Music Box and mp3

[brainguyus]

Hi everybody! New guy here......

I just bought an 09 Murano last Saturday. It has the Nav System with Music Box. From what I read, you cannot rip mp3 files directly from cd into music box.

I burned a standard data cd with eleven mp3 files in the root directory just to see how the playback sounds. To my surprise all the mp3 files were loaded into music box?!?! I can't seem to find how I did this? (Everything is still new to me and I'm in the "fiddling" stage so I don't remember exactly what and if I did anything differently). I haven't been able to duplicate this with another cd.

The section of the manual for this is poorly written. Are mp3 files indeed supported?

[Timmbo]

Well first and foremost, welcome to NICOclub! I am really glad you joined us! Hope you enjoy the site and the forum.

I have yet to try ripping a CD with MP3's on it to the Music Box. At the very least you must have hit the record button. I suppose that since you had them on a CD, I guess it might be possible to rip the MP3's right to the Music Box. I have ripped many CD's (of music) to the Music Box. I also have a 2GB Compact Flash Card. Just so you know, DO NOT use a card larger than 2GB because the files literally get "lost" and the songs will not show up.

[brainguyus]

Thank You Timmbo! I'm looking forward to hanging out.I've had (at least) eight different Nissans since 1990 and I loved every one of them! I hope I can make a positive contribution.

From everything I've read from snippets elsewhere on this board and in the manual ripping mp3 files to music box from cd is not possible. Yet somehow I have managed to do just that.

I burned another mp3 cd with files arranged by album in subfolders and I could not get them into music box. I think it may have something to do with having the files in the root directory of the cd rather than in a sub-folder since the one that music box did copy had all files in root. I'll try to burn another in a similar fashion and post my results if successful.

If there's a way I'm determined to find it. Of course, I may just be having a severe brain fart and passed over the page in the manual titled "Copying MP3 Files From CD"

[martinrrrr]

Hey Brainguys, you can as you discovered rip MP3s from a CD to the Music Box, why else would it be there. When you insert a CD into the slot and the display switches over to show the info be played you will see a little button in the lower left corner, I think, the says Rec. Also, there is an option in the settings somewhere that will automatically rip your CD to the Music Box when ever you place a CD in the slot. It will not re-record an existing CD onto the music box. I have not played with it that much but I did change the setting option to automatically rip MP3s to the Music Box and it works well. It will rip an entire CD in about 15 minutes or so. That part is not obvious because it might be playing song 5 of 12 while in the background it has just finished ripping the whole CD. Also, you can listen to the radio, satellite or something else while the ripping takes place in the background. I wish the NISSAN had made it possible to interface with the Music Box by way of a laptop.

[brainguyus]

Ok.....everyone here gets to call me an *** on this one (I can take it...my wife does it all the time.)

After burning and trying mp3 cds in all kinds of different ISO formats for testing I took another look at the original cd I used that went to music box. Looking at the files this time I noticed the .cda extension which means that this was indeed an audio cd!! I would have sworn I burned this as a data cd?!?!

Apologies to anyone who may have gotten their hopes up reading this thread. On the plus side I have plenty of bright shiny new coasters!

[brainguyus]

martinrrrr,

You and I must have been posting at the same time....

From everything I found you can only rip audio cds into music box (Those with .cda extensions). I messed with this for some time yesterday and could not get .mp3 files to load. If there's a way I sure would like to find out.

Regarding the laptop option: I wonder if there's a way you could use a USB to CF adapter to inferface your laptop into the stereo? I imagine a particular driver might be required so your laptop can emulate a 2Gb CF card. I don't see why it wouldn't work. If the owners manual is correct though you are still restricted to .mp3 files. Even if you could use audio files you can't store raw audio (.cda) files on a computer hard drive.

I'm going to buy a CF card and reader later today. If I can find a USB to CF adapter I may just pick that up as well. It might be fun to mess around with this.

[Timmbo]

Ok.....everyone here gets to call me an *** on this one (I can take it...my wife does it all the time.)

After burning and trying mp3 cds in all kinds of different ISO formats for testing I took another look at the original cd I used that went to music box. Looking at the files this time I noticed the .cda extension which means that this was indeed an audio cd!! I would have sworn I burned this as a data cd?!?!

Apologies to anyone who may have gotten their hopes up reading this thread. On the plus side I have plenty of bright shiny new coasters!

No harm done my friend! Thanks for the feedback, we all REALLY appreciate it!

[wired4wealth]

I have a few questions for you. I just leased a 09 Murano SL and i have a lot of questions. I have the nav system with the music box and dual moon roofs. I wanted to know is thre anyway to use my ipod with this set up other than plugging into the cig lighter outlet and going through FM transmitter? I was considering just getting the murano without the nav and music box package and just using my own ipod because it would be easier to just change the music without recording into the hard drive, but I already leased it so I have to live with it. Can you explain my options because the salesman has no idea what a cfc is nor how to work it. i also wanted to see what the dvd hook ups on the back of the console can be used for.

Thanks,JC

[silverMO]

You can use the connectors on the back of the console to connect your ipod. There are cables that connect either the headphone port or, the better choice, the digital connector on the ipod. I found a connector on Amazon for about $5 that works great and auto winds itself when not needed. The sound is amazing! Much better than the FM transmitter option. It does have the yellow video connector, but it isn't needed for sound.

Here is the link for the cable I bought:

http://www.amazon.com/Retracta...=1-28

[wired4wealth]

thanks for the info and the link. Now does this play through the nav screen or do you have to use the Ipod manually to change songs, etc. Does your model have the music box? if so; what is your take on it?

Thanks,JC

[silverMO]

You will need to control the music with the iPod.

I do not have the music box, so I can't give an opinion. I hope you enjoy your Murano as much as we do.

I have an 09 SL AWD with Leather, Technology and Premium packages. We didn't need the navigation system or the moonroof.

[Timmbo]

The music box is sweet! I love it, it is a fantastic feature!

[jsantivanez]

OK, I'm not sold on the MusicBox feature. Seems like a terribly inefficient way to rip & listen. The only bright side I've found so far after fooling around with it for the past couple of days is that it rips faster than real time. Bonus! Was this a technology Nissan got on the cheap or something? Also, what's with the 2GB max on the SD cards?

I guess I'll eventually get used to it - even though I've spent the past 6 months getting rid of all my CDs since they're practically of no use to me with an iPod, home media server, etc.

I do have one question for anyone out there: can we play all the songs in Music Box with some kind of shuffle feature? That is, instead of album by album, artist by artist, or by those ridiculous 4 categories that seemingly we cannot change...

Slightly frustrated.

[Timmbo]

OK, I'm not sold on the MusicBox feature. Seems like a terribly inefficient way to rip & listen. The only bright side I've found so far after fooling around with it for the past couple of days is that it rips faster than real time. Bonus! Was this a technology Nissan got on the cheap or something? Also, what's with the 2GB max on the SD cards?

I guess I'll eventually get used to it - even though I've spent the past 6 months getting rid of all my CDs since they're practically of no use to me with an iPod, home media server, etc.

I do have one question for anyone out there: can we play all the songs in Music Box with some kind of shuffle feature? That is, instead of album by album, artist by artist, or by those ridiculous 4 categories that seemingly we cannot change...

Slightly frustrated.

Hello and welcome to NICOclub! Why aren't you in the Armada/QX56 Forum? I moderate that Forum as well, that is why I ask. I would love to have you over there as well.

When you think about it, the Music Box feature is pretty cool. Not many automobiles have such a feature, and it is way better than using CD's. On top of it, you can can use the Compact Flash Card for MP3's. Yes, you really can only use a 2GB card (otherwise some songs get "lost"), but it is truly better then not having it at all. You can also connect your iPod or MP3 player to the stereo as well.

Yes, there is a shuffle feature, towards the bottom left of the screen you will see something that says "All Playlist RPT"......hit the "SCAN/RPT" over towards the right (keep in mind this is where the button is on the Armada, not the Murano).......by pressing the button you will see "All Playlist RPT" change through several different options, one being an All Track Random. I know the '09 Murano has this button as well, just located in a different spot.

Enjoy the new Armada, do you have the Navigation and DVD player? If so, be sure to check out the thread in the Armada Forum on how to have your front Nav screen play the DVD video while the vehicle is in motion!

[jsantivanez]

Timmbo,

Thanks for the warm welcome. This is actually my 2nd Armada, I had a '95 that just came off lease. With all the interior upgrades on the 08's & 09's, I had to pull the trigger again. Bought this one, though. I will post pics of the factory 20" chrome rims that come as part of the "technology" package (a bit odd) - per your request. Give me a day or 2.

I guess the Music Box isn't all that bad. I actually found the random/shuffle play tip on another board today; which by the way, seems to work fine except that the system bounces back to the repeat function without any notice - so users beware! I've ripped about 200 songs already, just by driving back and forth to places I normally travel. You can get an entire 10-12 track CD ripped in about 10 minuites I'd say; then erase all the songs you don't want while sitting at a red light waiting to change. The categories the truck comes with stock are just absurd, though...surely they could've given us some other options - - at least let us put our own categories in there... I'll learn to live with it and love it I'm sure - like you say, there aren't many other comparisons out there.

[CTUFEDERATION]

Is there a way that I could connect a laptop to the music box of an 09 Nissan Murano?

[CTUFEDERATION]

martinrrrr,

You and I must have been posting at the same time....

From everything I found you can only rip audio cds into music box (Those with .cda extensions). I messed with this for some time yesterday and could not get .mp3 files to load. If there's a way I sure would like to find out.

Regarding the laptop option: I wonder if there's a way you could use a USB to CF adapter to inferface your laptop into the stereo? I imagine a particular driver might be required so your laptop can emulate a 2Gb CF card. I don't see why it wouldn't work. If the owners manual is correct though you are still restricted to .mp3 files. Even if you could use audio files you can't store raw audio (.cda) files on a computer hard drive.

I'm going to buy a CF card and reader later today. If I can find a USB to CF adapter I may just pick that up as well. It might be fun to mess around with this.

Are you saying that there is no way to connect a laptop to the Murano, or is this the best way to connect. If this is possible, how is it done?

[Timmbo]

Is there a way that I could connect a laptop to the music box of an 09 Nissan Murano?

Welcome to NICOclub! Glad to have you as a member of the Murano Forum!

I received your e-mail as well, I am going to answer here so all can benefit.

Your original question you e-mailed me was: "My parents own a 2009 Nissan Murano and I was wondering if you know of a way to connect a laptop to the MusicBox hard drive to extract the cds that don't have track names so that I can name them myself."

YES! You can! Sort of, click on the link below for detailed instructions!

http://www.nissanusa.com/gracenote/

[CTUFEDERATION]

Thanks... I will try that. The next question is if this program that I found through the site doesn't still find all of my tracks, what can I do next?

[Timmbo]

Thanks... I will try that. The next question is if this program that I found through the site doesn't still find all of my tracks, what can I do next?

Then what you would do is delete the tracks from your hard drive, take your CD's and burn them to your computer using Windows Media Player, then save them to your "library" on WMP, and re-burn the tracks to a black CD MAKING SURE TO HAVE THE CD TEXT OPTION ENABLED!!!!!! You will be able to manually type in the song name for each song before you burn the new disc. Does that all make sense??????????

[CTUFEDERATION]

Then what you would do is delete the tracks from your hard drive, take your CD's and burn them to your computer using Windows Media Player, then save them to your "library" on WMP, and re-burn the tracks to a black CD MAKING SURE TO HAVE THE CD TEXT OPTION ENABLED!!!!!! You will be able to manually type in the song name for each song before you burn the new disc. Does that all make sense??????????

Sure does... thanks