Adding music files to USB drive - Need help

[raider23]

I have read numerous threads regarding issues with playing music from a USB drive in the truck. However, I’m not really computer savvy and have no idea where or how to start. I’m hopeful that someone on on here can help me out with this process. I have a large cd collection and would like to be able to have my music available when I’m driving. (I miss not having a CD player) Any suggestions of software and step by step instructions would be appreciated and I would be grateful. I’m using a MacBook with an Apple Super Drive. I have a backup hard drive as well.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

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[Buyer2021]

I have a large cd collection and would like to be able to have my music available when I’m driving.

Just highlighting that so folks clearly understand you want to both

1. 'rip' music from CDs; and,
2. put the music on a USB drive in a format that will be compatible with your SYNC4 F150

Not a Mac user so can't help you but I suspect you're looking at a 2-step process, first step rip the CDs to your hard drive where you'll want to save them as a backup / archive, then the step of copy to USB for the truck.

Good Luck, have Fun!

(I really enjoy my CD collection on USB for playback in the truck using voice-command without involving streaming or my phone, but I did it on a PC)

 

[Sojourner]

Absolute easiest way to do this for either Windows or Mac is to buy .mp3 music from Amazon (for example). Then transfer from your computer to a USB stick. I think Sync4 can handle up to a 256GB stick (Sync3 says 64GB, but I've used 128GB). I use the Sandisk Ultrafit (mini) USB flash drive for its tiny profile.

If you want to rip your CD collection it gets more complicated. This is what I do for Windows (I'm sure the process is similar for MacOS, but the Windows apps are free whereas comprehensive apps for MacOS usually cost something. Can be done via Linux, but we users (I'm a casual one) are few and far between):

I use Exact Audio Copy to rip my CDs. There's a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the settings correct, it's awesome. Will name your songs correctly, set up a file structure according to your liking, and download cover art, too, if you want.

I use MP3Tag to adjust the meta data for the files if necessary (click on the UK flag at the upper right to get the English language page). You don't need to use MP3Tag as you can do it (albeit slowly) in Windows File Explorer. But I am OCD about my music files so I want them just right.

Then use File Explorer to xfer the .mp3 files over to the flash drive. Insert the flash drive into the truck console's USB-A slot and give the truck some time to index the files (the larger the GBs, the longer the time. And anytime you remove the USB drive and then reinsert Sync will go through the index process once again).

Eventually the drive will show up in Sources under the Audio page. However, unless you do some hacking (which I haven't done) you can't scroll through your .mp3 files while driving. One of Ford's nanny features. But if someone is sitting in the passenger seat, the option becomes available (IIRC correctly you have to confirm the "waiver" before proceeding). I haven't tried the Voice Command approach @Buyer2021 uses.

That's it. Yes, an incomplete tutorial, but it will get you started.

Cheers.

P.S. On other forums, folks were talking about how much they loved plugging in an external CD player. Not sure I find the approach aesthetically pleasing, but more importantly, I'm not plugging in a no-name Chinese device into my car; I have (real and legitimate) "malware baked into the firmware" concerns. Others, though, it appears not so much and are willing to take the risk.

 

[DrBST]

....Any suggestions of software and step by step instructions would be appreciated and I would be grateful. I’m using a MacBook with an Apple Super Drive. I have a backup hard drive as well.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Howdy. I am a Mac person (for nearly 40 years now). You already have the necessary hardware and software to rip those beautiful silver discs into digital files for your equally beautiful F-150. Beyond the MacBook and external cd, you would use the Music app (standard, included software from Apple). I won't make you suffer through my step-by-step when Apple already has a comprehensive one here: https://support.apple.com/guide/music/import-songs-from-cds-mus2935/mac
> NOTE: what I linked to is for the most recent OS version, if you have an older version you would select that from the dropdown at the top of the same page. If you don't know where to find your OS version, it is here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109033

As for getting them from your Mac to a USB for your F-150: you would just need to copy them from the location where they were saved to on your Mac to a USB. I presume the USB will need to be formatted as Fat32 - they often come that way out of the box, however you can check it using another included Apple software, Disk Utility (and you can reformat it in that software as well, if needed): https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/mac
> Same note as above applies regarding the instructions and the OS version

I have not used a USB with music files on my Gen14, but I did on my 12 year old F-150 with Sync2 and this same process worked for me. Good luck (and feel free to message me if you think I can be of help).

 

[Sojourner]

Glad to see the info on getting started helped.... ?

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