Typical piracy requires you to search sources/indexers yourself, decide on the best search result for what you’re trying to download, pass that to your download client, then manually name and sort the downloaded files into media folders once the download completes.
The arr’s automate this entre process for several media types (movies, tv, music, etc), combining search results from dozens of indexers to make its decision on what to download.
Now, I open a webpage, search for a movie/show (results from imdb) and select an item I want to watch. ~15min later, that item has been found, downloaded, and sorted into my media folders where Emby/Jellyfin can display it to myself or friends.
Add on to this with Ombi, a requests platform that allows my friends+family to request media and have the arrs automatically grab it. Since setting that up a little over a year ago, it’s filled almost 400 requests (not including media I’ve grabbed/requested myself) without me having to manually manage requests ever.
Ontop of grabbing media on request, the arr’s also monitor the sources you’ve configured, watching for new uploads, and grabbing content that’s missing from your library but monitored for, such as: newly aired episodes, media that couldn’t be found earlier, or upgrades in quality for existing media (if configured/allowed to upgrade existing media).
Every time a new episode airs for a show I’ve added, it automatically grabs it for me. (currently 486 series monitored here)
Follow-up question: Can someone explain it in a goofy pirate accent?
Arr, ye be wantin’ the secrets o’ the Servarr fleet, eh? Then lend me yer ears:
Sonarr – This be the lookout in the crow’s nest, keepin’ watch fer new episodes o’ yer favorite shows. When it spies ‘em, it signals the crew to fetch ‘em down from the digital seas.
Radarr – Aye, this one’s the treasure hunter, scourin’ the oceans fer full-length films instead o’ episodes. It marks the map, finds the booty, an’ brings the shiny reels aboard.
Lidarr – The ship’s bard, huntin’ down new shanties an’ albums to keep the crew’s spirits high on long voyages.
Readarr – A learned scribe, fetchin’ tomes an’ scrolls fer them what likes a quiet night with words instead o’ waves.
Bazarr – The translator, givin’ ye subtitles fer shows an’ films in whatever tongue ye fancy, so no sailor be left in the dark.
Prowlarr – The scout, integratin’ all yer trackers an’ indexers into one mighty spyglass, so the rest o’ the crew can search the seas more smartly.
All together, they be runnin’ like a well-oiled pirate crew, each wit’ a role in findin’, organizin’, and keepin’ yer plundered media shipshape.
