Will MP3 files play on a USB car radio?

[Joe Bob]

My evilbay iPod died, HD failure. I have been told that a USB memory with MP3 files will replace my iPod. Is this correct?

[Tervuren]

It should say in your user manual.

My XK has a USB slot, it scans it, looks for specific file types, and can play certain types.

I do like having the USB drive, as instead of everything, I can just put what I'd listen to in the car. I can also use higher quality formats than MP3.

[Joe Bob]

Little people read the manual....

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

My evilbay iPod died, HD failure. I have been told that a USB memory with MP3 files will replace my iPod. Is this correct?

Depends on the head unit.

If it's a Sony it's highly likely to be their proprietary format.

Find the manual and look it up.

[Joe Bob]

Thanks, will move a few files to a stick and find out. BTW, what ever happened to that software?

[Joe Bob]

Wow, it works. SLOW going on the transfer. 20 lbs of crap into a 5 lbs bag.....

[John Rogers]

I have all my songs (more than 10,000) in MP3 format and on a solid state drive and it is plugged into a USB port. I keep adding new ones every few months and still, after 4 years have not played them all. If you have subdirectories you should be able to select what you want.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Thanks, will move a few files to a stick and find out. BTW, what ever happened to that software?

Did you get my PM with the key?

That's all you need.

You can grab the installer direct from MSFT.

IIRC someone in the thread posted the link?

[Holger]

Depends.
Our VW reads MP3 from SD-cards.

[GH85Carrera]

I put cheap stereos in my El Camino and 911. They both play MP3 music from a USB thumb drive. A 16 gig thumb drive is dirt cheap and I just set it to random and go.

Both units have a strange interpretation of what random really is. They will play some songs several times and some songs I know are on there I have not heard once. I do like that method of listining to music. No streaming data usage at all. Both units will sync via bluetooth to my phone and play Pandora. I can also plug the phone into the stereo and charge the phone and play music on the phone. 99% of the time, I just listen to the MP3 songs on the USB.

Neither car is quiet enough to have a good stereo in it so MP3 is just fine.

[Joe Bob]

Thanks, I don't keep up on radio tech.....obviously.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I put cheap stereos in my El Camino and 911. They both play MP3 music from a USB thumb drive. A 16 gig thumb drive is dirt cheap and I just set it to random and go.

Both units have a strange interpretation of what random really is. They will play some songs several times and some songs I know are on there I have not heard once. I do like that method of listining to music. No streaming data usage at all. Both units will sync via bluetooth to my phone and play Pandora. I can also plug the phone into the stereo and charge the phone and play music on the phone. 99% of the time, I just listen to the MP3 songs on the USB.

Neither car is quiet enough to have a good stereo in it so MP3 is just fine.

Probably, each time you turn it on, it starts with a seed # to generate the random list.

If you never turned the car off, it might just play through.

I only do random play all for the amusement of the contrasting songs that really do not belong next to each other.

[Joe Bob]

The unit is an Alpine. Looking at the manual, it appears that the unit has a "Mix All" function. My flash drive has been loaded with individual files by artist. Customer service and the manual claim that keyboard commands on the head unit will pick out individual songs on a random basis.

I'll see how it works....technology is fun, when you know it is there and how to use it.

Edit: It works.....I feel almost smart.

Thank you for the suggestions.