Playlist and USB music.

[kerplunk]

Is there a way to create or import a playlist for USB playback?

I just dumped my collection of songs and it breaks it up into albums, artist and 3 separate entries of 474 songs. I'm guessing there is some kind of song list limit for the Air.

Preferably, I'd have my entire collection and be able to play as I go. But it seems like I may have to have only the music I want loaded on the USB unless I'm missing something.

 

[GoFast]

Not yet.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

I gave up on using my USB audio library in the car because while it sounds wonderful, I need the one USB port for my radar detector, and the other for my Twraps wireless charging pad, and it is NOT fun trying to insert any USB device into the extremely difficult to access arm rest USB ports, and unfortunately the user interface to finding my songs is too bare bones to be useful for my listening preferences. I think it’s the only thing I actively hate about the car, I either love or accept everything else about it so it’s a happy marriage, but that one thing….

 

[Negan1000]

I am using the USB music now that the SiriusXM streaming has ended. It needs some improvements. Add shuffle play. The music should continue from the point where the music stopped when my trip was completed. There are times when the music only plays one song and stops.

 

[pjdcorp]

I gave up on using my USB audio library in the car because while it sounds wonderful, I need the one USB port for my radar detector, and the other for my Twraps wireless charging pad, and it is NOT fun trying to insert any USB device into the extremely difficult to access arm rest USB ports, and unfortunately the user interface to finding my songs is too bare bones to be useful for my listening preferences. I think it’s the only thing I actively hate about the car, I either love or accept everything else about it so it’s a happy marriage, but that one thing….

I'm with you Bunny. My ports are already tied up with my fuzz-buster & my Carlink connection (yes I'm an Android person).

 

[hydbob]

I'm with you Bunny. My ports are already tied up with my fuzz-buster & my Carlink connection (yes I'm an Android person).

Could run a cable from the trunk to power your fuzz buster

 

[matthew-rad]

Could run a cable from the trunk to power your fuzz buster

I put a small usb hub in there (below my Twraps mag pad). Seems to work fine.

 

[matthew-rad]

And yes, sound quality of HD files is excellent, but player lacks basic functionality of 1st gen iPod.

 

[pjdcorp]

Could run a cable from the trunk to power your fuzz buster

Good idea, but you have no idea what kind of a technological incompetent you're dealing with in me. I can turn on the tv, but I don't try anything much more advanced than that

 

[AeroAir]

I'm with you Bunny. My ports are already tied up with my fuzz-buster & my Carlink connection (yes I'm an Android person).

It is so easy to add an additional USB power port by connecting to the fuse box under the passenger side dash. I used a micro fuse add a tap to bring two 12 volt outlets and a USB. The most difficult part is removing and replacing the cover in the foot well.

 

[Vette2Lucid]

I am using the USB music now that the SiriusXM streaming has ended. It needs some improvements. Add shuffle play. The music should continue from the point where the music stopped when my trip was completed. There are times when the music only plays one song and stops.

Shuffle play would be at the top of my wish list. I have about 550 songs on USB. After shuffle play, here are my three other top wishes:
2) Don't keep reverting to the start of a list!!! Examples:
a) I'm navigating songs by artist and I listen to something by REO Speedwagon. Then I go back up to the artist list, wanting to scroll just a little further to Starship, but it bounces me all the way back to A-ha. I have to scroll all the way down again
b) I have my list of all 550 songs down on my Pilot Panel and I'm listening to "Ride Like the Wind", and I want to listen to "Silent Running" next, but I swipe my songs back up to the Glass Cockpit to do something else on the Pilot Panel. Guess where I'm at in my song list now? "Africa." Yay, lots more scrolling.
3) There's no flexibility in the structure you must traverse to play music. If I choose to listen by genre, I must then choose an album to get to the songs within. It would be nice to have access to all my songs of a particular genre directly, or to then choose by artist. Ditto if I start by choosing an artist-- then I must choose an album, but usually I'd just like to see all the songs I have by that artist.
4) How about letting Alexa navigate my songs on USB? I love being able to say "Tune to 1310 AM" but I can't say "Play some Bruce Hornsby and the Range on USB".

 

[Beatstanfurd]

It is so easy to add an additional USB power port by connecting to the fuse box under the passenger side dash. I used a micro fuse add a tap to bring two 12 volt outlets and a USB. The most difficult part is removing and replacing the cover in the foot well.

How easy was it to get into the passenger side footwell fuse box? Want to add a tap for a dashcam. Thanks.

 

[hanuser]

Is there a video somewhere of how to remove the cover to access the fusebox? I'm a bit hesistant to start trying to take stuff apart in this expensive car.

 

[Beatstanfurd]

Just did it this afternoon, but no video. Cabin fuse box is located in the footwell of the front passenger seat. Its behind the glovebox but you remove the panel within the footwell. Glovebox does not get removed. Four T25 Torx screws need to be removed. There is a cable that attaches to the light. Don't let the panel drop and you will be fine. Remove the cable to the light and set the panel somewhere out of the way. You'll have access to the fuses. They are Micro 2 fuses. I used an Micro 2 Add A Tap to MB10 and ran my dashcam off of it. There is a 10mm grounding nut that you can use for grounding if your application needs it.

Here is the panel lowered with the cable to the light that can be removed by pressing the release button on the blue plug.

Wider shot of the lowered panel, note the air channel on the left. When replacing the panel, that needs to fit in the AC channel.

Screw located behind and to the right of the fuse box. 10mm crescent wrench to loosen the nut.

Sorry, just realized I didn't get a photo of the actual add a tap installed. Here is the link to the taps on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085GKQC8J

 

[hanuser]

Thanks for these photos, very helpful. To remove that panel and put it back on, is it just light physical force or do you need a tool?

Also, how do you keep the car off during the installation? Did you take the battery out of the fob and turn off phone bluetooth after unlocking and opening the doors?

 

[Beatstanfurd]

Thanks for these photos, very helpful. To remove that panel and put it back on, is it just light physical force or do you need a tool?

Also, how do you keep the car off during the installation? Did you take the battery out of the fob and turn off phone bluetooth after unlocking and opening the doors?

T25 Torx driver and and a 10mm crescent wrench. Doesn't require much force, but you do have to finagle the panel back in to line up the ac vent. Not difficult, but need to be aware of it. Didn't turn off car or anything while doing the work. The only fuse I was touching was the one that leads to the cig outlet in the trunk.

 

[hanuser]

Did you get your device to run with the car off? I don't see to be able to get power from any of the fuse slots when the car is off.

 

[Beatstanfurd]

I didn’t bother to implement the parking mode, so didn’t check the fuses to see is any were always on

 

[codys21]

Shuffle play would be at the top of my wish list. I have about 550 songs on USB. After shuffle play, here are my three other top wishes:
2) Don't keep reverting to the start of a list!!! Examples:
a) I'm navigating songs by artist and I listen to something by REO Speedwagon. Then I go back up to the artist list, wanting to scroll just a little further to Starship, but it bounces me all the way back to A-ha. I have to scroll all the way down again
b) I have my list of all 550 songs down on my Pilot Panel and I'm listening to "Ride Like the Wind", and I want to listen to "Silent Running" next, but I swipe my songs back up to the Glass Cockpit to do something else on the Pilot Panel. Guess where I'm at in my song list now? "Africa." Yay, lots more scrolling.
3) There's no flexibility in the structure you must traverse to play music. If I choose to listen by genre, I must then choose an album to get to the songs within. It would be nice to have access to all my songs of a particular genre directly, or to then choose by artist. Ditto if I start by choosing an artist-- then I must choose an album, but usually I'd just like to see all the songs I have by that artist.
4) How about letting Alexa navigate my songs on USB? I love being able to say "Tune to 1310 AM" but I can't say "Play some Bruce Hornsby and the Range on USB".

The most recent update added shuffle but the playlists are still limited to fewer than 500 songs and Alexa will not play music from the USB. Crazy how a 2015 BMW and 2016 Ford have better integrated music technology than a $100k luxury car of today...

 

[fredp]

Is there a way to create or import a playlist for USB playback?

I just dumped my collection of songs and it breaks it up into albums, artist and 3 separate entries of 474 songs. I'm guessing there is some kind of song list limit for the Air.

Preferably, I'd have my entire collection and be able to play as I go. But it seems like I may have to have only the music I want loaded on the USB unless I'm missing something.

A simple solution might be using Bluetooth to play the songs from your phone. Of course this means loading the songs to your phone. I've gone this route as opposed to a thumb drive for all the reasons stated by others.