Getting more out of it
A Weekly Routine That Runs Itself
Streaming services refresh your recommendations on a fixed day. You can do the same thing, and the difference is that once configured it never needs attention again.
The configuration that holds up
Most people start with something reasonable and abandon it because it becomes repetitive. The fix is a stable base plus deliberate variety.
| Setting | Starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tracks | 30 | Enough variety to feel fresh, short enough to finish |
| Update days | One fixed weekday | A rhythm you notice |
| Update hour | An hour you are awake | So a new mix is ready when you listen |
| Sources | Discover and Library | Balanced between new and known |
| Deep Dive | On | Stops popular artists dominating |
| Scrobble tracks | On | Keeps history accurate |
| Show in library | Off | Keeps the library clean |
Why Show in library should usually be off
With it on, a Flow's current tracks appear on your library pages. That sounds useful and behaves like clutter once you run four of them, since every library view accumulates tracks from several sources that all rotate out at different times.
The exception is a single Flow you treat as a permanent listening shelf. Then on makes sense.
Keeping it from feeling repetitive
Repetition comes from the same sources producing the same artists, which is what Deep Dive and a rotating library sample address. If a mix still repeats after a few weeks, the fix is usually the source mix rather than the size.
- Turn Deep Dive on if popular artists appear too often.
- Add a second Flow on a different day with a different mix.
- Use Focus for one Flow so it explores somewhere the others do not.
- Give feedback when something is wrong; it changes the seeds, not just the order.
Multiple Flows is the normal endpoint
One Flow is a test. Two or three is a routine. A common setup: a weekly discovery mix, a Library Blend that surfaces forgotten owned music, and a Focus Flow exploring one specific tag or decade.
They share a download worker, so they do not compete for resources beyond bandwidth. Give them different days so a weekly download spike does not arrive all at once.
- Weekly discovery: Discover and Library, Monday.
- Library Blend: Library only, Wednesday. Makes you re-hear what you own.
- Focus Flow: Focus only, Friday. Whatever you are curious about.
Publishing so you actually see it
A Flow only helps if it reaches the app you open. Publish it to Navidrome, Plex or Jellyfin so it appears alongside your other playlists, rather than requiring a trip to Aurral.
This is the difference between a Flow you listen to and a Flow that quietly fills with tracks nobody hears.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a Flow run?
Weekly is what most people find right. More often and it stops feeling fresh; less often and you run out before the next refill.
How many Flows should I run?
One to start, two or three as a routine. Beyond that the maintenance outweighs the discovery unless each has a distinct purpose.
Why do I not see my Flow in Navidrome?
Either the playback server is not connected, or Navidrome is not scanning the folder where the Flow files live. Check the storage health section first.
Do I need to change anything when I add music?
No. Recently added artists are always in the recommendation seed sample, so a new album influences the next build without any action from you.
Ready to set it up
One container and one media path is genuinely all it takes. Everything else in this page is something you add when the need appears.