I have a USB thumb drive containing about 3000 MP3s connected to my Kenwood DNX6140. There is nothing in the documentation about creating a playlist. Can it be done?
I thought of copying/duplicating MP3s into a separate folder and using that folder as my "playlist", but there is a limit of 255 MP3s per folder. My playlist would be longer than that.
TigerHeli: Perhaps - Page 35 of the manual also says "something" is disabled in play list mode, but I can't tell what, but that implies there is one.
Perhaps - Page 35 of the manual also says "something" is disabled in play list mode, but I can't tell what, but that implies there is one.
It turns out Kenwood's definition of a "playlist" is not what we would expect. From another web site:
>>>>>>>>“Playlist” view allows you to browse your files (songs) by using the ID3 tags. An ID3 tag, in a nutshell, is a portion of the file (song) that contains identification attributes, such as the name, artist, album, year, genre, etc. Most of the time this ID3 information is generated when the file (song) is created. “Playlist” view is the PList button...I use quotations because this is how Kenwood refers to this view, though it isn’t really a “playlist” in the sense that you and I know it.>>>>>>>>
To make matters worse, my random (RDM) function is now greyed out! My original workaround idea was to copy the songs I wanted to play (up to 255 songs) into a separate subdirectory, and use the random play function to play them.
There's an asterisk in the manual after RDM that says "disabled when VIDEO is being played". I'm not playing any videos, so I'm not sure how/why this happened.
Unfortunately, you'll need an iPod to do playlist feasibly. Using an MP3 disc, thumb drive or general MP3 player, you'd have to change the ID3 tags of every file to include an integer header to file the position of each track. This to me simply is not feasible and far more trouble than it could ever be worth.
I don't think it can be done.
(I know it can't be done with my Sony).
How is the 3000 MP3's working out for you? I know the Sony would take about two-minutes to index that drive before it played, which would be unacceptable to me - I'm wondering if the Kenwood is faster.
Thanks.
Anyone else have suggestions?
2002 Ford Focus Sony CDX-GT410u Sony XT-100HD HD Tuner Stock speakers, no amp, no subs
Tigerheli: With my 3000 MP3s, it takes about 50 seconds after powerup for the Kenwood to start playing songs. The first 10 seconds of that is the Kenwood powerup time, and the other 40 seconds is spent reading the thumb drive.
That's impressive to me - roughly 12-15GB of music? (Sorry for the brief hi-jack ...)
TigerHeli: That's impressive to me - roughly 12-15GB of music? (Sorry for the brief hi-jack ...)
closer to 24 GB. They are 320kbps files.
No one seems to have an answer for me, so I'll assume I can't make a playlist for USB files.
i think this would be the perfect case for you to test. just make a playlist and put it a subfolder by itself, so when you open to subfolder it's either there or not. and definately keep us posted
JacobDrop me a line if you have any further questions
Cobb: i think this would be the perfect case for you to test. just make a playlist and put it a subfolder by itself, so when you open to subfolder it's either there or not. and definately keep us posted
I created a test playlist in M3U format and put it on the thumb drive. The DNX6140 doesn't even see it. It only lists the actual MP3 files in that directory.
I did find a PLIST function on one of the pictures in the manual, but it's not explained at all (very poor documentation with this unit). On my unit the PLIST button is greyed out, so I can't press it. This makes me think that there is a playlist functionality, but I can't figure out how to make it work.
Could perhaps the playlist need to be in some other format (not M3U)?
Hope This Helps!!!
Malcolm: Unfortunately, you'll need an iPod to do playlist feasibly. Using an MP3 disc, thumb drive or general MP3 player, you'd have to change the ID3 tags of every file to include an integer header to file the position of each track. This to me simply is not feasible and far more trouble than it could ever be worth.
Thank you. I haven't found an answer anywhere else, so I guess that's just how it is.
I've gone with my backup plan of copying all my playlist songs into separate folders, and just playing all the songs in that folder as my "playlist". This of course eats up a lot more space on my USB thumb drive since there are now two copies of many of my mp3's.
Because of this, I'm now wondering if I can use a USB thumb drive larger than 32GB. Windows XP won't format a FAT32 drive larger than 32GB, but there are third party formatters that will. I just wonder if the DNX-6140 will be able to deal with a larger drive?
According to CF, I don't think there's a drive size limitation:
The headunit can recognize up to 126 folders (255 files per folders) and 15,000 total files. The unit will display any recorded ID3 Tag information stored on your connected USB device. You USB device's rechargeable battery will be recharged while it is connected to the USB port of the DNX6140 and the unit is turned on.
A USB HD would be less expensive, but I think the USB thumb drives are more durable.
radlert6:Because of this, I'm now wondering if I can use a USB thumb drive larger than 32GB. Windows XP won't format a FAT32 drive larger than 32GB, but there are third party formatters that will. I just wonder if the DNX-6140 will be able to deal with a larger drive?
Not true. I'm sitting here formatting a 80GB HDD in FAT32 in Windows 7. I just formatted this same drive from my work PC (Windows XP PRO) 3 days ago.
You need to run "CMD" from the start menu. "cd\" to get to the root directory (May not be required) then:
format /FS:FAT32 x: (x is the drive letter associated with the drive to format.) You will be prompted to enter the volume label and then recieve a warning about all data being lost.
I'm watching mine format , its at 31%. So far, my KENWOOD has recognised it with no issues. I'm formatting again, because I am having issues with not being able to access all my MP3's (About 18GB) I have about 2700MP3's @ about 192K. 90% with ablum art.
I'm wondering if there is a size limit to the USB device, causing me to have my issues. If you resize to a 32GB partition, let us know how that works out with teh headunits ability to read or skip the non FAT32 partitions or non-allocated space.
TigerHeli: According to CF, I don't think there's a drive size limitation: The headunit can recognize up to 126 folders (255 files per folders) and 15,000 total files. The unit will display any recorded ID3 Tag information stored on your connected USB device. You USB device's rechargeable battery will be recharged while it is connected to the USB port of the DNX6140 and the unit is turned on. A USB HD would be less expensive, but I think the USB thumb drives are more durable. Hope This Helps!!!
Are there individual sets of limits depending on model?
I wish someone could pinpoint this file structure/ limitation. I have 280 MP3 files in a root folder called 'MISC'. This seems to exceed the 255 files per folder limit mentioned above and in many other places. They all play fine.
I can't get 46 artists folders (out of 52 total) to be selected, this is way less than the 126 folder limit mentioned above as well...
Yeah, the limits definitely CAN vary per model.
The 280 files when 255 is supposed to be the limit really surprises me, but I think the root folder might be special - (although if it's called MISC, it's not technically the root folder).
Not sure what to tell you there - it shouldn't be that hard for companies to at least publish correctly what the limitations are!!!