USB Files and Folders/Sub-Folders...

[billyk]

I read most of the discussions here regarding organizing/tagging MP3's to get them to display correctly on the OEM head unit.

So, I have a new 2014 FR-S, with the stock OEM head unit, and I'd like to have my music, stored on USB, display by Artist, then by album, then by song. All that I can do, and all that I've found in my research says that it's impossible to tag MP3's in any way to organize your music to display by Artist>Album>Song.

I've got a bunch of files stored on a temporary USB (I have a low profile flash drive being delivered tomorrow) and all music files are organized on the OEM display by Album Name. Kinda sucks.

Have any of you figured out a way to organize/display music by Artist?

I know I can rename each song file to "force" the artist/album/song identification on the display, but I'd rather not spend the time doing that kludge.

Thanks in advance!
-bk

[billyk]

For those new owners that can benefit from this thread, here's what I figured out...

- The stock OEM 2014 head unit cannot display Artist>Album>Song via MP3 tags
- The head unit seems to be limited to displaying the name of the folder that contains song files, and then displays the file names within that context
- To force things, I just included the name of the Artist in front of the name of the album for the folder that contains the files and it displays just fine.

Wish I didn't have to do this kludge, but, hey, it's amazing to have tons of music available in my FR-S without having to pull it off my phone over bluetooth.

i purchased a low-profile 64gb Sandisk flash drive (Amazon, $24) and it fits in the USB slot in a barely noticable way.

If any of the experienced FR-S owners want to offer additional info, or correct what I've said, please weigh-in! I'd love to hear it.

[UtahSleeper]

Have you noticed a limit on how many folders the device can read? Last I checked the deck would only show 22 folders.

[billyk]

I just checked and the initial music dump on my flash drive comprised 65 albums, all of which are in separate folders, all of which display properly.

I plan to put much more music on the flash drive, as well as whatever audiobook I am working through at the moment.

The kludge I listed above works OK, but it's too bad that the designers of this Pioneer head unit didn't know more about MP3 tagging. The way it is now is somewhat crude and limited - unless I've yet to discover some of the capabilities/features.

[UtahSleeper]

Agreed.

I am wondering if the deck can only handle so much. Now my deck only see's 21 folders after I condensed everything into artist folders and all songs in those folders. Guess I will need to keep poking around.

[billyk]

Originally Posted by UtahSleeper

Agreed.

I am wondering if the deck can only handle so much. Now my deck only see's 21 folders after I condensed everything into artist folders and all songs in those folders. Guess I will need to keep poking around.

Are we talking about the same unit? Mine is the OEM that comes stock in a 2014 Premium FR-S (base).

Also, how many folders are on your drive when you look at it on your computer? If there are more folders when viewed via your computer, check your MP3 tags. If you need help with editing tags, let me know.

BTW: if you have the same head unit as me, the manual states that it can manage up to 3000 folders.

[UtahSleeper]

Originally Posted by billyk

Are we talking about the same unit? Mine is the OEM that comes stock in a 2014 Premium FR-S (base).

Also, how many folders are on your drive when you look at it on your computer? If there are more folders when viewed via your computer, check your MP3 tags. If you need help with editing tags, let me know.

BTW: if you have the same head unit as me, the manual states that it can manage up to 3000 folders.

Mine is the Pioneer AXCP-Q14U T10015. It came factory in the car. My FR-S is a 13 built in July of 2013.

And there are 38 folders I believe on my USB drive, but only 21 visible. May have to check the tags.

[billyk]

Got a moment to test out WMA file format to see if they display folders correctly. But, my "test" flash drive (not the flash I use on a daily basis in my FRS) cannot be recognized by my head unit. I even tried re-formatting the flash drive - zippo.

I've read elsewhere on this forum that other owners have specific flash drives that just will not be recognized. Here's more evidence of that.

Weird!

[billyk]

Further testing...

Using the flash drive that "works" in my FRS, I put WMA and AAC files on it. All of them display and all of them play. But, none of them display the appropriate folder organization of Artist>Album>Track.

Bummer.

Well, I'll live with the work-around described above, as it's basically usable.