SL/R231: Best way to import MP3s to the Music Register HD?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 155
Likes: 12
From: San Francisco
2015 S550 Coupe
Best way to import MP3s to the Music Register HD?
I've looked in both the Operator's and COMAND manuals but can't figure out how to import music onto the Music Register (hard drive) other than by ripping one music CD at a time. Most of my music is already in MP3 or AAC format so I'd like to just copy these MP3 files onto the 10GB HD device.
I tried creating both data CDs and data DVDs with MP3 files and they work great in the changer (a lot of MP3s fit on one DVD so that's an easy way to make a lot of music available). But when these data discs are playing there is no REC option on the menu at the bottom of the screen like there is when a music CD is playing (the REC option will rip the current music CD onto the HD).
I also tried putting a folder of MP3s on a USB device and plugging it in -- Again, they play fine but there's no option to import/copy those MP3s to the HD. And same for an SD card with MP3s or AACs on it.
So does anyone know of a way to get MP3s onto the Music Register? Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to keep DVDs with my MP3 collection in the changer.
I tried creating both data CDs and data DVDs with MP3 files and they work great in the changer (a lot of MP3s fit on one DVD so that's an easy way to make a lot of music available). But when these data discs are playing there is no REC option on the menu at the bottom of the screen like there is when a music CD is playing (the REC option will rip the current music CD onto the HD).
I also tried putting a folder of MP3s on a USB device and plugging it in -- Again, they play fine but there's no option to import/copy those MP3s to the HD. And same for an SD card with MP3s or AACs on it.
So does anyone know of a way to get MP3s onto the Music Register? Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to keep DVDs with my MP3 collection in the changer.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 155
Likes: 12
From: San Francisco
2015 S550 Coupe
US cars are restricted to ripping CDs to the HD
OK, I did what I should've done initially and searched for general Mercedes music register import instructions. I discovered that for legal reasons in the US they only allow ripping of CDs to the Music Register (i.e. they removed the other import options). See this MBWorld posting: https://mbworld.org/forums/new-m-cla...-question.html
Bummer.
Bummer.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
MB E350 COUPE
OK, I did what I should've done initially and searched for general Mercedes music register import instructions. I discovered that for legal reasons in the US they only allow ripping of CDs to the Music Register (i.e. they removed the other import options). See this MBWorld posting: https://mbworld.org/forums/new-m-cla...-question.html
Bummer.
Bummer.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 155
Likes: 12
From: San Francisco
2015 S550 Coupe
Use an SD card
No, there is no good way to get MP3s onto the hard drive. The workaround of converting digital to analog (i.e. music CD) and then ripping it back to digital is not optimal and also takes a long time to accomplish.
What I did instead is put my MP3s onto an SD card and just leave that in the car. It turns out that this method is superior to using the hard drive anyway, because you can easily & cheaply get larger SD cards than 20GB. And comparing the SD card to the few CDs that I did rip to the drive, the SD card random access is faster than the hard drive so the startup time to read the metadata for a large music library takes less time.
What I did instead is put my MP3s onto an SD card and just leave that in the car. It turns out that this method is superior to using the hard drive anyway, because you can easily & cheaply get larger SD cards than 20GB. And comparing the SD card to the few CDs that I did rip to the drive, the SD card random access is faster than the hard drive so the startup time to read the metadata for a large music library takes less time.
Last edited by mikey94025; Dec 15, 2012 at 01:38 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 521
From: Hagerstown MD
2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
I am resurrecting this old thread as I am having the same issue in my 2015 SL. Put all my music on an SD card and on a USB stick. Cannot figure out how to load either onto the hard drive in the car. Is it still the situation that the only way to add music is to copy CDs?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
I am resurrecting this old thread as I am having the same issue in my 2015 SL. Put all my music on an SD card and on a USB stick. Cannot figure out how to load either onto the hard drive in the car. Is it still the situation that the only way to add music is to copy CDs?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 521
From: Hagerstown MD
2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
Switched to using an SD card. This frees up the USB port in the armrest for my mobile phone. Transferred over 12GB of MP3 files from itunes to a 16GB SD card. I can search by album and bring up whatever album I choose to play.
I think there is a way to import playlists but decided it isn't worth the trouble. All is well.
I think there is a way to import playlists but decided it isn't worth the trouble. All is well.
