Mr Snappy

I'm at work, so I cant get to the manual...

Can I copy a MP3, that is on a disc, directly to the Music Register? Or, do I have to transform the MP3 to a regular music file, burn it on a CD, then copy to the Register?

BenzMan369

You can copy MP3's directly to the Music Register.

Insert disc, make sure the Disc screen is showing on the display, select REC at the bottom of the screen and follow prompts. If the Disc screen is not showing, select it by one of the available methods, e.g. pressing the dashboard Disc button repeatedly until the proper screen displays.

Mr Snappy

Thanks, I will try this when I get home.
My idiot salesperson said I could not, but so far, every single thing he has told me about the display, command, and audio/video has been wrong, so I knew I had to ask the experts

BenzMan369

One caveat - I am ASSuming your COMAND works like mine, the latter being the '12 version. They did make some changes, but my guess is that the function you're interested in works the same for both.

Please advise how you make out.

listerone

Benz Man pointed out that the method he described worked on his 2012 E.Unless I was doing it incorrectly (a very real possibility) MP3s cannot be directly transferred on a 2011 E....unless,perhaps,it has the 4.5 version of Comand (mine is an earlier version).My attempts failed misreably.

But yours might not!

acr2001

2012 C with 4.5 - NOTHING can be transferred to the music register except a music CD.

BudC

I have a 2011 E-Class (March 2011 build). You can only transfer Music CD's, no MP3's. I'll bet it's still that way on the 2012's. My manual tells me Music CD's so I expect the manuals for the 2012's will also say that. Check it out.

hyperion667

LOL

Mr Snappy

I will do this to find out for sure. I have a complete CD that I want to transfer from the computer to the car. I will burn both a MP3 version and a regular music version and try them both.

I have a long car ride tomorrow to Branson.....God, I HATE Branson! (Parents have a time-share and I was kind of forced into going...family politics and all)

BenzMan369

Did technologically challenged Benzman speak too soon? If so, it won't be the first time.

After reading your posts I checked on the few music files I've actually stored in the Music Register. They were files I had burned a long time ago as WMA's. So, I have not actually tried registering MP3's directly.

But my response to Mr. Snappy was really based upon what I had read in the manual when I first got the car: Manual > Music Register > General Notes, it says, "You can store music files in MP3 or WMA format in the Music Register. The memory has a capacity of 10gb...."

I'll have to try registering MP3's directly myself, but does this not mean you can enter MP3's directly without conversion?

If I was wrong, I do apologize for the mis-information.

Mr Snappy

So just tried it with interesting results.

I burned a full CD from MP3 format to audio format. I was able to copy this to my MusicRegister without issue...HOWEVER, Gracenotes would not even attempt to find the information and it was given a generic file name for both the CD and the tracks. What was neat is that you can use the Command to actually change the names of the folders and tracks.

Put in a disk with just MP3's, which plays just fine from the disk, but the radio does not even give the option to "REC". So I guess that answers that.

BTW, I have a 2011 with a 10gb hard drive, but apparently the older software.

acr2001

The manual for my 2012 C Class is riddled with errors. Mine also says that you can copy MP3s when in fact you cannot and the feature was deliberately disabled. If someone really wanted to be a jerk they could probably start a very silly class action lawsuit against MBUSA (who certainly deserve it).

It's very important to point out - if you have a NON US model your music register is not crippled - you CAN copy MP3s as far as I know.

Stick Girl

Is copying MP3s from disc any faster than copying a CD to the register? I swear, the latter is an all day process!

listerone

I would think so.Copying MP3s onto the hard drive was possible with my recently departed BMW and it was *much* easier and *much* quicker.Once you've converted your CD collection into MP3 format (something which I had done before getting my BMW) the rest was a piece of cake.But for me it's a moot point because I've already filled 9.9GB of my 10GB hard drive.A real pain in the hindquarters,as you've already observed.

BobbyT

I have a 2012 E350. I would like to store some music in the music register. I tried following the instructions in the manual, but the screen shots and steps don't really match what I see on my car. I put some files (MPEG-4 format) from my iTunes onto an SD memory card, and it plays just fine in the car. However, I cannot find any way to copy the file onto the music register.

I tried copying from the Harmon-Kardon demonstration CD that came with the car onto the music register, but the "REC" at the bottom of the screen won't light up--it is not selectable.

Has anyone gotten the music register to work in a useful way?

listerone

First,the demo disc is a different format and,therefore,won't record to the HD.Try the same procedure with a standard CD and it will work.

dfordham

Regardless of what the user manual says, in the US, you can only copy CDA disks to the music register. No mp3's etc. You can thank the RIAA and our litigious society for that.

Regards,
Don

BobbyT

Thanks, listerone, great tip. I would never have thought that the demo CD would be a format that wouldn't copy to the music register. My favorite Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar CD copied perfectly.

Now to find how to copy from an SD card...that would save lots of time, if possible.

telemakhos

I would go crazy if I had to edit each track name like that! I think the best solution is to use a USB key to store MP3 and plug that in. Lots of storage and you see all the names.

listerone

Nothing I've read suggests that it's possible to copy a song from an SD card to the hard drive of a North American spec Comand system.I think I read that it can be done in Europe however.Don't be surprised if your effort fails...mine sure did.

BobbyT

Thanks again, listerone. You've been very helpful.

listerone

De nada

El Cid

Takes me about 20 minutes to load a CD. This includes manufactured ones and ones I make on my PC.
One caveat on recording to Music Register. If you have a variety of artists on the CD, it will record to a folder called Various. Gracenote only recognizes CD titles if by one artist or group.
Read COMAND instructions and record to New Folder (I think) and when recording finished, go in and use Options to change name of folder to whatever you wish.
I had recorded several CD's before I realized this was happening and ended up with 5 "CD's" under Various folder and then another 5 or so under another Various folder. Problem is you have to go to MR list, then open Various folder before you know which "CD's" are on it.
BTW, you can use Options to delete Folders (CD's) or Files (songs).

samkimg

I found it easier to just get an older iPod with your tunes and pop it into the connector in the glovebox. Better control and no loading hassles. And, when I get more music in my iTunes library, a quick sync and my iPod is up-to-speed ... I've given up on the 10G in my v4 COMAND ... I remain VERY disappointed in the MB technology solutions.

listerone

The design of the Comand system (at least when loading MP3's onto the hard drive) is very poor when compared to my BMW *without* the premium radio.