RCD 510 and mp3 options...

[ncomben]

Hi All

I have the standard 6 disc RCD 510 in my 09 plate Scirocco GT with red mdi.

The 6 disc cd changer is nice but cd and song title support seems to be patchy at best - plus the cabin (cockpit) isn't that big so there's not a lot of space for cd cases etc...

So I'm considering my mp3 options. I've looked through the forum and the manual and I'm still not clear on which devices will provide control through the touch screen and steering wheel mounted controls.

Options:
1 - ipod connected in arm rest to usb
2 - usb flash stick connected in arm rest to usb
3 - external hdd connected in arm rest to usb
4 - andriod smart phone connected in arm rest to usb with storage option on phone
5 - mp3 device (andriod phone or ipod) connected to aux input
6 - sd card connected in head unit slot

I suppose its nice to have all these options, but which option offers the best sound quality and convenience (i.e. full steering wheel and touch screen control) ?

I have an Andriod phone, old 2gb ipod touch and 8gb usb flash stick to try out over the weekend.
I assume a usb connection will offer the best sound quality as it'll use the DAC in the head unit although I'm sure I once read that IPods usb output is not 'raw' it is processed somehow...

Thanks

[ncomben]

Well with a bit more digging around on this site, I found this http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... it=rcd+510 discussion that was quite helpful.

Anyway I've sat in my car in the work car park like a right lemon and connected up my HTC Desire S. Once I selected media and put the phone into storage mode, it took about 5 seconds to read it and it started playing. 'Selection' folder browsing seemed very snappy - there is an 8gb sdhc mini sd card in the phone so obviously sd is fast enough.

The sound quality was okay considering the music on my phone is 192 variable.
I was able to change track on the steering wheel and browse on the screen - I'm happy with that for convenience.

I'll try my 2gb ipod nano next (if I can get it working - that's another story) but unless anyone says otherwise, I can't see what functionality that can add?

I think I'm just going to buy a large usb flash drive and leave it permanently connected with all my music in (mostly) 320kps mp3.

[ncomben]

Just thought I would post a follow up.

In the end I ordered a Cruzer Slice 64gb USB flash disk. It came formatted with exFat so the 510 couldn't see it.
After a bit of reading around, I was able to reformat the drive in Fat32 and bingo... it works.

I've got 50gb of music on a one inch stick

Since there is over 2000 albums/discs, yesterday I moved the music around into folders pop, rock and the decade, that kind of thing - it's just fantastic.

All I need is voice control to search by artist now

[carlpea]

I use a 32GB USB drive and find it very quick to start, move between folders, etc.

I did have to update the MDI firmware a while back as I was having trouble with USB not be recognised occasionally but all good now .

[Cuprabob]

I've got 50gb of music on a one inch stick
Since there is over 2000 albums/discs, yesterday I moved the music around into folders pop, rock and the decade, that kind of thing - it's just fantastic.

Didn't realise that the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud had made so many albums :-)

[ncomben]

I've got 50gb of music on a one inch stick
Since there is over 2000 albums/discs, yesterday I moved the music around into folders pop, rock and the decade, that kind of thing - it's just fantastic.

Didn't realise that the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud had made so many albums :-)

ha ha Cuprabob... no Spice Girls or Britney although I'm partial to a bit of Madonna!

Anyway, the only issue now is that the RCD unit won't mix folders of albums it just starts playing the first album in the folder and mixes that.
I've done the include sub folder option in the settings but it still just mixes one album.

Still, at least I can leave all the CDs at home.

[Nigel_Carver]

you need a single mp3 song in the root of the usb folder structure - if you play this then hit mix - the whole of the folder structure is played on shuffle/random - not logical but works!

http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... +mp3#p5589" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ncomben]

you need a single mp3 song in the root of the usb folder structure - if you play this then hit mix - the whole of the folder structure is played on shuffle/random - not logical but works!

http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... +mp3#p5589" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes I saw that thread and downloaded a 4 second blank mp3. I placed it in the root but tbh, I haven't tried mixing from the root - I will move the blank mp3 into an artist folder and see what happens!

Cheers.

[ncomben]

It seems that my silent 4s mp3 just wasn't enough. Putting a track in the root, as suggested above, makes that folder and it's sub folders mix.

Most of my song file names are already numbered, its just a case of going through and ensuring they all are.
Oh one other thing I have done is put numbers in front of the album folder names too so they can be played in chronological order.

[ZephyR]

It seems that my silent 4s mp3 just wasn't enough. Putting a track in the root, as suggested above, makes that folder and it's sub folders mix.

Most of my song file names are already numbered, its just a case of going through and ensuring they all are.
Oh one other thing I have done is put numbers in front of the album folder names too so they can be played in chronological order.

There's something in the RCD settings menu that lets you change how it plays shuffle mixes.
Just for the record I "upgraded" a while back from USB stick to a HDD from an old laptop. Tons quicker and still full control from the head unit. Also I sync this with my music collection on iTunes by using a bit of freeware called Notpod which makes iTunes work with non-Apple devices. That would work with your USB stick too.