I currently have an Audi and have songs and playlists on an SD card that goes into a slot in my glove compartment so I can listen to music directly from the SD card. I copied the album folders and the songs under the folder which are in m4a format from iTunes on my computer to the SD card. Then using iTunes I exported each of my playlists into M3U files. I have ordered a 2022 RDX and was told that there is no SD slot. I guess I’m hoping that if the SD card worked in my Audi that a flash drive with the same files will work in the RDX. Hoping that RDX recognizes same formatting of music that Audi uses. So, does anyone know if I copy everything from my SD card to a flash drive if I can listen to music directly from the flash drive?

 

I am thinking that since you have your music files maintained on your Mac in Apple Music you should be able to copy them directly onto a USB drive.

Something interesting I noticed when looking at my long list of albums by “Song” that I had saved music in a variety of formats. So, I took a couple of hours and converted them all to “Apple Lossless Files”.You can change this in your Settings for Apple Music and under File there is a choice to Convert. If you set your preferred format to Apple Lossless Files instead of AAC or mp3, you will get a file that sounds awesome on your car ELS system. Of course each file not in .FLAC format already got much larger on my hard drive. The fidelity of all of my “regular” (as in non-FLAC) improved dramatically when played on my ELS using either my iPhone 12 or a USB drive.

I am making a new USB drive now with all of my “non-FLAC” files so I don’t need to use my phone. Because my phone has a ton of space, I have the Apple Lossless Files of all of my music: progressive rock, classical, sacred choral….and whatnot. I am putting only my progressive rock not available in FLAC format yet, and usually leave it in and listen to it for days or weeks. On road trips my wife and I like to listen to audio books from my Amazon account.

So, if this makes sense, I pray it is useful. If I have written something that is in error, or just not clear, please ask for clarification and/or correction.

God bless each of you and these wonderful RDX autos that bring us together and much joy! Amen?

 

Thanks so much for all the info Padre Dave. I will definitely look into this! I did like using an SD card in my Audi because the slot was hidden in the glove compartment and just stayed there all the time out of sight. But I will adapt to having to use a flash drive.

 

I bought a very small SD card that I can close the cover on. Just be aware that, unlike most every other car available today, the RDX has only one USB input. If you want to use CarPlay of android auto, you’ll have to unplug the SD card.