Loading and playing music off USB?

[babylobster]

Hello, I'm pretty n00b to this forum so if this same question was asked before (I'm sure it has), I apologize in advance. I have one of those micro Sandisk USB drives (I think 32gb?) and couldn't figure out how to make transferred songs on there work in my car. Can someone kindly walk me through how you're supposed to format it, if you need to create certain folders, do the songs have to be a certain format, renaming it so the title/artist displays, etc. please? I originally just dragged the music into the USB and the car would not recognize it.

[UtahSleeper]

I haven't really had an issue, but what I can suggest is formatting the usb drive to FAT32.

Also, are the files mp3's?

[billyk]

Originally Posted by babylobster

Hello, I'm pretty n00b to this forum so if this same question was asked before (I'm sure it has), I apologize in advance. I have one of those micro Sandisk USB drives (I think 32gb?) and couldn't figure out how to make transferred songs on there work in my car. Can someone kindly walk me through how you're supposed to format it, if you need to create certain folders, do the songs have to be a certain format, renaming it so the title/artist displays, etc. please? I originally just dragged the music into the USB and the car would not recognize it.

I have a thread going here that you may want to read.

As posted above, your flash drive must be formatted to FAT32. Your files need to be MP3's or WMA's to work with USB (per the manual).

Alternatively, you can use an iPOD instead of of USB, or access music files on your phone/in cloud via BT or cable. Lots of options.

If you need more help, ask.

[babylobster]

Originally Posted by UtahSleeper

I haven't really had an issue, but what I can suggest is formatting the usb drive to FAT32.

Originally Posted by UtahSleeper

Also, are the files mp3's?

I'm pretty sure they are mp3's. If not, maybe that mp4 (is that what it's called?) kind?

[babylobster]

Originally Posted by billyk

I have a thread going

Originally Posted by billyk

here that you may want to read.

As posted above, your flash drive must be formatted to FAT32. Your files need to be MP3's or WMA's to work with USB (per the manual).

Alternatively, you can use an iPOD instead of of USB, or access music files on your phone/in cloud via BT or cable. Lots of options.

If you need more help, ask.

Thanks! I used to have an iPod Touch but got rid of it (old and slow) and I'd rather just have a USB plugged in and not worry about it because it's tiny instead of using my phone (it's super slow).

Is it also possible to make folders in the USB? (Hiphop, Spanish, R&B, etc) Or is it all a big blob that plays randomly?

[billyk]

Originally Posted by babylobster

I'm pretty sure they are mp3's. If not, maybe that mp4 (is that what it's called?) kind?

You can easily confirm by looking at the files. Is the extension .mp3?

If yes, great. We can move on.

If no, you'll have to convert. Google it, find a converter app that's appropriate for whatever OS you are using, install the app and convert your files over to mp3. Then we can move on.

Or, you can play off your phone or iPod, as I stated above.

[babylobster]

Originally Posted by billyk

You can easily confirm by looking at the files. Is the extension .mp3?

Originally Posted by billyk

If yes, great. We can move on.

If no, you'll have to convert. Google it, find a converter app that's appropriate for whatever OS you are using, install the app and convert your files over to mp3. Then we can move on.

Or, you can play off your phone or iPod, as I stated above.

Alright. I'll check when I get home tonight and let you know. Thanks!

[UtahSleeper]

Originally Posted by babylobster

Thanks! I used to have an iPod Touch but got rid of it (old and slow) and I'd rather just have a USB plugged in and not worry about it because it's tiny instead of using my phone (it's super slow).

Is it also possible to make folders in the USB? (Hiphop, Spanish, R&B, etc) Or is it all a big blob that plays randomly?

Yes, you can create folders to divide your music. The stereo will only show the folders with music directly in them, so no putting a folder in a folder.

Not sure if mp4's will work.

[toast]

You definitely can put a folder in a folder. I have my USB drive with folders organized by artist (copied from my iTunes media library). Inside each artist folder are multiple folders named by album, with individual songs in each album folder.

When searching the head unit shows the top level directory (artists) and once you select one it shows the next level (albums).

[billyk]

Originally Posted by toast

You definitely can put a folder in a folder. I have my USB drive with folders organized by artist (copied from my iTunes media library). Inside each artist folder are multiple folders named by album, with individual songs in each album folder.

When searching the head unit shows the top level directory (artists) and once you select one it shows the next level (albums).

Toast:
For clarification, I have the 2014 base head unit. If you have the same unit, I'd love to know what audio format your files are in, and if you can, what ID3 tag format was used.

I have folders in folders - no problem there - but only the folder that has the files gets it's name displayed on the head unit. For me, the "Artist" folder, that contains sub-folders that contain individual albums, never shows up on the display.

Look forward to your reply.
-bk

[toast]

I didn't even think about the base being different than the limited, but I guess that makes sense since they are totally different manufacturers.

The format is whatever iTunes uses. I literally just did a drag and drop of select artists from the iTunes media folder into the root folder of the USB drive.

[billyk]

Originally Posted by toast

I didn't even think about the base being different than the limited, but I guess that makes sense since they are totally different manufacturers.

The format is whatever iTunes uses. I literally just did a drag and drop of select artists from the iTunes media folder into the root folder of the USB drive.

Thanks for the clarification! Different hardware.