GROM USB formatting

[unluky]

So I have my GROM installed. If I dump all 500ish of my songs on a thumb drive and plug it in - they play just fine. Except of course you can't play what you want and can only go to the next song till you find one you like.

But if I put them in folders just like they say on their site and name them like they say - nothing will play. It see's the folders and will jump to them and even display the names of the songs like they are playing - just no audio at all.

Anyone else have an issue like this or can clue me in on what stupid thing I am missing here?? Sound quality it great, but if I can't play what I want then it will all be for nothing.

[The HACK]

I don't know about you, but I use my phone for that. And it plays fine with songs organized into "playlists."

Since the phone goes where I go and never leave my personage except to be charged at night, my "songs" go no matter which car I take.

I stopped putting songs on USB drives 3-4 years ago.

[unluky]

I hate having to plug and unplug my phone in (not to mention my OCD about cords hanging all over) and bluetooth just does not give the same clean audio. I have a USB stick in my Explorer and it works fantastic. BUT in the explorer I can use voice commands and just say what song/artist I want to listen to and it will play it perfectly. GROM - not such luck.

If you are using your phone - why did you use a GROM and not just an AUX in? Is there a benefit to using a GROM instead of plugged directly into the AUX port???

I have an AUX port and was just trying to get around it. I have the feeling I am not going to like this as much as I thought unfortunately.

[The HACK]

Mine's an '06, no aux in port unless I add it. The GROM USB also charges the phone, albeit VERY SLOWLY, which lets me limp all the way to bed-time on a single charge (yes it's an iPhone).

Plus when it's plugged in to the USB, I just say "hey Siri" and tell her what I want to do, be it sending a text, ask for direction home, or play my favorite song AGAIN. My iPhone is on a QuadLock case, so I can either just attach it to an existing QuadLock mount on the dash, or add a QuadLock mount in the middle storage area and leave the phone tucked away inside...Although I never tried that, since I use the phone now for NAV since my NAV disk is 8 years outdated.

I'm not 100% sure the larger phones/phablets would fit in the storage compartment between the seats.

I go through new phones every 2-3 years anyway, so plugging and unplugging never bothered me...But I can see how it's a hassle.

[XMetal]

Agreed that you can't really play what you want as the interface is mostly a kluge. However, mine worked perfectly setting it up in folders as described - forgot if I had format as FAT32 or NTSC. I treat the GROM mostly as substitute for satellite radio and just let it play what's coming up in my collection. With that said, I organized into different "disc" and then into different folders under that "disc". For example, I would have CD1-Pop, CD2-Trance, CD3... Then, under CD1-Pop, I would organize into folders of all my pop albums, etc. This would at least allow me to skip folders using the scan button within the pop category. When I feel like a different genre, I would just select another "disc".

[unluky]

OK - so I didn't know you could have folders inside of folders - that is good to know.

I have like say one folder named "01-Rock" and one named "02-Mix" etc all the way through 06 per the instructions. This would be fine for me as I am usually in the mode to listen to one thing or another and grouping them together like that is plenty for me. Are your named beginning with "CD1-"??? Maybe that is my issue?

Do I need more folders under it to make it work?

Funny it works when they are all just dumped on there, and it shows the numbers and titles just fine when I put them in folders - but no audio is playing.

Maybe I am doing it wrong?

[XMetal]

My actual folder names are 1-Pop, 2-Trance, etc... I only went up to 5. The interface acted weird when I have 6 main folders

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by XMetal

My actual folder names are 1-Pop, 2-Trance, etc... I only went up to 5. The interface acted weird when I have 6 main folders

I think it’s because it’s meant to interface with a BMW CD changed, where the cartridge capacity was only 5 discs?

[unluky]

OK - I'm gonna try getting rid of the 6th folder then and see if that helps. How do you set up the folder in a folder - just like it sounds? Just create another folder within the 1-Pop folder for instance? Does it need to be number too?

How do you move between the folders once you are in that main folder? So say you hit the "1" button on the radio to get to "1-Pop" - then how do you move within the folders within "1-Pop"? Or do they simply play in order after that?

Thanks for the help - this might be my issue.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by The HACK

I think it’s because it’s meant to interface with a BMW CD changed, where the cartridge capacity was only 5 discs?

I believed a BMW CD changer is 6 discs. I had a CD changer in my X5 and that was 6 discs. The GROM worked as describe in the X5 with 6 main folders, but I don't have NAV in my X5 - most likely the difference in behavior. The 6th folder works in the Z too, it just behaved a bit weird if you read my "bug" list on my GROM install thread.

Originally Posted by unluky

OK - I'm gonna try getting rid of the 6th folder then and see if that helps. How do you set up the folder in a folder - just like it sounds? Just create another folder within the 1-Pop folder for instance? Does it need to be number too?

How do you move between the folders once you are in that main folder? So say you hit the "1" button on the radio to get to "1-Pop" - then how do you move within the folders within "1-Pop"? Or do they simply play in order after that?

Thanks for the help - this might be my issue.

Yes, basically just create other folders within the maing (1-Pop) folder. No need to number the sub-folders.

To move between folders once you are in that main folder, use the "scan" button to activate folder jump and then the forward or reverse buttons will jump to the next or previous folder.

[unluky]

Got it!! I have taken the "0" off my folder names (that they listed in the instructions, but you say work without) and moved folder "6" into another folder and renamed it so I only have 5 main folders - worth a shot AND gives me a chance to see how to navigate between subfolders.

I'm a little worried you said yours works with 6 main folders as I was hoping that is what was killing mine! I do not have Nav either, but I guess we are going to find out.

Thanks for all your help!

[XMetal]

6 main folders should work fine if you don't have NAV - it worked perfectly fine on my NAV-less X5. It's only the NAV interface that caused the weird menu behavior. It's definitely odd that there's no audio just with creating folders

[unluky]

Yes - that has me worried. Worked perfect with no folders and just a barfed full drive - did nothing but put them into folders and then no go. Like I said - the read out looks the same and reacts to what I do and displays song names and everything - but no audio at all.

Lets see if any of these changes breaks something loose - I'll try when I get home tonight!