MDI niggles

[Redman]

After driving for 1.5 hours yesterday, it skipped once or twice at the start of a few songs, but it is MUCH better that the previous version.
I also had a problem where it would not recognise my iPod when plugged in and I would have to turn the radio off, turn the car off, turn everything back on again and then plug the iPod in to get it to work. This would p*** me off to no end - it seems to be more stable now.

[Maverick]

After driving for 1.5 hours yesterday, it skipped once or twice at the start of a few songs, but it is MUCH better that the previous version.
I also had a problem where it would not recognise my iPod when plugged in and I would have to turn the radio off, turn the car off, turn everything back on again and then plug the iPod in to get it to work. This would p*** me off to no end - it seems to be more stable now.

Talk about extreme when all you had to do was unplug the icrud and plug it back in again. This is a documented issue with some versions of icrud firmware.

[Maverick]

To be honest i'm not sure it might be a newer version as it was just posted 2-3 days ago.

If you updated it from my site in the last few weeks it was the newer version. I've gotten around to creating a new page for the new version now along with the release info.

Volkswagen Media Device Interface (MDI) Firmware Upgrade 0111 KW22-2010

[G-rig]

Talk about extreme when all you had to do was unplug the icrud and plug it back in again. This is a documented issue with some versions of icrud firmware.

Well it's ovbiously the VW firmware issue if they are able to issue a new one and it works, just like the original version worked with my previous MDI unit. Sounds like the firmware update before this one wasn't tested enough.

If you updated it from my site in the last few weeks it was the newer version. I've gotten around to creating a new page for the new version now along with the release info.

Volkswagen Media Device Interface (MDI) Firmware Upgrade 0111 KW22-2010

I think this is a brand new one, i already had the other one as the update didn't do anything nor did it fix anything..

(The file size is different too).

[Maverick]

Well it's ovbiously the VW firmware issue if they are able to issue a new one and it works, just like the original version worked with my previous MDI unit. Sounds like the firmware update before this one wasn't tested enough.

The problems lies with the version of firmware on the ipod, Volkswagen have had to release a workaround because some versions don't operate as per the apple specification (this problem still exists with some versions - see the release notes). Volkswagen test the latest releases of firmware at the time so if someone is using a newer version or an older version of firmware on their icrud/iturd there may be problems with the operation. You can't blame Volkswagen for what is Apple's fault in not following their own specifications for the control of the icrud/iturd.

Not to mention that icrud/iturd is only one part of the mdi and they have to cater for usb devices as well but at least usb storage generally follows the specifications and there are no real problems there and apple fanbois are very vocal in their complaints when things don't go their way

I think this is a brand new one, i already had the other one as the update didn't do anything nor did it fix anything..

(The file size is different too).

This is a new one but it was available on the old firmware page for the last few weeks so if you downloaded it in that time it was the latest version. Before that it was version from last year. I've gotten around to creating the new page, translating the release notes and renaming files to avoid confusion.

[G-rig]

Re: MDI niggles

You wouldn't think there would be too many updated or changes with the iPod/iPhone firmware as they are pretty simple in operation.

Also wouldn't think there is too much different with versions of iPod but perhaps there is. Anyway most other accessories work fine.

[Karlosovic]

You wouldn't think there would be too many updated or changes with the iPod/iPhone firmware as they are pretty simple in operation.

My iPod Classic suffers complete and total system lock-ups pretty often for a sealed unit with only 5 buttons and zero third party software. As i think I may have mentioned... at these times all I can do is wait for the battery to run flat for it to reboot itself. So much for 'Mac reliability'
It also seems to want to update the software every second time I plug it into iTunes (although I'll grant that those occasions are few and far between, given how much I hate using iTunes)

[elephino]

I've only had 1 issue so far with MDI - no sound. Only happened once and fixed by unplug, replug of the iphone.

[AdamD]

My iPod Classic suffers complete and total system lock-ups pretty often for a sealed unit with only 5 buttons and zero third party software. As i think I may have mentioned... at these times all I can do is wait for the battery to run flat for it to reboot itself. So much for 'Mac reliability'.

I have a 6.5 gen classic and it used to lock up plenty when connected to my previous car's iPod controller. It would often become confused that headphones weren't present, and stubbornly refuse to play. Pressing buttons to try to get it to play would only result in lock-ups. The only fix is a hard reboot, followed by connecting the iPod to headphones and playing it before connecting to the iPod controller.

There is a hardware reboot you can perform if your iPod locks up - it's better than waiting for the battery to run flat! See How to reset iPod.

[Frankenstrat]

Frankenstrat, please let us know how you go with the playlists. I'd like to know which program you use to create the playlist, and the playlist format you use, and how that goes with the MDI.

I created a subdirectory on the USB-drive that I named MP3s and dragged all of the MP3s from the root directory into that sub-directory. You may also know sub-directories as Folders.

I opened Windows Media Player (WMP) and dragged a handful of MP3s at random from the MP3s directory into WMP. I then created a Playlist by clicking on Save Now Playing List As… and pointed to the root directory of the USB-drive and saved it as Golf Music Vol1.M3U

Having created the Playlist, I opened it in a text editor, and found that it’s a simple text file:

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:0,Life No 9.mp3
MP3s\Life No 9.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Into The Night.mp3
MP3s\Into The Night.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Tough Kitty.mp3
MP3s\Tough Kitty.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Hit It.mp3
MP3s\Hit It.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Something In The Engine.mp3
MP3s\Something In The Engine.mp3

#EXTINF:0,When I Am Out With You.mp3
MP3s\When I Am Out With You.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Bad Sickness.mp3
MP3s\Bad Sickness.mp3

So it would be easy to create one using a text editor, there’s no need to do using an MP3 player, but you must remember to save it as a text file then rename it Filename.M3U

A couple of points worth noting, in the line #EXTINF:0,Title.mp3 there is no gap between the comma and the first letter of the MP3 title. The second line points to the location of the MP3, in the example shown above they’re located in the subdirectory MP3s\

When I plugged in the USB-drive and selected Media it found the MP3s in the subdirectory and started playing them in alphabetical order. To get the Playlist to fire up I did the following:

Press the [MEDIA] button, which finds the MP3s
On the MDI screen under the word BROWSE press the [-] button
Under the word UP press the [-] button
Press the <FOLDER> button at the RH end, which should display the Playlist name
Under the word OPEN press the [-] button

The MP3s will then play in sequential order as listed in the Playlist.

[Corey_R]

Cheers mate. That's the way things should work, as I expected. Thanks for confirming

[MFK_MK6]

I created a subdirectory on the USB-drive that I named MP3s and dragged all of the MP3s from the root directory into that sub-directory. You may also know sub-directories as Folders.

I opened Windows Media Player (WMP) and dragged a handful of MP3s at random from the MP3s directory into WMP. I then created a Playlist by clicking on Save Now Playing List As… and pointed to the root directory of the USB-drive and saved it as Golf Music Vol1.M3U

Having created the Playlist, I opened it in a text editor, and found that it’s a simple text file:

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:0,Life No 9.mp3
MP3s\Life No 9.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Into The Night.mp3
MP3s\Into The Night.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Tough Kitty.mp3
MP3s\Tough Kitty.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Hit It.mp3
MP3s\Hit It.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Something In The Engine.mp3
MP3s\Something In The Engine.mp3

#EXTINF:0,When I Am Out With You.mp3
MP3s\When I Am Out With You.mp3

#EXTINF:0,Bad Sickness.mp3
MP3s\Bad Sickness.mp3

So it would be easy to create one using a text editor, there’s no need to do using an MP3 player, but you must remember to save it as a text file then rename it Filename.M3U

A couple of points worth noting, in the line #EXTINF:0,Title.mp3 there is no gap between the comma and the first letter of the MP3 title. The second line points to the location of the MP3, in the example shown above they’re located in the subdirectory MP3s\

When I plugged in the USB-drive and selected Media it found the MP3s in the subdirectory and started playing them in alphabetical order. To get the Playlist to fire up I did the following:

Press the [MEDIA] button, which finds the MP3s
On the MDI screen under the word BROWSE press the [-] button
Under the word UP press the [-] button
Press the <FOLDER> button at the RH end, which should display the Playlist name
Under the word OPEN press the [-] button

The MP3s will then play in sequential order as listed in the Playlist.

What if you moved the playlist file into the same dir as the mp3s (modifying the playlist entry and removing the "mp3s" song directory structure) and renaming the playlist file to something like "_name_of_playlist.m3u". If you were to then select media, the mp3 folder would appear and the playlist file would be the first item and you could select it straight away?

[G-rig]

That all looks pretty complicated. My Foobar playlists (still M3U) just have each file name and that's it. That's with them in the same directory, in the case of an album playlist.

Anyway as much as i hate itunes, it woud be easier using it with an ipod to create your playlists. The way i see it is USB is good for dumping a few albums on but not so much for playlist management.

[Corey_R]

Very true G-rig!
M3U was introduced many years back by Winamp. The ONLY requirement is the list of files (path\song.mp3), one per line.
However, they expanded it afterward to include the "#EXTM3U" information, which is usually in the format of: #EXTINF - extra info - length (seconds), artist '-' title

But it REAAAAAALLY isn't needed. Especially if your files are tagged correctly, as any good collection should be
In any case - you'd have to be pretty desperate to be creating your playlists manually in a text editor, just use one of the many audio programs (not iTunes though... that's a resource hungry pig which leaves several programs permanently running in memory even after you've stopped using it!!)

[G-rig]

I agree Coreying, itunes hogs a lot of resources and would prefer not to have it installed, but putting up with it while I have an iphone and for the car kit.
Will love the day that FLAC becomes properly adopted in head units..

It's definitely worth cleaing up your library and tagging properly. As i mentioned before there are various tag & rename programs that help a lot, and the one i use generates a m3u playlist, md5 checksum, nfo file and renames the files in the same format with one album in each folder, ie Artist-Album-Year. It may take a while but good to put a lot of thought into it before deciding on a format and ripping your cd collection. Did it once as MP3 then again properly using FLAC. That way i can convert albums to any format i want using dBpowerAMP music converter.

I used to use winamp but seemed to freeze up on this pc (not the latest hardware) and find Foobar much less hungry and very responsive. Both can create and save playlists easily, I'm running a very minimalistic skin shown below .