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      04-17-2012, 07:17 PM   #1
Shuttlegoose
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USB Flash Drive - Max size??

I have been going over my options for car audio, and i think i might go the route of a large size USB (64 gig) and put my music files and playlists onto that instead of using my iphone or ipod (16 gig), plus, i won't need to fiddle with a y cable.

Does anyone know the max size that can be used in the USB port?
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      04-17-2012, 07:50 PM   #2
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if it's like a computer, any? or however big the hard drive is?
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      04-17-2012, 08:04 PM   #3
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i wasn't sure. I was thinking about getting a 64 gig or 2 32 from amazon
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      04-17-2012, 08:13 PM   #4
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anyone think im making the wrong decision?

I only have a 16 gig iphone and it can't hold my library. Anyone think the flash drive is a good idea?
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      04-17-2012, 08:45 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shuttlegoose View Post
anyone think im making the wrong decision?

I only have a 16 gig iphone and it can't hold my library. Anyone think the flash drive is a good idea?
I personally prefer the iPod for it's user friendliness. It's "easier" to handle playlists, organize music, and transfer files if you already use itunes.
Plus, if you're anal about play counts like me, it also keeps stores and updates that sort of information.

USB definitely works too. Can't go wrong either way!
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      04-17-2012, 08:52 PM   #6
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i know! im a huge ipod iphone fan, but with only 16 gigs... it seems like its not enough. plus im not liking the plugging and unplugging the phone every time i get in and out of the car
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      04-17-2012, 09:16 PM   #7
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maybe spend a couple of bucks on an refurb ipod classic (~60 - 160gb) to keep plugged in? that way, you can just keep the ipod plugged in and never worry about it again!

i dedicated my ipod nano to my car. it also helps that i can use it when i want to go work out. my music is always with me and it's always charged!

i guess it boils down to whether you want to spend extra cash-- y-cable + dedicated car ipod.
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      04-17-2012, 09:22 PM   #8
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yeah your right... decision time!
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      04-17-2012, 09:24 PM   #9
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How big is your music library? Is bigger than 16 gigs, or is it with all the apps and other stuff that 16gb isn't enough?

I got a used 16gb iPod nano for pretty cheap on Craigslist. Holds my whole library and keeps me from having to plug / unplug my phone. You could even get a larger used iPod classic or iPod touch!

I have no idea how you would go about setting up a flash drive with music. Setting up the drive with the right file structure and playlists that reference the files correctly.
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      04-17-2012, 09:29 PM   #10
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i think im getting cheap... 100 plus for a refurb or used ipod classic?!?!
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      04-17-2012, 09:30 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD_F30 View Post
How big is your music library? Is bigger than 16 gigs, or is it with all the apps and other stuff that 16gb isn't enough?

I got a used 16gb iPod nano for pretty cheap on Craigslist. Holds my whole library and keeps me from having to plug / unplug my phone. You could even get a larger used iPod classic or iPod touch!

I have no idea how you would go about setting up a flash drive with music. Setting up the drive with the right file structure and playlists that reference the files correctly.
ugh... another good point. might have to go the craigslist way.
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      04-17-2012, 10:23 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD_F30 View Post
I have no idea how you would go about setting up a flash drive with music. Setting up the drive with the right file structure and playlists that reference the files correctly.
The files need only be tagged in the usual fashion, then choose the desired music by artist/album/track as normal. The system will even display album art.
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      04-18-2012, 03:07 AM   #13
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Don't know about max size but I will say that my 250GB mini external drive (non-flash) was not recognized. I use a 32GB flash drive. I have to say that if you aren't good at organizing your music by folders then the interface is poor. It lets you browse the folder structure which is great for me but if you want to use the tag search it doesn't display albums correctly. some albums of mine sort alphabetically instead of by track # when using the search album function. I live and die by folder structure anyway as I store my mp3s on a file server so it's a non-issue for me.

You have to take in to account the file transfer time as well. I get about 10GB/hour at best but the great thing is that if your transfer doesn't complete all you have to do is reinitiate it the next time you drive and the bimmer will pick up where it left off.

With the ipod interface I also found the search function to be cumbersome and not user friendly especially while driving. Best is to live and die by playlists. I found an itunes script which auto creates playlists by tag. So for example I just set it to create a playlist for every album in my library.
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      04-18-2012, 06:38 AM   #14
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i just downloaded my songs my amazon last night and put them on a flash drive. it displayed all the tracks/artists as well as cover art. so i would go with one.
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      04-18-2012, 06:53 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcl0328
i just downloaded my songs my amazon last night and put them on a flash drive. it displayed all the tracks/artists as well as cover art. so i would go with one.
Sick! Flash drive here I come!
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      04-18-2012, 07:31 AM   #16
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My 80gb iPod is close to full and I will almost certainly use it as my music source in the car (with or without a Y cable as needed!?).

However, I am intrigued by the possibility of using a flash drive. My novice concerns are that:

1. Album/playlist track orders are not correct.
2. I don't know how to tag tracks as also being in a separate playlist (I'm fairly sure you can't and that instead you would have to save repeated copies of tracks in their respective album and playlist folders).
3. I have no idea how to get the album artwork out of iTunes and tagged to the tracks on my flash drive.

I'd still like to keep my options open though, so if anyone can direct me to a helpful guide or resource on the best way to go about this, I'd be really grateful.
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      04-18-2012, 08:23 AM   #17
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From what I remember, and this is stated in the manual, it is more of a "number of files" limit. And at the same place they write that hard drives don't work, only USB sticks. Probably a question of power consumtion.
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      04-18-2012, 11:10 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by awwwyeah206 View Post
. . . if you want to use the tag search it doesn't display albums correctly. some albums of mine sort alphabetically instead of by track # when using the search album function.
Did you check the tags to make certain they were correct for the affected album? My suspicion is that this is a tagging issue rather than a misread.
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      04-18-2012, 12:14 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Micleg View Post
From what I remember, and this is stated in the manual, it is more of a "number of files" limit. And at the same place they write that hard drives don't work, only USB sticks. Probably a question of power consumtion.
The manual says that up to four USB sticks can be used to store a maximum of either 16,000 or 32,000 tracks. Don't know why there is a difference between the two. No mention of maximum GB size, I use only an 8GB stick and works like a dream. Has to be formatted to FAT32 though and not NTFS.

As for the tags I use a free piece of software called MP3tag to update them with artist, album name etc if that has not pulled through, particularly if I have copied the music from a CD. All other tracks were originally downloaded from iTunes and then copies across to the USB stick.

As for creating playlists that is a bit tricky, but can be done in Windows Media Player and then copying to the USB stick.
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      04-18-2012, 12:54 PM   #20
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Just searched y cables on eBay. All going for about 70 bucks.
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      04-18-2012, 01:28 PM   #21
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Look on Amazon. They have some under $30 that are Prime eligible.
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      04-18-2012, 01:43 PM   #22
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Do you really need the Y-cable instead of the Apple USB cable on an F30? That is so lame. I want digital in.
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