MP3 music files

Are they actually MP3 files? The nuvi won't read other file types.

I have my MP3's on a 2 gig card and it works fine, so I just copied some of them over to the hard drive and my 360 also read those files without any problems...
Note: the songs that I am using are from my own collection that I ripped myself, they are not downloaded.

Hi MM

Thanks for the reply,

Actually I didn't know anything about different files. But looking at the songs I pasted they are WMA and the sample songs are MP3. Now what?

magie

Hi speedy,

Thanks for the info. I have a 2 gig card ordered and was going to load it with music for the GPS.

My songs are also ripped from my own CDs. I was told that I should have ripped them as MP3,s and that I can't change them now?

magie

You should start over and rip your CD to mp3.

Thanks jakekells,

Not what I wanted to hear. I probably have 200 CD,s with an average of 20 songs each, and only want to have two or three songs off some of CD's for GPS.
What a nightmare!

magie

google "convert wma to mp3" without the quotes, and you'll find lots of programs you can download and do the job without having to rip all the stuff from CDs.

Keith, how is this done? I am not a "techie" but I would like to know how to do this...thanks!

JMKthird

Download and run a converter program.

JMK, Keith is right. Each program operates differently so there is no easy way to describe it.

If you have an iPod, iTunes will also convert files if you change some parameters. Just go to edit, preferences, advanced, importing, and change the file preference to MP3. Then go to your playlists, and select all and then right click. One of the options will be "convert selection to MP3". The new files should show up with the same file names but different extensions in your My Music directory.

Other programs are probably faster but this will work.

jim

Hi Keith

Went to Google and there were so many programs it made my hair hurt. About the fourth one down, (how to convert wma to mp3, simply drag wma files to iTunes library), did look fairly easy. However I would have to change my wma files to iTunes files? I did this a while back and liked wpm files better so I changed back. My brother tried a couple of the Google conversion programs and had so much trouble he re ripped his CDs. He's not a "techie" but if he couldn't do it, I know I can't.

magie

If you set up iTunes as described above, your WMA files would be converted to iTunes files as MP3s - MP3 is a universal format that iTunes and many other media players support, and is the only format Nuvis support - so, if you want your music library to be able to be used in your Nuvi, they have to be MP3 files converted from your existing files, or re-ripped from CD to MP3.

As for the difference in wma vs MP3 formats, from reading I've done, audiophiles with high-end gear, and dedicated listening rooms can hear a difference...my ear is far from being able to discern a difference in quality on portable devices or computers.

Sorry if this does not sound helpful - I don't know any other way to explain it to accomplish the desired task.

I had a simular problem and found after much vacilation it was just easier to start all over again and rip to mp3 in the first palce. Jake

google this "THOMSON mp3PRO Audio Player". it's free but tedious. You'll have to convert them one at a time. There's other tools out there but you'll have to pay for them. Good luck

mp3 format will allow you to have more music on your 2gb card compared to wma or wav. quality is not very noticeable or not at all. it's just a different format and unfortunately this is the only format NUVI supports.

Hi Keith

You guys have been very helpful. I'm not looking for better quality or more music per GB. I'm looking for simple, and transferring to iTunes seems like something I can do. (I hope)

magie

I think Media Monkey will convert between the formats.

I've used this and it should do it. If you have issues, I would just do it from scratch with the original CDs.

I just uploaded this and it seems to work fine and it's free...I have not converted music yet but I wanted to create my own sound files for the redlight cameras. Since Windows Sound recorder only creates WMA files I needed a converter...Now I can have my 3 year old yell at me to slow down when a speed camera shows up...

" Hey Daddy...slow down or Smile for the Camera!"

http://www.download.com/Free-WMA-to-MP3-Converter/3000-2140_...

haha

If you do "Save As..." and then click "Format:", and then "Format" again (on the Sound Selection form), you should find "MPEG, Layer-3" amongst the options. (56kbps is the highest bitrate you can use).

You then have to select "All files (*.*)" in the 'Save as type:' option, because the only other choice is 'Sounds (*.wav)', which is a bit perverse!

(I don't actually know when MP3 support sneaked into Windows Sound Recorder - I'm sure it's not always been there.)

I am running VISTA and the only format it lets me save as is a WMA? What Windows are you running... XP? Any way this program seems to work just fine and it was free...so maybe I'll convert some music later and give it a test...Thanks for the advice..

Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 Server SP2

Well now we know that MS has struck again...arrgghhh

Thanks

... and was disapointed in the sound. tried the wireless connection to the car speakers (was better), but ended up switching to the iPOD Video.

I have fooled around with the MP3 player, as well as in using MP3 alert sounds. But the volume of the MP3's is MUCH higher than the volume of the navigation voices. If I turn down the sound to normal listening levels for the MP3's, then the navigation can barely be heard. If I turn up the volume to hear the navigation, both the MP3 alerts and music are blasting out too loudly. Oh, this is on a Nuvi 350.

This may help.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/9702

Scroll down to kch50428 post 'It Can Be Done'

On the nuvi 650 you click on the wrench - click volume - set the percent for the volumes. I have mine set at 100% for navigation and 70% for mp3/audible

I use a free program called "switch", really easy. Try this site easy.http://www.nch.com.au/switch/plus.html

How do you listen to the sound from the iPod. It has the same output plug as the GPS. The problem is not with the player capability in the Garmin, it is getting a connection to good amplified speakers (as via a cassette adapter or aux port on the radio). I also find that my iPod Video does a lousy job of routing.

Are you in Cypress?

Hi, everyone!

My favorite program for converting music files to different formats is "db Power Amp". It can be downloaded at http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

Happy Valentines Day!

Miki

... in the car via the car speakers (via FM to the radio). The MP3 functionality of the nuvi is weak at best. Yes I am in Cypress.

I also use "Switch Plus" - great little program

read review: http://audio-converter-software-review.toptenreviews.com/