Question for 4G owners: Can you save songs to the HDD from MP3 discs?

I tried out a Tech Package and couldn't figure out how to get anything to save to the HDD. If you can save directly from MP3 discs, the loss of the 6-disc changer isn't an issue for me. If not, that's definitely a negative; I already went through digitizing all my CDs when I made the iPod transition. No interest in doing that again in the car. And, I won't always be carrying the iPod around, so that won't work, either...

Thanks for anyone who can clarify this. I've heard conflicting reports. I know you can't save from the iPod.

 

No you cannot transfer MP3s (from any source) to the internal HD. The only way is to rip them from the original (or homemade) CDs. I can't help but think that the RIAA has a hand in this limitation.

 

If you've turned them into MP3s and you have an iPod why not just stick with the iPod? The 4G has full iPod integration

 

Because who wants to lug their iPod in and out of the car every time? That's definitely annoying. It is one of the things that turned me off to the Infiniti.

 

Then use a flash drive

 

i was under the impression it could rip files off a cd, mp3 cd, ipod, etc.

 

Remarkably we still haven't received our cars so I can only go by the owners manual someone posted earlier. On pg. 323 it details that you can only rip from a cd, no import of previously ripped media.

This might be a little inconvenient, but lets be realistic. This system allows you to play media from virtually any source in virtually any combination. FM, AM XM, iPod, Flash Drive, DVD-A, CD, MP3s on CD, non-iPod via Aux jack. No cassette though...

 

You don't have to leave it out in the open..!

Sounds like you have the first generation iPod.. those things weigh a ton and are a pain to move around.

 

A first gen probably wouldn't work anyway. However, I could see leaving my old Mini in the car tucked away in the center console. Afterall, you don't need to handle it so it could be buried under all sorts of things and it wouldn't matter.

 

Wow, nothing says lazy quite as well as "who wants to LUG around their iPod..."

If it's too heavy for you, there's alway the option of leaving it in your car. If you're home you should have all the music on your computer already. And if you're out, why wouldn't you be leaving it in the car if you weren't planning on bringing it with you to use it?

This might be the dumbest thread ever.

 

Nah.

The same reason we want to offload onto the hard drive is not
unlike the reason we prefer onboard NAV vs a portable nav.

It's simpler, and more convenient. You don't have to worry about
running out of batteries. If a friend is playing songs in your car you can
just copy them down. You don't have to worry about leaving it in your car
and getting it stolen. Etc.

It's not a deal breaker feature, but it's something I was also hoping for.

- Frank

 

The iPod is charging while plugged in. Yes, theft is always a concern, but if its hidden, probably less so. I think they're trying to prevent copying which is why I suggested the RIAA has something to do with this.

FWIW, I don't think this is a stupid thread, but it has been discussed before. The OP might have searched, but it's all good.

 

perhaps you can take the damn Hdd out and put it into an enclosure, then just copy over all your mp3 files....hmm.

 

Evolpe,

Thanks for the completely unhelpful response.

It has nothing to do with laziness--it has to do with convenience. Right now, I have 6 discs in the changer, a combo of MP3 discs and DVD-A. I only plug the iPod in on long trips, as generally it is in the Bose dock in my office. Invariably, if I'm relying on the iPod in the car all the time, I'll either leave it in the car or leave it in my office or at the house. I suppose I could have an extra iPod for that purpose, but it sure would be easier if you could get songs onto the HDD other than by ripping from CDs--an exercise I went through when I made the iPod transition some time ago and one I don't particularly care to repeat.

Now, I have read that this system will let you play MP3s from a DVD. That might solve the problem.

Given that I haven't played a regular CD in my car since I got my 07 with MP3 capability, the HDD is pretty much useless to me as it stands.

And, by the way, mine was a valid question. I originally had the understanding that it was NOT possible to rip from an MP3 disc, but then another 09 TL owner said it was. Thus my post seeking clarification; when I stopped at a dealership on Monday, the salesman had no idea.

 

Sorry for the sarcastic responses

Maybe you should grab an MP3 cd and bring it to the dealer to see if it will grab the files ?

 

Timmahh,

I tried that--didn't work, but also wasn't sure how to make it work if it did and the salesman didn't know either.

And your response was actually funny. I have the 60 gig iPod video, so it is not quite THAT big. I have so many songs on it that I can't really go with a non-video, unless there is a new one I missed. Thinking maybe I'll get a new one and just leave this one in the car if I do end up buying it....

 

It won't work as ripping from any source other than a CD is prohibited.

 

at what bit rate does it rip on to the HD? Will it sound good as a CD?

 

can it copy DVD-As? if not, it would suck cuz you can only play one DVD-A at once and regular CDs will not sound as good as DVD-As.

 

Well, if youre like me and have an 80GB full to the max, the 13GB just wont be good enough. Acura has a bigger HDD than Infiniti anyhow. But I will tell you though, I read the owners manual cover to cover and I saw that the player reads DVD-R. That may be a way to fill your drive quickly. At 4.7GB a disc, you would just need Three and enough of a drive to get it all in there. 4X ripping is not fast enough to rip that much music in a 15 minute trek.

Maybe Colin can help with this. If you burn an MP3 disc, will the HDD rip those or just media in cd-a format ?

 

Ive listened to playback of some cd's that I ripped to it and there isnt a noticeable difference.

 

I guess that answers my previous question to Colin.

 

All it will take is for someone to figure out how to tap into the ATA (I'm sure its NOT SATA, due to the small size, unless its a 2.5" notebook drive, but still) interface of the HDD and then do a straight copy onto the drive's folder(s) that the audio headunit reads from for MP3s.

I'd imagine someone will eventually figure out how to externalize the drive to make it easy to copy mp3s (or other media perhaps).

Honestly the possibilities are endless. For example, ghosting the current drive to a larger, faster drive. Perhaps even storing a dvd-player software on it, so that you can use the headunit to play dvd movies. Someone WILL figure all of this out.

 

Its not as easy as you make it out to be

it took 2 years to figure out how to bypass the navigation nag screen (thanks to angrydad ) on the 3G nav