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M2 Technical Topics > Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics > Demo of playing FLAC and WAV from a USB hardrive

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      10-21-2016, 07:53 PM   #1
Lincoln30
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Demo of playing FLAC and WAV from a USB hardrive

I know some people think a USB HD won't work in the car and that it can't play WAV files. This is demo of my second USB 1tb HD, a Western Digital 1tb USB HD. The original Oyen 1tb drive that I have been using in the car(s) since 2011 has died after 5+ years. I have used USB HD's in 3 BMW's from a 2008 E90 non-iDrive thru 2017 F87.

While I don't have screen shots showing the files are FLAC or WAV, you can take my word on it until the next time I get the HD out of the car and plug it into the computer for some reason.

The youtube video shows a FLAC playing and all of the searching and grouping capabilities that come along with formats that carry a digital ID like FLAC or AAC and then finding and playing a WAV title.

This video is safe for work but may put you to sleep

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      10-22-2016, 09:40 AM   #2
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What's the current limit on number of files? How long does car take to load the file list?
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      10-22-2016, 10:49 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
What's the current limit on number of files? How long does car take to load the file list?
I don't know the limit. Total files and folders on my drive is around 6000 (approx 300gb). I know some aftermarket systems say there is a limit in the number of folders/directories of 250. My drive has a lot more then 250 folders defined (probably closer to 600 folders) and it has worked in every car with a USB port that I've tried it in except a 2010 Ferrari California.

The F87 and F80 will start playing music from the drive within seconds of starting the car. When you plug in a new USB drive that has not been read by the car before it plays the first song just as fast, in seconds, but you cannot browse the drive for about a minute. In the E90 it took 2 minutes to start playing every time the car was started.
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      10-22-2016, 12:30 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lincoln30 View Post
I don't know the limit. Total files and folders on my drive is around 6000 (approx 300gb). I know some aftermarket systems say there is a limit in the number of folders/directories of 250. My drive has a lot more then 250 folders defined (probably closer to 600 folders) and it has worked in every car with a USB port that I've tried it in except a 2010 Ferrari California.

The F87 and F80 will start playing music from the drive within seconds of starting the car. When you plug in a new USB drive that has not been read by the car before it plays the first song just as fast, in seconds, but you cannot browse the drive for about a minute. In the E90 it took 2 minutes to start playing every time the car was started.
Thanks. Looks like the file cache limit is 36,000 files, for 2012 iDrive anyway: http://www.bavarianmw.com/guide-1020.html
Quote:
Information from up to four USB devices or for approx. 36,000 tracks can be stored in the vehicle.

If a fifth device is connected or if more than 36,000 tracks are stored, information on existing music tracks may be deleted.
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      10-23-2016, 08:54 PM   #5
mrcheezle19
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How big of a difference can you hear from this VS bluetooth or usb connected?
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      10-31-2016, 11:18 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcheezle19 View Post
How big of a difference can you hear from this VS bluetooth or usb connected?
For USB, the car should be able to read the audio file directly from the device (flash/HD) so quality will be as good as the encoding provides.

A2DP apparently requires your bluetooth device (a phone) first decode then re-encode the audio using another codec (transcode) while streaming. But, if the iDrive supports MP3 playback, I don't understand why they don't simply packetize the MP3 data.

Won't be a big perceived difference between iDrive USB and A2DP, but USB should always sound better.

However, the analog jack may provide the best possible quality if you have a good D/A on your source.
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