Host settings
Every setting Basalt Host has, what it does, and where to find it.
Every setting is in Basalt Host’s window, under its settings, and in Manage host on any device that manages the host. They are the same settings by the same names, and a change in one shows in the other at once.
Ask for a PIN when pairing
On by default. A new device shows up with a number to type, and nobody joins without being let in. Turned off, any device on your network can join without a PIN. See Devices and access.
Recognise films and series
Off by default. Files the films and series on the drive under Movies and TV Series. Off, your devices see folders and files exactly as they are on the drive. While on, it shows how many films and series it found, and Scan again looks through the drive once more. See Films and series.
Download posters
Off by default. When on, the titles of recognised films and series are looked up online for their posters. When off, covers are made from the titles. A TMDb key is optional, and only widens how many titles find a poster.
Convert video for devices that can’t play it
On where the computer can do it. When a device can’t play a film smoothly, such as 4K on a phone, the host converts it to 1080p as it is watched. Off, or on a computer that can’t keep up, such a device plays the film in a lighter mode instead.
Under it:
- At once is how many devices the host converts for at the same time. By default the host measures this itself, by converting a demanding 4K sample one, two, three at a time until the computer no longer keeps up. You can set a lower number to keep the computer free for other things.
- Converting now shows what is being converted, and for whom.
A graphics chip helps a great deal. On Linux, conversion uses ffmpeg, which the packages install where the system offers it. In Docker, pass in /dev/dri for Intel or AMD graphics.
Sections on your devices
Which of Movies, TV Series, Videos, Music and Photos your devices show under Library. Hiding a section only tidies the list; every file is still in Files. Movies and TV Series fill once films and series are recognised.
Profiles
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Require a profile | Everyone signs in to a profile to use the drive. Off, devices can also continue as themselves |
| Who can add profiles | Anyone, from any paired device, or Managers only: in Basalt Host, or from a device that manages it |
See Profiles.
Start when Windows starts / Start when you log in
On for hosts set up with version 1.5 or later. Opens Basalt Host in the background when you sign in to the computer, so the drive is there before anyone goes looking for it. A host with no screen, or in Docker, always starts with the computer, and has no such setting.
This host’s name
What your devices see in their list, before they pair. Rename it any time.
Address
Shown for reference: the address and port the host is on, such as 192.168.1.20:7742. Nobody has to type it; your devices find the host by themselves, even when its address changes. It is what you type if you ever pair by address.
Updates
Update automatically is on by default: the host installs new versions by itself when nothing is playing. See Updates.
Something unclear, or not covered here? Ask in Help and setup, where the community and Refora Technologies answer, or write to us, and we will improve this page.