

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for TZ. (Select your current Time Zone from this list.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value numbers for UID and GID with your own values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value numbers for GIDLIST with your own GIDLIST number that you have previously found at STEP 7.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the tvshows, music and movies path folders with your own tvshows, music and movies path folders. For example: my movies folder, where my media is, is in /volume1/docker/embyht/movies and my music folder, where my music is, is located in /volume1/docker/embyht/music

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 3

  • STEP 8

Scroll down on the page until you see a button named Deploy the stack. Click on it. Follow the instructions in the image below. The installation process can take up to a few minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 4

  • STEP 9

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top right of your screen: “Success Stack successfully deployed“.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 10

Go back to STEP 1 or you will deal with karma 🙂

  • STEP 11

The installation process can take up to a few seconds/minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection. Now open your browser and type in http://Synology-ip-address:8096 Select your Preferred display language, then click Next. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 12

After you click Next on STEP 11, you will be prompted to Create a new Emby user account. Click Next. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 13

Click the + New Library tab. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 8

  • STEP 14

For Movies select Movies then + Add to add the movie folder. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 9

  • STEP 15

From the folder list, search for /movies then click OK. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Note: for Music, select Music on STEP 14 then your /music folder on STEP 15.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 10

  • STEP 15

After you click OK at STEP 14, click OK at STEP 15. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 11

  • STEP 16

Click Next or Add another folder like the music folder following the same exact STEPS from STEP 12 to STEP 15. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 12

  • STEP 17

Select the Language then the Country for Preferred Metadata Language, then click Next. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 13

  • STEP 18

Disable “Automatic port mapping”, then click Next. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 14

  • STEP 19

Accept the Emby Terms of use, then click Next. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 15

  • STEP 20

Click Finish. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 16

  • STEP 21

Click on the user that you have previously created at STEP 12. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 17

  • STEP 22

Type in the Username and Password that you have previously created at STEP 12, then click Sign In. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 18

  • STEP 23

On the left sidebar, click on the gear icon, then Transcoding to access your Hardware Acceleration options. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 19 new 2026

  • STEP 24

Check your movies!

Emby Hardware Transcoding Synology NAS Set up 20

  • STEP 25

Play your movies!

Emby Synology NAS Set up 21

Enjoy Emby with Hardware Transcoding!

🆘TROUBLESHOOTING

If you encounter issues by using this container, make sure to check out the Common Docker issues article.

Note: If you want to run the Emby container over HTTPS, check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS. In order to make Emby work via HTTPS, it’s mandatory to activate WebSocket.

Note: Can I run Docker on my Synology NAS? See the supported models.
Note: Find out how to update the Emby container with the latest image.
Note: How to Back Up Docker Containers on your Synology NAS.
Note: How to Free Disk Space on Your NAS if You Run Docker.
Note: How to Schedule Start & Stop For Docker Containers.
Note: How to Activate Email Notifications.
Note: How to Add Access Control Profile on Your NAS.
Note: How to Change Docker Containers Restart Policy.
Note: How to Use Docker Containers With VPN.
Note: Convert Docker Run Into Docker Compose.
Note: How to Clean Docker.
Note: How to Clean Docker Automatically.
Note: Best Practices When Using Docker and DDNS.
Note: Some Docker Containers Need WebSocket.
Note: Find out the Best NAS Models For Docker.
Note: Activate Gmail SMTP For Docker Containers.

This post was updated on Monday / December 2nd, 2024 at 6:11 PM

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