Lidarr-extended
Lidarr Extended is a specialized Docker container project that enhances the standard Lidarr music manager by integrating automated downloading and post-processing scripts. It is developed and maintained by RandomNinjaAtk and is designed for users who want to automate music acquisition from sources beyond standard Usenet and BitTorrent indexers. Core Functionality & Features
The container is based on the LinuxServer.io Lidarr develop branch but adds several powerful tools:
Automated Downloading: It automatically monitors Lidarr’s "Missing" and "Cutoff Unmet" album lists and downloads them using third-party clients for services like Tidal.
Media Quality & Conversion: Supports FLAC (lossless), MP3 (320/128), and AAC (320/96) formats. It can automatically convert FLAC files to your preferred bitrate before importing them into your library.
Advanced Tagging: Uses Beets to pre-match and tag files with high-quality metadata and cover art. It can also add ReplayGain tags and embedded lyrics to tracks.
Artist Discovery: Features an automated script that can add top artists from online services or similar artists based on your current library. lidarr-extended
Music Videos: Includes functionality to download music videos for the artists in your collection. Technical Setup Base Image: LinuxServer.io Lidarr (develop branch).
Configuration: Settings are managed via an extended.conf file, which controls script intervals (e.g., checking for new audio every 15 minutes) and file paths.
Architecture: It does not modify Lidarr’s core code; instead, it interacts with Lidarr via its public API to push updates and notify it of new imports. Status & Alternatives
Support: It is a community-driven project and is not officially supported by the Lidarr team. Troubleshooting typically happens on the RandomNinjaAtk GitHub Discussions or community forums like Unraid.
Migration: The developer has recently transitioned from the "extended" Docker containers toward a more modular arr-scripts format, which offers similar functionality as standalone scripts. Lidarr Extended is a specialized Docker container project
Comparison: Similar "modded" containers include Lidarr-on-Steroids (LoS), which focuses on Deemix integration for downloads.
Lidarr-extended is a specialized Docker container (typically based on the linuxserver/lidarr image) that adds scripts and extra tools to the standard Lidarr application. Its primary purpose is to automate the downloading of high-quality music—often in FLAC format—from streaming services like Deezer or Tidal. Key Features & Capabilities
Alternative Download Sources: Unlike standard Lidarr, which relies on Usenet or Torrents, Lidarr-extended uses scripts to pull music directly from streaming platforms.
Automatic Tagging: It includes Beets, a powerful music library management tool, to automatically tag and organize music upon import.
Lyrics & Metadata: It can embed .LRC lyrics directly into files and gather additional metadata that standard indexers might miss. Completeness: Users with large, niche, or legacy libraries
Supplementary Nature: It is designed to work alongside your existing Lidarr setup. It acts as a "gap filler" for albums your usual indexers can't find. User Experience & Pros/Cons
This guide is a draft for setting up and using lidarr-extended.
Configuring Lidarr-Extended: The "Must-Do" Settings
Once installed, navigate to http://your-server:8686. The interface looks 95% like standard Lidarr, but look closely at the Settings > Media Management tab.
Issue 3: "MusicBrainz doesn't have my obscure bootleg."
Fix: Lidarr-Extended includes a "Local Metadata Override" folder. Place a .nfo file or a properly tagged .mp3 into /config/Overrides/ArtistName/. The scanner will import it even if MusicBrainz doesn't know it exists.
4. Benefits
- Completeness: Users with large, niche, or legacy libraries often find that standard Lidarr misses a significant portion of their collection. Lidarr-Extended significantly increases the "fill rate" of missing albums.
- Automation: It removes the need for manual searching on soulseek or web-based download sites for rare tracks.
- Integration: It works within the existing Lidarr folder structure, ensuring that files are processed and renamed according to the user's existing naming conventions.
