• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

HU won't play song


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Off my USB.

Drive has worked fine, I deleted the playlist that has been on it since 2012 and updated it with just one song at the moment for a video I am working on. It just says "No Song"

It is an Alpine HU from around 2011. My circa 2007 Pioneer HU in my F-150 plays it fine. Song is a MP4. Any ideas?
 


ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,200
Reaction score
16,339
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
I have an Alpine unit in another car that does that sometimes. It will show folder and track numbers but no title and won't play. If I turn the car off and on a couple times it starts working again.

Frustrating.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 

Skirbykat

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
Dumb question, maybe, but HU is mp4 compatible, right?
As well, said track isn't copy protected or anything , is it? I have found most reliable to use an iPod instead of usb for mp4 format.

Those questions aside, I've had HUs in the past that have always done similar things. I agree, very frustrating that technology never perfects, just changes before it's had a chance!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I didn't look in the book if it is MP4 compatible (I wondered about that after I checked to see what the song file was this morning) but it is a higher end HU than the older one in my F-150 that plays it.
 

Skirbykat

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
I didn't look in the book if it is MP4 compatible (I wondered about that after I checked to see what the song file was this morning) but it is a higher end HU than the older one in my F-150 that plays it.
Higher end (or dollar for that matter) doesn't mean compatibility is broader ALL the time. Do check your owners manual to see if it does, it'll save you plenty of time trying to figure it out.

Again, I have had compatibility issues with mp4 in the past. Maybe try another mp4 file you may have to see if consistent. If not, you may have to convert.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I looked in the book, it says it will play MP3 or AAC files. No mention of an MP4 one way or the other.

It is over my head but in trying to look up to see when MP4 came out I see Apple has their own thing, MP4A. I bought the song on Itunes, I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Easy enough to convert to an MP3 once I looked it up. I will try it again tonight.

Since I just need the display to display the song title I thought I would be crafty and change the name of the aux input to the song title for the video. I know I can on my old Pioneer. Nope, Alpine has a couple set names you can choose from but you can't do your own custom name.
 
Last edited:

55trucker

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
602
Reaction score
183
Points
43
Location
Oshawa, Ontario
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
-
Total Drop
mild
What is the flash drive formatted to?

did you by any chance format to NTFS? the head unit will only *see* FAT32.

My 5 yr old Alpine CD-123 head unit will not play MP4's.
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,200
Reaction score
16,339
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
Mine is model CDE-121. I just looked in the manual and see that it only plays MP3, WMA and AAC file formats. I'll have to look at my thumb drive and see if any of the song files are MP4. That could easily be my problem. I think if the drive format was wrong, that would affect all playback. I only have occasional trouble. My brother-in-law made the playlist for me. He stuffed a 16GB drive as full as he could get it.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
It is Fat32. I checked that already.

It has been working great for years. The bad part is if it doesn't play a song out of a playlist of several hundred songs you don't really catch it.

It is something like a CDE-124XM or something like that. It is a 124 for sure and came with the antennae and receiver for Sirius.
 

55trucker

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
602
Reaction score
183
Points
43
Location
Oshawa, Ontario
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
-
Total Drop
mild
Last edited:

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
MP3 version worked great tonight.

MP4 version worked great in my older Pioneer.

Still don't get how that works but whatever.
 

55trucker

Active Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
602
Reaction score
183
Points
43
Location
Oshawa, Ontario
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
-
Total Drop
mild
The Pioneer head unit plays MP4's but the Alpine will not.

A business preference where Apple based products are concerned,
 
Last edited:

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,200
Reaction score
16,339
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
I just checked my drive and verified that all my files are MP3. So I'll just call it a "random glitch in an antiquated stereo system" and go on with life. It doesn't happen every day. In fact, it has only happened during really cold temperatures - less than 20 degrees F. Maybe that has something to do with it. Although that doesn't make sense to me. There are no moving mechanical parts to reading a thumb drive. I have a Sirius XM tuner dock that I want to install in that car anyway. So that would go to the Line in Jack and I wouldn't need to read the thumb drive anymore. I already have the Satellite tuner in my Ranger. That stereo has an issue with the removable face losing connection during heavy vibrations, ie; off-road driving. Then I can't use any of its controls until I fiddle with it and get it electrically re-connected to the head unit.

If it isn't one thing, it's a dozen others.
 

Skirbykat

New Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
I'm willing to bet if you used an iPod (plugged into USB port) instead of a flash drive, it would play everything you put on it - assuming HU supports iPod control.

I've always had trouble with mp4 and m4a formats, even with Pioneer (certain tracks here and there) without the iPod. Go with mp3 with best bit rate possible and nearly all devices will recognize it.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,489
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I'm willing to bet if you used an iPod (plugged into USB port) instead of a flash drive, it would play everything you put on it - assuming HU supports iPod control
The odds of me buying an IPod are slim to none.

The thing sits most of the time, it is basically canned music for when there is nothing on the radio. I hadn't even updated it since 2014. And I like that there is no wires.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top