SlimShady's ARR Setup Guide banner
6 Core apps in the stack
10 Deep-dive guide sections
14 SAB connections tuned
45s Downloader timeout baseline

Build the stack in the right order

This is the short operational checklist for getting the full ARR setup online without wandering into five side quests before the downloader even works.

Core apps first Categories next Import and naming flow Quota-safe automation
Sonarr Radarr SAB MDBList German strategy Quality & Sizes Home

Use this as the short, practical checklist after installation.

This checklist is meant for people who are willing to configure things properly, but who do not want to become ARR archaeologists in the process.

Start here if

You want the cleanest order of operations for Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, SABnzbd, Jackett, and Plex.

Main outcome

Working categories, correct import paths, sane quality defaults, and a setup that behaves predictably instead of improvising in production.

Best use

Follow this page in order when you install or reset the stack.

Main risk avoided

Broken categories, wrong folders, and ARR apps fighting each other.

Ideal helper

Use Codex step by step if you do not want to configure everything manually.

1. Core Apps

  • Install SABnzbd
  • Install Sonarr
  • Install Radarr
  • Install Lidarr
  • Install Plex
  • Install Jackett if you want torrent sources as well
  • Keep downloads and libraries on the same drive if you want hardlinks

Optional:

  • install FlareSolverr if some Jackett-backed torrent sites require challenge solving
  • use OpenAI Codex if you want a practical setup assistant instead of configuring everything by hand

Useful downloads:

1a. Understand the Flow

The normal end-to-end process is:

  1. movie, series, artist, or album gets added manually or by Import List
  2. the ARR app searches the configured indexers
  3. matching release is sent to SABnzbd or the torrent client
  4. download completes and is unpacked
  5. the ARR app imports and renames the media
  6. Plex scans the library and makes it available to watch or listen to

That is the full automation loop this guide is trying to support.

2. Categories

Create separate download categories:

  • tv for Sonarr
  • movies for Radarr
  • music for Lidarr

Make sure those categories point to folders that the ARR apps can access.

Also make sure Plex points to the final library folders, not the incomplete or temporary download paths.

3. SABnzbd

Enable:

  • Ignore samples
  • executable blacklist: exe, com, cmd, bat, scr, pif
  • cleanup list: nfo, sfv, srr, txt, jpg, jpeg, png, url
  • Direct Unpack = off
  • Connections = 14 on the main server as a safe tuned starting point
  • Receive Threads = 4
  • Server Timeout = 45

If you want the deeper reasoning and troubleshooting flow, read the dedicated page:

4. Sonarr

Recommended default philosophy:

  • prefer 720p
  • allow 1080p fallback
  • use compact TV size limits

Recommended extra settings:

  • Completed Download Handling = enabled
  • Episode Title Required = never
  • delay profile for 720p-first shows only

5. Radarr

Recommended default philosophy:

  • compact 1080p
  • manual exceptions for giant premium releases

Recommended extra settings:

  • Completed Download Handling = enabled
  • built-in profile language = Any
  • disable Remux-1080p in main profile

6. Import Lists

Set up Import Lists if you want automatic discovery and monitoring.

Examples:

  • latest movies
  • new and ongoing TV series
  • seasonal anime
  • artists and albums where supported
  • custom watchlists

The benefit:

  • items are added automatically
  • the ARR apps apply your rules automatically
  • completed files land in the library automatically
  • Plex picks them up automatically

If you want the easiest practical way to create dynamic import lists, use mdblist.com.

Why:

  • it is simple to build movie and show lists from ratings, popularity, anticipation, streaming sources, anime filters, and more
  • both Radarr and Sonarr can use MDBList list URLs directly
  • it keeps discovery separate from downloading, which is exactly what you want

For Lidarr, use music-oriented import-list sources instead.

7. Indexers

Recommended general rule:

  • use broad healthy providers for daily work
  • keep quota-limited or specialist providers as selective backups
  • use the dedicated German strategy page only if you actually want that regional setup

Remember:

  • lower number = higher priority
  • priority is only a tiebreaker
  • all enabled indexers are still searched

8. Language Strategy

Recommended universal rule:

  • build language-aware custom formats for the audio and subtitle combinations you actually care about
  • do not trust parser labels on faith
  • keep the regional or German-specific model on the dedicated specialist page

9. Movie Size Targets

Recommended:

1080p

  • preferred 50
  • max 60

720p

  • HDTV-720p = preferred 18, max 45
  • WEBDL-720p = preferred 18, max 45
  • WEBRip-720p = preferred 20, max 45
  • Bluray-720p = preferred 20, max 45

10. TV Size Targets

Recommended:

720p

  • HDTV-720p = preferred 14, max 28
  • WEBDL-720p = preferred 14, max 28
  • WEBRip-720p = preferred 16, max 30
  • Bluray-720p = preferred 16, max 30

1080p

  • HDTV-1080p = preferred 22, max 38
  • WEBDL-1080p = preferred 22, max 38
  • WEBRip-1080p = preferred 24, max 42
  • Bluray-1080p = preferred 24, max 42

11. Safe Testing Rules

  • change one thing at a time
  • test on a few real titles
  • do not bulk-search huge libraries immediately
  • use small batches:
    • movies: 10-20
    • episodes: 5-10

That is not just theory. In the live setup, smaller batches were a major stability upgrade for both ARR apps and SAB.

12. Downgrade Warnings

Never assume:

  • 720p automatically means smaller

Always consider:

  • resolution
  • codec
  • bitrate
  • audio tracks

Compact 1080p x265 files can be smaller than bloated 720p x264 replacements.

13. If You Want Help Automating This

If you do not want to apply all settings manually, you can use OpenAI Codex to help configure your ARR stack.

Useful prompts include:

  • audit my current Sonarr and Radarr setup against this guide
  • implement the recommended indexer priorities
  • add the custom formats and scoring from this guide
  • tune movie and TV size limits
  • create a safe downgrade workflow

This guide can be used directly as the configuration reference for Codex.

14. Where This Checklist Came From

This checklist is based on:

  • official Servarr behavior
  • practical indexer testing
  • quota-limit debugging
  • language scoring work
  • real import and downgrade troubleshooting

It was built from actual setup experience, with the support of OpenAI Codex, not just copied from generic default settings.

15. If You Are Non-Technical

That is fine.

The best way to use this checklist is:

  1. work through it one section at a time
  2. ask OpenAI Codex to explain each step in plain English
  3. let Codex help apply or verify that step
  4. do not rush into changing everything at once

This setup is much easier when treated like a guided walkthrough instead of a one-night speedrun against six different apps.