Issues with RNS510 and MP4 playback

[Edcase]

 I've just had a version C unit fitted by Darren - fantastic guy and fantastic system!

 however, I was hoping it would be my digital music saviour what with the hard drive, so I don't have to go to the hassle and the mess of plumbing in an ipod.

 however, a couple of issues I am coming up against which look like this is not going to be the case:

1/ although the hard drive is 30 GB I'm actually only seeing 18 GB. I'm assuming this is because I have the GPS maps loaded onto the hard drive?

2/ however the bigger problem is a significant amount of my music collection is in m4a format. given that none of the songs in that format seemed to play on the system today I'm also guessing that it doesn't support it. if that is indeed the case, has anyone tried converting m4a to mp3 like this: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/32096

 thanks
Ed

[markfive]

Yep, 18Gb available for music storage - the RNS510 disk layout ringfences 12Gb for GPS maps and operating system files (I think the split is 10+2), with the remainder of the disk available for music storage. MP3 and WMA are the only supported formats.

If memory serves, iTunes does make the M4A -> MP3 conversion fairly straightforwards - the instructions you linked to looked right - but there are other (free) utilities that will do this, such as this one. In any case, if you want to preserve as much of the quality as possible you need to match the bitrates from the input file to the output file.

Cheers, Mark.

[Lyons]

I had to convert all my songs from MP4 and AAC to MP3 when i got my RNS too. I used these instructions;

http://askbobrankin.com/convert_itunes_to_mp3_format.html

[Edcase]

thanks!

[Saint Steve]

Yep, 18Gb available for music storage - the RNS510 disk layout ringfences 12Gb for GPS maps and operating system files (I think the split is 10+2), with the remainder of the disk available for music storage. MP3 and WMA are the only supported formats.

If memory serves, iTunes does make the M4A -> MP3 conversion fairly straightforwards - the instructions you linked to looked right - but there are other (free) utilities that will do this, such as this one. In any case, if you want to preserve as much of the quality as possible you need to match the bitrates from the input file to the output file.

Cheers, Mark.

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's

[Hedge]

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's

Oh yes they do but they have to be low bit rate and non-DRM.

[Saint Steve]

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's

Oh yes they do but they have to be low bit rate and non-DRM.

In other words, no dont bother with wma's unless your happy with poor quality sound

[Hedge]

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's

Oh yes they do but they have to be low bit rate and non-DRM.

In other words, no dont bother with wma's unless your happy with poor quality sound

Actually not just non-DRM.
www.vwcruise.com/resources/RNS$2B510$2BUser$2BManual.pdf

[Britishlion]

Can the RNS play MP4 movies from SD Card ! ???

[gtlee]

I don't think it can Britishlion.

[LouCyffer]

[/quote]

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's
[/quote]

Well, I had no issues with wma files playing on my 510. Until the dealer updated the firmware last week, and now it won't touch em. So I use a free utility called Switch Sound File converter to convert them to mp3. Doesn't take long

[cameluk]

Can the RNS play MP4 movies from SD Card ! ???

You can't play movies from either the SD card or the MDI, just the DVD drive and they need to be in DVD format

[Hedge]

WMA's dont play on the Rns aswell. Only Mp3's

Well, I had no issues with wma files playing on my 510. Until the dealer updated the firmware last week, and now it won't touch em. So I use a free utility called Switch Sound File converter to convert them to mp3. Doesn't take long

Do you know what version firmware you have?

[LouCyffer]

Not sure without checking the tech bulletin when I get home. It's the latest version apparently. I went in as I got a loud buzz from the rear speakers when I unlocked the car, and couldn't stop it without disconnecting the battery. Dealer said it was a firmware known fault.

[LouCyffer]

Software update 1200/1202 of update cd K00.5001.27.99