Tips for Creating MP3 CDs for the factory radios?(very long)

[IDSmoker]

With any luck, I will have a long (4+ hour) drive back FROM a dealer after picking up my new Magnum tomorrow. Of course, among the many other things on my mind at the moment is the subject of HAVING suitable tunes for the inaugural road trip. <grin>

Unfortunately, since it will probably be a little while before I can get an FM modulator hooked up for my iPod and my Magnum isn't coming with Sirius, I will be dependent on the Nav radio's ability to play MP3 CDs.

Believe it or not, while I do have a significant digital music library (apx 40gb) that is well organized, I have never actually burned a music CD (MP3 or otherwise). While I am computer literate enough to manage something on my own, I have a feeling that time is going to be at a premium tonight (I do have to try and get some sleep before I hit the road to the dealership in the morning), and don't want to waste any time repeating the mistakes others have learned to avoid.


So what tips and tricks is everyone using for creating their MP3 CDs?

I received the following very useful link on the WK Navigation & factory radios which has the following guidelines:

The medium formats supported by the radio are ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2 and includes the Joliet extension. When reading discs recorded using formats other than ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2, the radio may fail to read files properly and may be unable to play the file normally. UDF and Apple HFS formats are not supported.

The radio uses the following limits for file systems:

• Maximum number of directory levels: 15
• Maximum number of files: 255
• Maximum number of folders: 100
• Maximum number of characters in file/folder names:
• Level 1: 12 (including a separator "." and a 3-character extension)
• Level 2: 31 (including a separator "." and a 3-character extension)

When using the MP3 encoder to compress audio DATA to an MP3 file, the bit rate and sampling frequencies in the following TABLE are supported. In addition, variable bit rates (VBR) are also supported. The majority of MP3 files use a 44.1 kHz sampling rate and a 192, 160, 128, 96 or VBR bit rates.

ID3 Tag information for artist, song title and album title are supported for version 1 ID3 tags. ID3 version 2 is not supported by the radios.

Playlist files are not supported. MP3 Pro files are not supported.

To increase the speed of disc loading, it is recommended to use CD-R media and single-session discs. To create a single-session disc, enable the Disc at Once option before writing to the disc.

Obviously, most of the restrictions are pretty straight-forward. Assuming they are actually in use? What does the 255 file LIMIT mean? Is it per CD or per directory?

I've heard there is some way to label the CD so that the radio can identify it, something about MP3Text?


Any help or suggestions welcome! Thanks!

[troy]

I assume that since your using an IPOD you already have music in MP3 format. I use a program called NERO for burning, but since you should not have to convert anything, you can probably 'drag and drop' FROM your music folder to your burner drive. You are basically just copying 'data' to the disc (I haven't tried it, but it should work).
As far as the directories, the more that you have the longer the cd takes to play (thats all I know about it).
MP3 text?? --I'm guessing--The ID3 tag info will be displayed on the head unit. Basically, if your ipod shows you the song and artist for the MP3's that you are playing, the car should also.
Hope this helps...btw congrats on the car!

Now the disclaimer:
I am Not responsible for any CD 'coasters' as a result of this post

[IDSmoker]

Thanks for the quick response Troy!

From the info I found, the radio will only read ID3v1 tags, so I'm going to have to convert my ID3v2 tags over (several fields get truncated). Fortunately, I have a great utility for this kind of manipulation (including shortening filenames and whatnot), it's called Dr. Tag.

I had heard that there was a way to give the CD itself a label, such as: "Hard Rock #3 of 5" or "Fred", using this "MP3Text" function/file/technique whatever. I'm hopeful that someone knows more about this, before I try searching the web for an answer.

Any idea what the LIMIT is on the length of file names/subdirectory names? That link I posted talks about Level 1/Level 2 limitations, but I'm not sure I know what they mean. Are they talking about the directory levels? But the line above implies this is true for file names?

I'm certain I can figure this out on my own once I have my Magnum in the garage (can always use more coasters! <grin>), but I only have one shot at getting something burned correctly for my first "road trip".

Thanks again!

[AndyK]

Tag & Rename is excellent for changing V1->V2, or vice versa, and getting tag info FROM file names if nonexistant.

[Spider X]

Don't worry about getting it perfect the first time for your 1st trip. It's worth it just to have YOUR music playing in a car.

Just burn and drive! Enjoy the first trip!

[IDSmoker]

Don't worry about getting it perfect the first time for your 1st trip. It's worth it just to have YOUR music playing in a car.

Just burn and drive! Enjoy the first trip!

I intend to, it just that I won't have much time tonight to create the CDs, and I won't find out if they are playable or coasters until it is too late.

I was hoping for some guidance on the naming restrictions FROM someone who has already figured it out.