Apple Lossless

JReed · 09-08-2011, 08:34 AM

Has anyone been able to play Apple Lossless files through the armrest USB port on a hard drive? Tried doing it this morning on a thumb drive, but only got the "File Cannot Be Played" message. Not sure if the system just can't handle Apple Lossless format or if there's something else that I'm not doing correctly...

thanks

walendvay · 09-08-2011, 12:03 PM

I have various formats of music and I found some of my higher bit-rate tunes wouldn't play. I haven't dug deeper to find out which will and will not play.

On a side note, I have an older ipod nano that wouldn't work with the USB cable. It said "device not supported" I took a gamble and purchased the latest generation BMW Y cable....and it works!

On my small ipod nano, space is limited, so I have all of my music at the 128 bit rate.

If I dig deeper and learn more, I'll post.

Good luck.

sfax · 09-08-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JReed

Has anyone been able to play Apple Lossless files through the armrest USB port on a hard drive? Tried doing it this morning on a thumb drive, but only got the "File Cannot Be Played" message. Not sure if the system just can't handle Apple Lossless format or if there's something else that I'm not doing correctly...

thanks

mp4 (.m4a) files are not supported

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=14

Swisschrigi · 09-09-2011, 03:49 AM

Audio files
Standard audio files can be played back:
▷ MP3.
▷ WMA.
▷ WAV (PCM).
▷ AAC*, M4A*.
▷ Playback lists: M3U, WPL*, PLS*.

But the list above shows exactly that M4A is supported!!

sfax · 09-09-2011, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swisschrigi

Audio files
Standard audio files can be played back:
▷ MP3.
▷ WMA.
▷ WAV (PCM).
▷ AAC*, M4A*.
▷ Playback lists: M3U, WPL*, PLS*.

But the list above shows exactly that M4A is supported!!

My bad. I looked for mp4 which isn't listed but they have listed the file extension M4A, albeit with an asterisk.

I still think lossless isn't compatible and that this M4A refers only to AAC audio encoding, not lossless. Apple uses the .m4a extension for two different file formats as described on wiki:

Quote:

Apple Lossless data is stored within an MP4 container with the filename extension .m4a – this extension is also used by Apple for AAC audio data in an MP4 container (same container, different audio encoding). However, Apple Lossless is not a variant of AAC (which is a lossy format), but rather a distinct lossless format that uses linear prediction similar to other lossless codecs such as FLAC and Shorten.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_...ame_extensions

Swisschrigi · 09-09-2011, 07:15 AM

WAV is also lossless and is supported aswell.
And AAC has nothing to do with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)

I hope heavily that in my ordered X3 I will be able to playback all
my ALAC which are all in M4a....

sfax · 09-09-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swisschrigi

And AAC has nothing to do with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)

If you read the wiki page again (carefully) you will see that both AAC and ALAC can exist in an .m4a container and as the X3 only lists M4A this doesn't necessarily imply it will support AAC and ALAC. In fact the OP says that ALAC doesn't work.

wav is usually lossless but can also contain compressed data. You might find the same problem with lossless wav

Swisschrigi · 09-09-2011, 07:56 AM

ok, agree!

sfax · 09-09-2011, 07:58 AM

I'll try a lossless wav and mp4 tonight and let you know in the interests of science

Penso di no · 09-09-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfax

I'll try a lossless wav and mp4 tonight and let you know in the interests of science

WAV should work.

sfax · 09-09-2011, 03:10 PM

As promised, here are the results of ripping a track (5 mins 37s) to 7 different file formats and then copying to a USB flash drive and trying to play it on iDrive. In summary: Apple lossless doesn't work but wav lossless and wma lossless are both OK, as are high bit rate mp3s.

VikingOne · 09-09-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfax

As promised, here are the results of ripping a track (5 mins 37s) to 7 different file formats and then copying to a USB flash drive and trying to play it on iDrive. In summary: Apple lossless doesn't work but wav lossless and wma lossless are both OK, as are high bit rate mp3s.

Nice work.

Swisschrigi · 09-10-2011, 02:34 AM

Thanks for the test!!
It's really a pitty that Apple lossless doesn't work.
(all my around 700 cd's are in this format) snif...

sfax · 09-10-2011, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swisschrigi

Thanks for the test!!
It's really a pitty that Apple lossless doesn't work.
(all my around 700 cd's are in this format) snif...

Yeah, although it's a lot of work to convert them to something like mp3 240 or 320, you're better off using this format in the car IMO. You'd be very unlikely to be able to tell the difference between 320 and lossless even with a really top quality amp/speaker setup in a car and crucially you'd easily be able to fit your entire collection on a 32/64GB USB flash drive and have the lot accessible to you in the car. 700 CDs ripped to Apple lossless must be about 200GB so you'd need a bigger USB drive and it wouldn't be solid state either. And it's quicker to copy and to index and access as there is much less data to handle

Swisschrigi · 09-10-2011, 04:06 AM

I used to have all in MP3 320 kBit/s and I all imported them again in Apple lossless cause music is my hobby and I got quite a good high-end system at home.

Let's hope there will be perhaps a software update until I will get mine.... :-)

mexxdude · 09-10-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfax

As promised, here are the results of ripping a track (5 mins 37s) to 7 different file formats and then copying to a USB flash drive and trying to play it on iDrive. In summary: Apple lossless doesn't work but wav lossless and wma lossless are both OK, as are high bit rate mp3s.

You can't play m4a files? That's interesting because mine play with no problem. The only files that don't play are m4p's, which can be converted into m4a using the iTune Plus service in iTune.

sfax · 09-10-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexxdude

You can't play m4a files? That's weird because mine play with no problem. The only files that don't play are m4p, which can be converted into m4a using the iTune Plus service in iTune.

It depends what encoding your m4a files are using. m4a is simply a container for two completely different types of encoding (AAC and Apple Lossless) as explained above.

If you can insert a CD and then use iTunes and select Import Settings, Import Using: Apple Lossless Encoder and then select Advanced - Create Apple Lossless Version, and use the file you have just created in iDrive, please let us know because it definitely doesn't work for me, whereas doing the same thing in iTunes but instead creating mp3, AAC, wav all work OK

sparoz · 09-10-2011, 10:04 PM

Applelossless won't work

... You have to use an iPod to play in the car. We had a thread on 1addicts ICE sub forum looking at this. Will post link once I get to my laptop.

sfax · 09-11-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparoz

Applelossless won't work

... You have to use an iPod to play in the car. We had a thread on 1addicts ICE sub forum looking at this. Will post link once I get to my laptop.

Didn't think it would. If you could post that link it would be appreciated, cheers

sparoz · 09-12-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfax

Didn't think it would. If you could post that link it would be appreciated, cheers

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=580087

sfax · 09-12-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparoz

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=580087

Cheers. Interesting read.

+1 for Godskitchen Resurrection. Had some good nights at CODE in my slighter younger years

JordanWindebank · 09-20-2011, 01:51 AM

Thanks for all of the info everyone, it is appreciated. I am only now starting to look at how to get my music collection in to the car and I was sad to hear my FLAC files wouldn't work and now can confirm that converting them to lossless AAC also does not work.

Is MP3 the best bet? Anyone have any suggestions for what they are using? I will be running of a USB key.

09-08-2011, 08:34 AM	#1
JReed New Member 7 Rep 23 Posts Drives: Alpine White X3 35i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: New York, NY iTrader: (0)	Apple Lossless Has anyone been able to play Apple Lossless files through the armrest USB port on a hard drive? Tried doing it this morning on a thumb drive, but only got the "File Cannot Be Played" message. Not sure if the system just can't handle Apple Lossless format or if there's something else that I'm not doing correctly... thanks
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09-08-2011, 12:03 PM	#2
walendvay First Lieutenant 52 Rep 343 Posts Drives: '11 F25 28i; '13 E84 35i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific NW iTrader: (0)	I have various formats of music and I found some of my higher bit-rate tunes wouldn't play. I haven't dug deeper to find out which will and will not play. On a side note, I have an older ipod nano that wouldn't work with the USB cable. It said "device not supported" I took a gamble and purchased the latest generation BMW Y cable....and it works! On my small ipod nano, space is limited, so I have all of my music at the 128 bit rate. If I dig deeper and learn more, I'll post. Good luck.
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09-09-2011, 03:49 AM	#4
Swisschrigi New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X3 35d (F25) ordered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Audio files Standard audio files can be played back: ▷ MP3. ▷ WMA. ▷ WAV (PCM). ▷ AAC, M4A. ▷ Playback lists: M3U, WPL, PLS. But the list above shows exactly that M4A is supported!!
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09-09-2011, 07:15 AM	#6
Swisschrigi New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X3 35d (F25) ordered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	WAV is also lossless and is supported aswell. And AAC has nothing to do with ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) I hope heavily that in my ordered X3 I will be able to playback all my ALAC which are all in M4a....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-09-2011, 07:56 AM	#8
Swisschrigi New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X3 35d (F25) ordered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	ok, agree!
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09-09-2011, 07:58 AM	#9
sfax Brigadier General 91 Rep 3,855 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2011 F25 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berkshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I'll try a lossless wav and mp4 tonight and let you know in the interests of science __________________ F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package \| dynamic package \| climate package \| 309s \| xline \| xenons \| electric seats \| folding mirrors \| business speakers
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09-09-2011, 03:10 PM	#11
sfax Brigadier General 91 Rep 3,855 Posts Drives: BMW X3 2011 F25 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Berkshire, UK iTrader: (0)	As promised, here are the results of ripping a track (5 mins 37s) to 7 different file formats and then copying to a USB flash drive and trying to play it on iDrive. In summary: Apple lossless doesn't work but wav lossless and wma lossless are both OK, as are high bit rate mp3s. __________________ F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package \| dynamic package \| climate package \| 309s \| xline \| xenons \| electric seats \| folding mirrors \| business speakers
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09-10-2011, 02:34 AM	#13
Swisschrigi New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X3 35d (F25) ordered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the test!! It's really a pitty that Apple lossless doesn't work. (all my around 700 cd's are in this format) snif...
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09-10-2011, 04:06 AM	#15
Swisschrigi New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: X3 35d (F25) ordered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	I used to have all in MP3 320 kBit/s and I all imported them again in Apple lossless cause music is my hobby and I got quite a good high-end system at home. Let's hope there will be perhaps a software update until I will get mine.... :-)
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09-10-2011, 10:04 PM	#18
sparoz Brigadier General 191 Rep 4,848 Posts Drives: VO 1///M; Macan Turbo Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sunshine Coast iTrader: (0)	Applelossless won't work ... You have to use an iPod to play in the car. We had a thread on 1addicts ICE sub forum looking at this. Will post link once I get to my laptop. __________________ Macan S Diesel - Carrera White Macan Turbo - White 1///M - Valencia Orange
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09-20-2011, 01:51 AM	#22
JordanWindebank Private 6 Rep 67 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive 20d (2011) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all of the info everyone, it is appreciated. I am only now starting to look at how to get my music collection in to the car and I was sad to hear my FLAC files wouldn't work and now can confirm that converting them to lossless AAC also does not work. Is MP3 the best bet? Anyone have any suggestions for what they are using? I will be running of a USB key.
	Appreciate 0 Quote