Playing Music From Hard Drive

fat dog · 09-06-2011, 01:16 PM

Have got a reasonable collection of music on the hard drive, but whenever I select an album to play, I can only get the tracks to play in alphabetical order. Anybody know a way around this?

creepy coupe · 09-06-2011, 01:44 PM

While in your "music collection" push the option button on your idrive and select random.You can also knock the idrive knob over to the right hand side and select it that way.

fat dog · 09-06-2011, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the reply and you are indeed correct!

What I was wondering is whether there is any way of getting the tracks within an album to play in the correct album order. Might seem like I'm being picky but most of my albums are mixes and not being able to play the tracks in the correct order of course means that they no longer mix into each other. Besides, most decent artists do put some effort into the track order within the album to maximise the listening pleasure. Seems a shame to disrupt the intended flow

rich1068 · 09-06-2011, 02:16 PM

I had this on mine but can't remember for the life of me how I sorted it. If I did at all. What I can recommend is dropping all your tunes onto a flash drive and plugging that in. I have all mine on a 16GB drive and no problems with playback order.

Ignore all this if you don't have USB

fat dog · 09-06-2011, 02:20 PM

Thanks for another reply. Unfortunatley I haven't got 6fl so only have the USB socket in the glovebox.

chris330D · 09-06-2011, 03:44 PM

I think this is down to the format that your software has stored the file names in. You need to make sure that the filename starts with the track number. I think iTunes does this and the car will do this itself if you feed it the CDs via it's own player and sect import music. HTH

G82Dude · 09-06-2011, 04:50 PM

You can't make it do in track number order (unless the tracks names start 01, 02, 03, etc).

xenon · 09-07-2011, 02:27 AM

Yes, you need to get iTunes (or whatever) to prefix each track with 01, 02.

Falmouthboy · 09-07-2011, 05:24 AM

As good as it is, the HD is limited in this rerspect. Likewise 'random' isn't really 'random' - Yes it mixes them up, but always in the same order, starting with the same track. Also, you can't 'random' a folder, it's the whole collection or nothing.

rich1068 · 09-07-2011, 07:49 AM

It's all coming back to me now. Incredibly frustrating.

fat dog · 09-07-2011, 12:34 PM

Numbering the tracks only works if you have a single root folder for each album and you only play the album from there, which isn't practical for several hundred albums.

If you play an album via the music search function (which is by far the preferred choice), then the system uses the metadata (e.g. ID3 tags etc.) rather than whatever you might have manually labelled the track as. Even though the metadata does contain the track number, for some reason the BMW system isn't picking this up or isn't using it.

As rich1068 states, this is incredibly frustrating, not least 'cos a 10 quid MP3 player manages it so why not a £40K BMW

m1bjr · 09-08-2011, 10:26 AM

People keep telling me how much better the new iDrive system is compared to the older 2006 editions.

Threads like this confirm that they are kidding themselves

Falmouthboy · 09-08-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1bjr

People keep telling me how much better the new iDrive system is compared to the older 2006 editions.

Threads like this confirm that they are kidding themselves

I have cars with both - trust me - it's better - lots better.

OK - this is a frustration, but no worse than with music on a USB stick in our 130i.

fbx · 09-08-2011, 10:38 AM

I just dont understand why such a beautiful car has a usb port that is absolutely useless! I have a friend who works for BMW in Germany and he said it is just cheaper for them to install it that way...what???! lol!

dirtydarthdub · 09-08-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fat dog

Numbering the tracks only works if you have a single root folder for each album and you only play the album from there, which isn't practical for several hundred albums.

If you play an album via the music search function (which is by far the preferred choice), then the system uses the metadata (e.g. ID3 tags etc.) rather than whatever you might have manually labelled the track as. Even though the metadata does contain the track number, for some reason the BMW system isn't picking this up or isn't using it.

As rich1068 states, this is incredibly frustrating, not least 'cos a 10 quid MP3 player manages it so why not a £40K BMW

Very frustrating - and when you have searched for folder, selected play with it showing the actual file name, you can then go to the top 'currently playing' or whatever it's called button in idrive and it lists all of them perfectly with the proper metadata showing.....so why couldn't it show that on the first selection of the folder?!

I've just been tidying up the folders and file names, I think it could be OCD - I can't not have album art and all correct names!

rich1068 · 09-08-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtydarthdub

I think it could be OCD

It is. I know because I have it

I went through 16GB of iTunes and general music folders using Mp3Tag and Amazon.co.uk just to make sure I had the correct artwork for everything on my USB flash drive.

m1bjr · 09-08-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbx

I just dont understand why such a beautiful car has a usb port that is absolutely useless! I have a friend who works for BMW in Germany and he said it is just cheaper for them to install it that way...what???! lol!

Its just a bit crapola isn't it?

I mean this isn't a $50 Ford...

kaishang · 09-08-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1bjr

People keep telling me how much better the new iDrive system is compared to the older 2006 editions.

Threads like this confirm that they are kidding themselves

Ha ha ha ha ha

chris330D · 09-08-2011, 05:27 PM

Depends on what you are doing. With the USB option I have plugged an old iPod into the car and everything comes up on the screen including the album art. Works really well for me. TBH with this approach you don't need the hard drive.

doughboy · 09-10-2011, 05:29 PM

+ 1

I never use the hard drive, its a waste of time, way too slow to download to and you can't control the format / file structure / bit rate

I Just use a 64gb usb stick in the armrest, then you can tidy / organise it very quickly on a pc and you're good to go.

PS - can't understand ever using 'search' options, i have everything in artist / album folders, you just decide who you want to listen to and go straight to it, how could anything be easier than that? - and it plays in track order!!

09-06-2011, 01:16 PM	#1
fat dog Private First Class 30 Rep 129 Posts Drives: iX3 M Sport Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	Playing Music From Hard Drive Have got a reasonable collection of music on the hard drive, but whenever I select an album to play, I can only get the tracks to play in alphabetical order. Anybody know a way around this?
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09-06-2011, 01:44 PM	#2
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1825 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	While in your "music collection" push the option button on your idrive and select random.You can also knock the idrive knob over to the right hand side and select it that way.
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09-06-2011, 02:10 PM	#3
fat dog Private First Class 30 Rep 129 Posts Drives: iX3 M Sport Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reply and you are indeed correct! What I was wondering is whether there is any way of getting the tracks within an album to play in the correct album order. Might seem like I'm being picky but most of my albums are mixes and not being able to play the tracks in the correct order of course means that they no longer mix into each other. Besides, most decent artists do put some effort into the track order within the album to maximise the listening pleasure. Seems a shame to disrupt the intended flow
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09-06-2011, 02:16 PM	#4
rich1068 has left the building 91 Rep 3,359 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I had this on mine but can't remember for the life of me how I sorted it. If I did at all. What I can recommend is dropping all your tunes onto a flash drive and plugging that in. I have all mine on a 16GB drive and no problems with playback order. Ignore all this if you don't have USB
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09-06-2011, 02:20 PM	#5
fat dog Private First Class 30 Rep 129 Posts Drives: iX3 M Sport Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	Thanks for another reply. Unfortunatley I haven't got 6fl so only have the USB socket in the glovebox.
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09-06-2011, 03:44 PM	#6
chris330D Major 38 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: F31 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	I think this is down to the format that your software has stored the file names in. You need to make sure that the filename starts with the track number. I think iTunes does this and the car will do this itself if you feed it the CDs via it's own player and sect import music. HTH
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09-06-2011, 04:50 PM	#7
G82Dude - 294 Rep 2,612 Posts Drives: M4CMxD Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	You can't make it do in track number order (unless the tracks names start 01, 02, 03, etc).
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09-07-2011, 02:27 AM	#8
xenon Major General 1471 Rep 8,200 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	Yes, you need to get iTunes (or whatever) to prefix each track with 01, 02. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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09-07-2011, 05:24 AM	#9
Falmouthboy Squadron Leader (Ret'd) 26 Rep 627 Posts Drives: E91 330d SE & Mini Coupe JCW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cornwall iTrader: (0)	As good as it is, the HD is limited in this rerspect. Likewise 'random' isn't really 'random' - Yes it mixes them up, but always in the same order, starting with the same track. Also, you can't 'random' a folder, it's the whole collection or nothing.
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09-07-2011, 07:49 AM	#10
rich1068 has left the building 91 Rep 3,359 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	It's all coming back to me now. Incredibly frustrating.
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09-07-2011, 12:34 PM	#11
fat dog Private First Class 30 Rep 129 Posts Drives: iX3 M Sport Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	Numbering the tracks only works if you have a single root folder for each album and you only play the album from there, which isn't practical for several hundred albums. If you play an album via the music search function (which is by far the preferred choice), then the system uses the metadata (e.g. ID3 tags etc.) rather than whatever you might have manually labelled the track as. Even though the metadata does contain the track number, for some reason the BMW system isn't picking this up or isn't using it. As rich1068 states, this is incredibly frustrating, not least 'cos a 10 quid MP3 player manages it so why not a £40K BMW Last edited by fat dog; 09-07-2011 at 12:43 PM..
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09-08-2011, 10:26 AM	#12
m1bjr LSD - No, you're not seeing things 75 Rep 3,302 Posts Drives: Baby F36 Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plymouth UK iTrader: (4)	People keep telling me how much better the new iDrive system is compared to the older 2006 editions. Threads like this confirm that they are kidding themselves __________________
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09-08-2011, 10:38 AM	#14
fbx New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Sedan Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	USB port I just dont understand why such a beautiful car has a usb port that is absolutely useless! I have a friend who works for BMW in Germany and he said it is just cheaper for them to install it that way...what???! lol!
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09-08-2011, 05:27 PM	#19
chris330D Major 38 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: F31 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	Depends on what you are doing. With the USB option I have plugged an old iPod into the car and everything comes up on the screen including the album art. Works really well for me. TBH with this approach you don't need the hard drive.
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09-10-2011, 05:29 PM	#20
doughboy Major General 1578 Rep 8,971 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	+ 1 I never use the hard drive, its a waste of time, way too slow to download to and you can't control the format / file structure / bit rate I Just use a 64gb usb stick in the armrest, then you can tidy / organise it very quickly on a pc and you're good to go. PS - can't understand ever using 'search' options, i have everything in artist / album folders, you just decide who you want to listen to and go straight to it, how could anything be easier than that? - and it plays in track order!!
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