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      08-03-2020, 09:59 PM   #67
Toyzrme
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Hi -
Have learned a lot from this forum - thanks to everyone!

I know this is an old thread, but it was high on my Google search, so to give something back: I have a piece of software that worked perfectly on first try, no custom configuration, but a lot of useful options. Although still limited by BMW's 500 track limit for .m3u playlists, it also supports the unlimited "directory as playlist" very easily.

I recently inherited a 2014 428i F33 convertible, and I am a music whore (well, ok, I can't compete with 131k tracks - you need help! Well, in the storage kind of way )

I got a 512GB SanDisk UltraFit USB 3.1 (a micro thumb drive), and loaded 18,000 tracks. Hit the 500 song limit on the playlists, but restructured as just file folders with all the tracks in folders named by playlist - and it works perfectly - I can play all the tracks in a directory randomly, and search by Artist, Genre, etc.

I use MediaMonkey for Windows (and Android), and love it. You can use the same manual or auto-playlist (eg built dynamically by queries, not manually) to load multiple devices using different rules, which just meant editing the filename/directory mask for my BMW-bound USB drive.

If your playlists are < 500, its default settings manage the files and playlists perfectly for the BMW to pick up. Tags and artwork are handled properly, and you can specify for a given device if you want the art embedded in the file (which I think you said the BMW prefers, and I use), or the folder.

My phone sync profile has a much more complex layered directory structure using artist, album, etc. and uses playlists, so that 1 file can be in many playlists.

But for the BMW USB, I made it "\Music-Folders\<Playlist>\<Track#:2> $Left(<Artist>,20) - <Title>", meaning a fixed 2 digits for track#, first 20 of artist, plus full track name. You can build it out of about 2 dozen fields, plus operators if you want. It even has auto-number, if you want minimal filenames for high track counts (i.e. make the entire name just an incremental number to minimize index space ).

So tracks ARE repeated if in multiple playlists, but with 512GB, I have plenty of room. And all of the tracks show up. 18,000 tracks seemed to index in about 15-25 minutes (not watched closely).

Anyway, hope this helps someone!

P.S. Note: because BMW doesn't look at track content, this approach will give you multiple copies of the same track. So for large lists of files to randomize as a "playlist", it works great (i.e. for ME) - and there are no duplicates in a "playlist directory". But if you do a lot of searching by artist/track name/album name/etc, you will get duplicates. So YMMV depending how you use your system.

Last edited by Toyzrme; 08-12-2020 at 12:09 PM.. Reason: Added additional info
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      06-25-2021, 06:49 AM   #68
plodmanau
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I have put a 128GB Samsung FIT Plus USB thumb drive in my 2015 340i. Its tiny. About the size of one of those Logitech mouse micro-dongles so it takes up practically no space in the centre console. Filled with lossless music and been working perfectly now for about 1 year.
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      06-25-2021, 08:56 AM   #69
tec1ra
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I've used a 128 GB thumb drive with no problem.
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      08-25-2021, 06:03 AM   #70
arthur1008
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I am using a 32g Sandisk USB.
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      08-26-2021, 05:29 AM   #71
diagso
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Does the pendrive needs to be format with FAT32 or it can be exFAT to work of F30 ?
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      08-27-2021, 11:27 AM   #72
achillescg
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I am using 1tb extHDD withouth any problem
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      08-29-2021, 01:04 PM   #73
DrDork
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diagso View Post
Does the pendrive needs to be format with FAT32 or it can be exFAT to work of F30 ?
I've had better luck with FAT32. You'll need to use something other than the normal Windows format tools to make a FAT32 drive larger than 32GB, though--something like FAT32 Format or Rufus (or PowerShell). But in theory exFAT I believe /should/ work.
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      08-29-2021, 07:26 PM   #74
J555
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In my case, exFAT sometimes works, and sometimes not. If the stick works, it works all the time. Some others don't work, no matter what tool I use to format them. But NTFS works always, with any stick.
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      08-30-2021, 10:43 AM   #75
JohnW1965
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I found exFAT is fine as above a few glitches bu FAT32 has no real issues I found day to day
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      08-31-2021, 09:03 AM   #76
pr0lene
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1 tb ext hdd exfat work well for movie and music video also mp3

Tried my 4 terra ntfs my f30 2013 nbt can't read it
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      09-02-2021, 12:17 PM   #77
GazBrown
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My 160gb ipod works fine in the car. Interface takes probably 10seconds to load the 16000+ tracks and a little clumsy to navigate but works fine
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      09-03-2021, 05:24 PM   #78
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Personally I bought a well used 32 fb iPhone 6 and just use it to hold my music loads of old phones going cheap because they are scratched and so on works for me
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      09-05-2021, 10:38 AM   #79
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Currently have a 64gb Sandisk stick but have previously also used a 128gb Sandisk flash stick and that also worked fine in my 2015 f30.
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