[ZigmundUK]

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere - would appreciate a link coz I couldn't find it.

I put about 7GB of audio from my itunes onto a USB stick. Also exported playlists, edited the paths in each one so it matches the root path on the stick and plugged it in. Took a little while but the music seems to have been copied through. But only about 3 of about 10 playlists is showing, and then only about 1 track in each one.

Also it complains that some folders have files that are basically non music e.g. xxx.mp3 will have another file called .xxx.mp3, which isn't the track. if i plug the usb back to my computer i can't see those files...

Any suggestions? i have business nav and standard bluetooth (for what it's worth)

[Zero71]

Make sure the m3u files are formatted to windows style paths. I also found that placing all my mp3s and aacs in a folder / sub folder, and putting the playlists in there helps. Finally, there's a great free tool called listfix that can repair problem m3u files.

http://listfix.sourceforge.net/


My structure is like this:

\Music\playist.m3u
\Music\Artist\Album\track.mp3

[Zero71]

If you have a Mac, then export from iTunes but then go and repair the file and test on Windows - the paths for Windows/BMW are completely different from Mac.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

If you have a Mac, then export from iTunes but then go and repair the file and test on Windows - the paths for Windows/BMW are completely different from Mac.

Ah right. So what's the bmw path structure for a playlist? my music is at the path:

ITM/...

So I've got the following at the start of each path: '/ITM/...'

Are you saying I need to do the windows backslashes only to repair?

[Doc943]

It is a bit quirky but sorted in the end as mentioned above. (Wish there was a random track play option)

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

Make sure the m3u files are formatted to windows style paths. I also found that placing all my mp3s and aacs in a folder / sub folder, and putting the playlists in there helps. Finally, there's a great free tool called listfix that can repair problem m3u files.

http://listfix.sourceforge.net/


My structure is like this:

\Music\playist.m3u
\Music\Artist\Album\track.mp3

Ah missed this post! Will try

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Originally Posted by Doc943

It is a bit quirky but sorted in the end as mentioned above. (Wish there was a random track play option)

There is in the options section on the iDrive isn't there? When you hit the options key when in the music menu you can randomise playback. Unless it only works when music is on the internal HDD...

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by mtmcgavock

There is in the options section on the iDrive isn't there? When you hit the options key when in the music menu you can randomise playback. Unless it only works when music is on the internal HDD...

No it's there.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

Make sure the m3u files are formatted to windows style paths. I also found that placing all my mp3s and aacs in a folder / sub folder, and putting the playlists in there helps. Finally, there's a great free tool called listfix that can repair problem m3u files.

http://listfix.sourceforge.net/


My structure is like this:

\Music\playist.m3u
\Music\Artist\Album\track.mp3

So I tried sorting out the paths to windows style, but it only picks up the last track in each playlist. And it picks about 6 playlists now (more than before but still not all of them)...

Next steps to try:

1. remove playlists where the music is not present (had a few I'd removed due to size of USB)
2. try listfix.

[ZigmundUK]

another question - does the BMW have issues with m4a or m4p files?

ah crap - is this all the stoopid digital rights crap?

[ZigmundUK]

Ok cool - so it's working now - thanks for the help.

Incidentally the windows path wasn't the problem (i.e. no probs with forward slashes) - it's working now with the forward slashes, but using relative paths.

I used listfixer. Not sure exactly what the original problem was - certainly some references in the some playlists weren't coming up correctly in the fixer. Also I set it to the following parameters:

• Media library uses UNC paths for directories on mapped drives - tick (not sure what this does)
• Save playlists with relative file references - tick (i'm guessing this is the one that fixed my issues)

My structure is as follows:

Root

ITM

<music>

Playlists

<m3u files>

So each reference in the m3u file starts with:
../ITM/...

Hope it helps someone else. Happy now coz the general search on the business media thing is crappy.

[ZigmundUK]

You think this will work to have the USB stick plugged in but then also charge my iphone off the USB? I really don't need the y cable if this works...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-USB...rds=usb+double

[MRPoisson]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

You think this will work to have the USB stick plugged in but then also charge my iphone off the USB? I really don't need the y cable if this works...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-USB...rds=usb+double

Please report if you get one and it works. Have the same issue - have to replace the USB stick with the Y cable if I want to charge my phone

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by MRPoisson

Please report if you get one and it works. Have the same issue - have to replace the USB stick with the Y cable if I want to charge my phone

Cool - have ordered one so will report back. Really don't want a y cable as I have a 4s (for a little while longer at least) and the wife has a 5...

[Mr NSB]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

Cool - have ordered one so will report back. Really don't want a y cable as I have a 4s (for a little while longer at least) and the wife has a 5...

I use one of these for charging my iphone.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by Mr NSB

I use one of these for charging my iphone.

Yes I too have ordered one of those (well one with better reviews at least). However, I don't like the idea of a cable running from the (only) 12V socket in the driver's area. I've wrecked enough cables in the past and would like to keep it all in the central armrest compartment if possible. What's their problem with putting in two fricking USB slots. I order a £200 computer and it comes with like a dozen bloody slots!

[Mr NSB]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

Yes I too have ordered one of those (well one with better reviews at least). However, I don't like the idea of a cable running from the (only) 12V socket in the driver's area. I've wrecked enough cables in the past and would like to keep it all in the central armrest compartment if possible. What's their problem with putting in two fricking USB slots. I order a £200 computer and it comes with like a dozen bloody slots!

I see. I chose to mount my phone in a cradle near the radio and have run the charging cable behind the radio to the 12v socket underneath the glove box.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by Mr NSB

I see. I chose to mount my phone in a cradle near the radio and have run the charging cable behind the radio to the 12v socket underneath the glove box.

Ah right - sounds like too much effort. What cradle did you get? And how 'reversible' is the setup? Need to hand the car back in 2 years... Although if I opt for this will need to find a black iphone cable

[Mr NSB]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

Ah right - sounds like too much effort. What cradle did you get? And how 'reversible' is the setup? Need to hand the car back in 2 years... Although if I opt for this will need to find a black iphone cable

Really easy to install and completely reversible.

Dashmount bracket

iPhone 5 holders

Black charging cable (if you choose a passive holder)

I can take a picture later if it helps.

[ZigmundUK]

So an update.

Seems like it works but with restrictions.

• If you plug in the iPhone first then the USB stick - both seem to work - music accessed etc fine.
• As soon as you unplug the iPhone it tanks - won't even recognise the USB stick until you unplug then plug it in again.
• If you plug in the USB stick first, it works, then when you put the Iphone in it stops recognising the USB stick (iPhone charges though).
• I had both plugged into the hub then plugged the hub into the main USB socket - both seemed to work.

So not ideal, but workable I think. I'll keep a 12V cigarette lighter USB converter in the car just in case too

[EvilDrPorkChop]

It'll because the iPhone is draining the power from the USB stick. Ideally you'll need to have a USB powered hub with an external power supply. E.g. Have a hub powered by the cigarette lighter (Is there one in the centre console?)

[ZigmundUK]

Hahaha. If there was one then I'd just plug the iPhone into that! Btw I don't get any functionality from plugging the iPhone to the USB slot - I don't have enhanced Bluetooth.
They should really sort this out in the lci.