iDrive CD rip quality?

Breach · 10-10-2011, 05:02 PM

Hi,

Does anyone know what's the CD rip quality of iDrive? For reasons unknown my car refused to play WMA lossless even with no album art whatsoever (Winamp FLAC -> WMA lossless transcoding). My next option is to transcode to MP3 320kbits but if the iDrive rip quality is good enough I wouldn't bother. It's a pity BMW don't allow user so configure things like that... And this applies to quite a few car features... Thanks.

Gran Turismo · 10-10-2011, 05:26 PM

What did you use for ripping / encoding?

I'm using the dBpoweramp suite, and the resulting lossless WMA files are playing perfectly from an USB stick (including cover art pics displayed on the monitor).

Breach · 10-10-2011, 05:28 PM

As stated: Winamp's transcoding tool FLAC -> WMA 9 lossless. I'll give dBpoweramp a try. Thanks.

eripers · 10-13-2011, 02:56 PM

If you have the USB stick option in the armrest you can play WMA lossless from a USB stick there. However the import from the hard drive import from the glove box USB does not handle lossless. I don’t think dbamp would help in this.
I compared CD rip with wma lossless, and it was a clear difference, so based on my ears I would guess the CD rip is 192k.

Rochdale Pioneers · 10-13-2011, 03:11 PM

Worth noting that you can plug a hard drive into the USB socket in the armrest as well

E90Fleet · 10-15-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

Worth noting that you can plug a hard drive into the USB socket in the armrest as well

It can only handle 500mA and many hard drives draw more than that, so be very carefull

E90Fleet · 10-15-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breach

Hi,

Does anyone know what's the CD rip quality of iDrive? For reasons unknown my car refused to play WMA lossless even with no album art whatsoever (Winamp FLAC -> WMA lossless transcoding). My next option is to transcode to MP3 320kbits but if the iDrive rip quality is good enough I wouldn't bother. It's a pity BMW don't allow user so configure things like that... And this applies to quite a few car features... Thanks.

The in-car ripping is 128Kbit WMA

Best is ripping 320Kbit MP3 yourself and then importing via USB

Breach · 10-15-2011, 05:08 PM

Thanks. 128kbps?? It's unbelievable I got a professional sound system and an iDrive one which produces cheap-o-quality sound files to match (not). What were they thinking? This at the very, very least deserves a mention in the manual... Cheers (off to delete my iDrive music collection and start from scratch...)

Breach · 10-15-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

It can only handle 500mA and many hard drives draw more than that, so be very carefull

I know for a fact my WD Passport needs more juice than that. Also the manual specifically says portable HDDs are not supported.

Gran Turismo · 10-16-2011, 02:36 AM

A CD Album ripped with WMA lossless usually will be between around 300 and 400 MB in size, so already a 64GB stick will hold 150-200 albums. Also in 64GB size, some very small (= unobstrusive in the console compartment) sticks are available, check out the Super Talent pico series.

Remember the times when we were already happy with a 6 CD changer in the car?

Rochdale Pioneers · 10-16-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breach

I know for a fact my WD Passport needs more juice than that. Also the manual specifically says portable HDDs are not supported.

They might not be supported but they clearly work. Mine is an old 60gb laptop drive and has no problems. I am by no means the only person on here with a plug in drive.

WMA 128 is laughable.....

EdM5 · 10-16-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breach

Thanks. 128kbps?? It's unbelievable I got a professional sound system and an iDrive one which produces cheap-o-quality sound files to match (not). What were they thinking? This at the very, very least deserves a mention in the manual... Cheers (off to delete my iDrive music collection and start from scratch...)

I'm with you on this.
It's laughable. 128 kbps music sounds like shit and you don't have to be an audiophile - or Dr. Dre

- to hear it.
Last year I decided to rip my entire music collection in a lossless format. Data storage byte/$ is still dropping so why worry about file size? BMW should put at least 100 Gb disk space in the car.

listerone · 10-17-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

BMW should put at least 100 Gb disk space in the car.

That might be kind of expensive if my suspicion that the HD is an SSD is correct.

E90Fleet · 10-18-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listerone

That might be kind of expensive if my suspicion that the HD is an SSD is correct.

Its a normal "ferromagnetic HDD"

Getting a car rated one that will last the life of the car is the expensive part.
BMW are limited to what the HDD manufacturers can supply at a reasonable cost

E90Fleet · 10-18-2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breach

Thanks. 128kbps?? It's unbelievable I got a professional sound system and an iDrive one which produces cheap-o-quality sound files to match (not). What were they thinking? This at the very, very least deserves a mention in the manual... Cheers (off to delete my iDrive music collection and start from scratch...)

Their technical literature says that 128kbps WMA files are comparable to 160kbps MP3 files.

They chose the specific size to allow the average user to fill up the system with more music.
Audio enthusiasts have the option to import the higher bit rates via USB

10-10-2011, 05:02 PM	#1
Breach First Lieutenant 80 Rep 373 Posts Drives: F10 520dA M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	iDrive CD rip quality? Hi, Does anyone know what's the CD rip quality of iDrive? For reasons unknown my car refused to play WMA lossless even with no album art whatsoever (Winamp FLAC -> WMA lossless transcoding). My next option is to transcode to MP3 320kbits but if the iDrive rip quality is good enough I wouldn't bother. It's a pity BMW don't allow user so configure things like that... And this applies to quite a few car features... Thanks.
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10-10-2011, 05:26 PM	#2
Gran Turismo Alpina Addict 3 Rep 101 Posts Drives: Alpina B4 S Coupe AWD Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	What did you use for ripping / encoding? I'm using the dBpoweramp suite, and the resulting lossless WMA files are playing perfectly from an USB stick (including cover art pics displayed on the monitor). __________________ Current: 2018 Alpina B4 S Coupe AWD Retired: 2011 Alpina B5 Biturbo, 2007 BMW 650i SMG Coupe
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10-10-2011, 05:28 PM	#3
Breach First Lieutenant 80 Rep 373 Posts Drives: F10 520dA M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	As stated: Winamp's transcoding tool FLAC -> WMA 9 lossless. I'll give dBpoweramp a try. Thanks.
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10-13-2011, 02:56 PM	#4
eripers Private 0 Rep 80 Posts Drives: F11 523i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	If you have the USB stick option in the armrest you can play WMA lossless from a USB stick there. However the import from the hard drive import from the glove box USB does not handle lossless. I don’t think dbamp would help in this. I compared CD rip with wma lossless, and it was a clear difference, so based on my ears I would guess the CD rip is 192k.
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10-13-2011, 03:11 PM	#5
Rochdale Pioneers First Lieutenant 23 Rep 371 Posts Drives: F10 520d SE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Stockton on Tees UK iTrader: (0)	Worth noting that you can plug a hard drive into the USB socket in the armrest as well __________________ Had: E91 320d ES Titanium Silver Now: F10 520d SE Alpine White, Cinnamon Brown leather, Business speakers
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10-15-2011, 05:08 PM	#8
Breach First Lieutenant 80 Rep 373 Posts Drives: F10 520dA M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	Thanks. 128kbps?? It's unbelievable I got a professional sound system and an iDrive one which produces cheap-o-quality sound files to match (not). What were they thinking? This at the very, very least deserves a mention in the manual... Cheers (off to delete my iDrive music collection and start from scratch...)
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10-16-2011, 02:36 AM	#10
Gran Turismo Alpina Addict 3 Rep 101 Posts Drives: Alpina B4 S Coupe AWD Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	A CD Album ripped with WMA lossless usually will be between around 300 and 400 MB in size, so already a 64GB stick will hold 150-200 albums. Also in 64GB size, some very small (= unobstrusive in the console compartment) sticks are available, check out the Super Talent pico series. Remember the times when we were already happy with a 6 CD changer in the car? __________________ Current: 2018 Alpina B4 S Coupe AWD Retired: 2011 Alpina B5 Biturbo, 2007 BMW 650i SMG Coupe
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