Nuvi 2360 Cannot Generate Custom POI Sound

Issues with installing SOX (and the correct version) are quite common. You must use version 14.0.1 and it has to be in the same folder within Program Files (x86) on a Windows 7 machine as POI Loader,exe. Gary Haman's site does point you to the correct version of SOX from the rapidshare site.

The second most common problem is double extensions. It sounds as if you have set up your computer to display the common file extensions so you shouldn't have the .wav.wav problem many users experience.

Thanks for the reply Box Car.
I was careful to download SOX 14.0.1 and I put the exe file into a Garmin Nuvi document file that also has the POI Loader. And yes I have 'show' file extensions turned on.
I executed SOX then POI Loader and installed my test custom (in a spearate POI Collection file)
The POI collection contains a csv, bmp and wav with the same name and the POI Loader rejected it.
Now if I use the same csv, bmp, and a correct mp3 it loads, but doesn't work. The mp3 was the intro music to Home on the Range.
But to no avail. Maybe I can't use music?

BC, I had trouble with the latest version of SOX and had to go to the previous version. Sometimes the wav's wouldn't play.

I've seen a few cases where the problem ended up being caused by the WAV file. If you converted from MP3, you might try converting it again using this site:

http://media.io/

Jonathan

I believe your unit needs .wav files for sounds.

You should have a C:\Program Files\Garmin\POI Loader folder. In this folder will be the file "POI Loader.exe".

You should have also in this folder "sox.exe".

The reason I make this comment is that you referred to the "Garmin Nuvi document file " and I wanted to make sure of what you were talking about.

Ahhhhh, maybe here is the problem...???
I set up a file in My Documents for all this stuff... and you are suggesting that it need to be in the root file C:\Program Files\Garmin???
Or more correctly c:\Program Files(x86)\Garmin\POI Loader???

Yes, if this is where POI Loader.exe is found, this is where sox.exe belongs. And that is where it'll be found, at least for Windows 7 users.

And as jg points out, you unit needs wav audio, not mp3.

SOX needs to be in Program Files. You don't need to execute it or do anything with it. Poi Loader will check to see if the program is present and then pass the command string needed to convert the WAV file.

During my install of POI Loader, I was not given any option as to where the executables would be placed. The POI Loader install went into C:\Program Files\Garmin\POI Loader.

For your actual POI Files, I would think it is OK to have a folder in "My Documents". I assume you would navigate to the "My Documents" folder, create a sub folder and name it something like "My POIs". There you would place various .csv, .bmp and .wav files. You would not put sox.exe there.

What I was trying to make sure of was that "sox.exe" was in the "Program Files\Garmin\POI Loader" folder which should already exist on your computer.

I have used the online coverter Jonathan indicated many times and it always worked. (http://media.io/)

As long as you have sox.exe in the
C:\Program Files\Garmin\POI Loader folder.

Then copy the the converted .mp3, .bmp. and the .csv into any folder.
When you open POI loader just navigate to that folder and create the POI.

Remember, ALL 3 FILES must have the EXACT name with the differing extensions.

Example:
USA Rest Areas.csv
USA Rest Areas.bmp
USA Rest Areas.wav

Do we know of any past corrupted .wav files that will play but not load?

I am wondering if we can suggest a way to let some member find out if the wav file is corrupted before using it in POI Loader.

For instance, if one doubleclicks on the .wav and it plays in Windows Media Player, will it always load in POI Loader?

Since I do not have a 64 bit system, I need to ask the question as to where Garmin will load POI Loader on a 64 bit system.

From what Tom_M said, I assume it goes into the Program Files (x86) folder rather than the Program Files folder. Is that right?

In the examples I've seen, the WAV file played on the computer; but POI Loader refused to transfer the sound to the GPS. In these cases, re-encoding it with media.io fixed the issue.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\POI Loader.exe" is the location on my 64 bit system.

Just as a matter of interest, I took one of the poi-factory .mp3 files I had previously downloaded and then converted to a .wav file using winLAME. I sent the original .mp3 file through http://media.io/

The .wav file was not a byte by byte duplicate of the one done by winLAME. Did not really expect it would be, but wanted to check.

Is there a way to point media.io to the poi-factory .mp3 file rather than downloading it to my computer first?

@jgermann
The point I was trying to make was that when using the online converter (http://media.io/) I never experienced a problem. I don't know where the OP got the .wav file, or used other software for the conversion if it was an .mp3. As we all know computers misbehave at times so any file received from a download can be potentially corrupted.

I myself prefer to use the online converter, less clutter on my computer.

My question was answered by JM. He said was aware of .wav files that would play but would not be accepted by POI Loader. I would be interested in more information on such files as it might help us debug other user problems.

As far as media.io is concerned, I think it is the best procedure for beginners to use as it does not require them to download a conversion package and is straightforward to use.

I intend to change my Beginners Exercise 5 to add media.io as the preferred way to do file conversions with a caveat.

Perhaps, like I do, you use Audacity because it has capabilities that the online converter does not provide - changing volume, or adding blank space, for a few examples.

However, if someone wanted to convert multiple .mp3 files to .wav files at one sitting, both the online converter as well as Audacity fall short just because of the keystrokes required. But, there is a package called winLAME (http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?q=winlame)
which can do a "batch" conversion from one file format to another (in our case .mp3 to .wav). The last time I used it, I converted 33 .mp3 files to .wav files in less than a minute.

Super! I moved SOX to c:\Program Files(x86)\Garmin\POI Loader and now when executing POI Loader, SOX runs and apparently my Nuvi 2360 accepted the wav,bmp,csv. You guys are great!

Now to test and wife has the truck. I've tried to use Manual and 50 feet to test but can't get to to run.
Any foolproof way to get the custom POI to operate at near zero distance to test it?

Set a Home alert, with wav file, to 30 yards from your home, then take a short walk.

Well, that's what I had done, but I doesn't see to want to trigger.
I'll try again. Mayby I'll change from Auto to Walking...

Did you get an alert pop-up? The wav triggers it (at least in my '40).

Well, it works when I drive the truck, but not when I walk to the spot??? Go figure! Maybe a minimum speed?
But it does work! Thanks to all who helped me

That's what we like to hear.

+1