[fletcher969]

Ok, I've been following along numerous threads in an attempt to get my NON-INAV head unit to display song/artist info in the two-line display, but it won't do it! I've used iTunes and Nero, and I've used all the recommended and proven methods/settings (and some variations just to be sure), but to no avail. Then I thought I would use Media Jukebox 8.0 to see if it would be more successful, and while it produces the same result (Track-1 versus Song/Artist in the display), it does have the option to edit CD-Text directly....IF.....the writer is CD-TEXT capable (it indicates my drive won't write CD-TEXT). What's this? Nobody in any thread that I've read (as I recall), ever mentioned anything about the writer having to be CD-TEXT capable. So I did a quick search on the web...and sure enough, it would appear not all CD writers are capable of writing CD-TEXT info to a CD!

Is this (completely) correct, or, as an alternative, is there a way to trick one's writer into getting CD-TEXT information onto the CD? Other suggestions?

And for what it's worth, I've been using a Dell 8250 (3 years old) with a Hitachi GCE-8500B CD-RW.

-----------------------------------------------
EDIT: I am writing mp3's to the CD versus wav or others, etc. Also, (and I just discovered this), putting in a retail music CD...displays on the "Track-01" and not the song/artist info. Nothing else, and no button I push changes it. It was my understanding a regular CD would at least display the CD-TEXT information...correct?

Any suggestions what's going on here? My car is a 02-2006 build, so I assume it has this capability built in.

Suggestions, comments?

Thanks.

Fletch!

[gdnyc]

Trying burning the cd with mp3's. How many songs are fitting on one cd? It sounds like you are making a regular audio cd. Try making a data cd with only mp3 files. You could propbably fit close to 100 songs depending on hw large the files are.

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by gdnyc

Trying burning the cd with mp3's. How many songs are fitting on one cd? It sounds like you are making a regular audio cd. Try making a data cd with only mp3 files. You could propbably fit close to 100 songs depending on hw large the files are.

As I eluded to above...I'm using ALL the recommended suggestions/settings using both iTunes and Nero which of course entails writing mp3's (versus wav, etc.), data format (versus audio), ISO9660 w/joliet, ascii character set, long filenames, etc., etc., etc. Again...the recommended and PROVEN methods...following whatever variation of the instructions to a tee per the program used (I believe mp3 CD was the valid format choice for iTunes)! The songs play, and the mp3's are listed when the "Curr" button is pressed, but the CD-TEXT information won't display (unless there's something on the head unit I have to push [aside from the "Curr" button] to display the song/artist information). As it is, when I insert the CD, the "Track-1" displays.

As for how many files...not enough to fill the CD...about 87 songs on this particular (test) CD.

I'm certain the writing process is being done as it should, because I'm simply duplicating EXACTLY what dozens of others have done to successfully display the song/title information. My question has to do with the capability of certain CD writers to properly write CD-TEXT information to the CD...whether or not such claims are completely true, and if so, whether or not there is a "trick" that will allow said information to be written. Hell, I'm curious if there's anybody else out there who, despite their best efforts duplicating what's already proven to work, simply cannot get this information to display...

Thanks.

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Ok, I've been following along numerous threads in an attempt to get my NON-INAV head unit to display song/artist info in the two-line display, but it won't do it! I've used iTunes and Nero, and I've used all the recommended and proven methods/settings (and some variations just to be sure), but to no avail. Then I thought I would use Media Jukebox 8.0 to see if it would be more successful, and while it produces the same result (Track-1 versus Song/Artist in the display), it does have the option to edit CD-Text directly....IF.....the writer is CD-TEXT capable (it indicates my drive won't write CD-TEXT). What's this? Nobody in any thread that I've read (as I recall), ever mentioned anything about the writer having to be CD-TEXT capable. So I did a quick search on the web...and sure enough, it would appear not all CD writers are capable of writing CD-TEXT info to a CD!

Is this (completely) correct, or, as an alternative, is there a way to trick one's writer into getting CD-TEXT information onto the CD? Other suggestions?

And for what it's worth, I've been using a Dell 8250 (3 years old) with a Hitachi GCE-8500B CD-RW.

-----------------------------------------------
EDIT: I am writing mp3's to the CD versus wav or others, etc. Also, (and I just discovered this), putting in a retail music CD...displays on the "Track-01" and not the song/artist info. Nothing else, and no button I push changes it. It was my understanding a regular CD would at least display the CD-TEXT information...correct?

Any suggestions what's going on here? My car is a 02-2006 build, so I assume it has this capability built in.

Suggestions, comments?

Thanks.

Fletch!

You need to break this down into manageable troubleshooting components.

First, find a KNOWN CD-Text disc (most retail discs are not) and try it in your e90. Borrow from a friend, co-worker, etc. but just make sure that it is a CD-text disc. If that disc does not show the names of songs, then there is something wrong on the receive side and you need to work this out with the dealer. On the other hand, if song names are displaying, you know that there is something wrong on your burn side.

Second, while it is possible that your burner does not have a CD-Text writing capability, I find that unlikely in a 3 year old burner. Do some more searching, or call Hitachi to find out.

Third, iTunes does NOT burn CD-Text. Nero does not do it automatically -- you have to select it. The Nero defaults are, "Track 1, 2,3, etc.". You must input the song names either manually or via the Gracenote DB. Immediately before you hit the "Burn" button, the track names should be showing in the listing of tracks to be burned to the CD. Are they?

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by Kimo

You need to break this down into manageable troubleshooting components.

First, find a KNOWN CD-Text disc (most retail discs are not) and try it in your e90. Borrow from a friend, co-worker, etc. but just make sure that it is a CD-text disc. If that disc does not show the names of songs, then there is something wrong on the receive side and you need to work this out with the dealer. On the other hand, if song names are displaying, you know that there is something wrong on your burn side.

Alright. I've got about 100 CDs. I'll just have to go through them until which time I find one that is CD-text. Of course if my receiver is problematic, I'll never know, so I'll try and resolve this using a burned CD first.

Second, while it is possible that your burner does not have a CD-Text writing capability, I find that unlikely in a 3 year old burner. Do some more searching, or call Hitachi to find out.

This is what I thought also, but I'm never surprised by much of anything. Glad we form a consensus of sorts.

Third, iTunes does NOT burn CD-Text. Nero does not do it automatically -- you have to select it. The Nero defaults are, "Track 1, 2,3, etc.". You must input the song names either manually or via the Gracenote DB. Immediately before you hit the "Burn" button, the track names should be showing in the listing of tracks to be burned to the CD. Are they?

I'd heard people say iTunes produced the desired results, so I tried it. Using Nero, I know each ID3 tag is populated with the album/artist/song info, and yes, when I drag and drop the files to burn, they list according to name, not track numbers (assuming you're referring to populating the tag fields when you mention inputing song names either manually or via the Gracenote DB?). Also, I copied this "test" group of song to a new location, and converted the tags to ID3v1.1, so the tag version shouldn't be an issue.

You do refer to having to select "track names" versus the default of track numbers when using Nero, but I don't see where that particular feature is enabled/disabled. I do know the song names are listed in the window designated for the CD burner end of the equation.

[rlc]

CD--

Do you have a CD/DVD Player in the house that is CD Text capable? If so, test your burned CD (not MP3 CD) on it to verify you have a disc that displays the info. Hell, if you could even take the disc to Circuit City, BB, etc. and try it in a CD text player on display (you just want to see if the disc info displays). I have tried without success to get a CD with CD Text (verified on other players) to display on my Logic 7 non-IDrive system. All I get is the track number displayed with CDs. My SA says he does not have a fix for this (yet).

MP3 CD--

I usually use MusicMatch to rip MP3 files off CDs but I doubt it really matters how you get the files. I've burned MP3 CDs using Nero, Roxio, MusicMatch, Itunes, etc. and have had no problems with displaying track info. ID3 Tag version is reported to be an issue, but I have no problem with files having v2.3 ID3 tags being displayed after burned to MP3 CDs. To display Track Name and Artist info hit LIST, then TITLE. CURRent is used to cause the LIST function to move to display the current playing file/track.

Be aware that after you have the display set up the way you want it, if you change inputs (like to Tuner or Aux or Sirius) and come back to CD you will have to go through the buttons again to get the display of track info back (this is really annoying but that is how it works). Same thing with the RND (random) function. Switch inputs and it kills RND.

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by rlc

CD--

. . . I have tried without success to get a CD with CD Text (verified on other players) to display on my Logic 7 non-IDrive system. All I get is the track number displayed with CDs.

Hmmm. . . . can't speak to non-IDrive, as we have it, but this datapoint may indicate that CD-Text display may be a systemic limitation in non-IDrive headunits.
Bummer . . .

[fletcher969]

Ok...I had this working all along, but didn't know it. What killed me is the DEFAULT SETTING for the head unit is to NOT DISPLAY SONG/ARTIST information! And you know what? I've searched this forum for a thread where somebody discloses this, and I can't find where anybody actually says this, nor has anybody done a step by step of how one displays the Song/Artist information for those Euro-challenged individuals like me! So...

1. Burn CD using iTunes, Nero, or Media Jukebox, among others, using proven settings.
2. Insert CD into non-iNav head unit.
3. When it displays "Track-01", don't panic.
4. Wait for the head unit to light up the "List" button.
5. Push "List" button.
6. Push "Title" button.

Note: Title button (rightmost button on head unit) is confusing. One may miss the fact that it has two assigned values..."Title" and a "return" sign. If you do like me, and press the button without thinking about it, and just happend to press on the right side of the button, you'll never get anywhere because you'll indadvertently be pushing the "return" side of the button (you'll loop back and forth between the mp3 file list, and the "Track-01" DEFAULT display. Press the LEFT side of the "Title" button, and you'll see the Song/Artist information!

Now! Is there any way to change the DEFAULT DISPLAY so it displays the Song/Artist information instead of a generic Track-XX? I'll push whatever buttons until there's a different solution, but it seems odd this unit doesn't just go ahead and display pertinent information instead of the track number.

And thanks to those of you who attempted to help. Very much appreciated.

Fletch!

[rlc]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Now! Is there any way to change the DEFAULT DISPLAY so it displays the Song/Artist information instead of a generic Track-XX?

No, there is no way to change the default view. Hopefully these usability shortcomings can be corrected with firmware updates..

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

And thanks to those of you who attempted to help. Very much appreciated.

Fletch!

Glad to hear that you've figured things out. Enjoy!

[JHFW89225]

so did ur car have iDrive or no? Cuz right now I am trying to put artist/name on my display too and I am using the non iDrive cd player called BMW Professional or watever. Also, anyone know how to get the songs listed in a list format on the display for non idrive? My friend did it in his E92. Also can our CD Player display foreign text? like japanese or chinese characters?

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

EDIT: I am writing mp3's to the CD versus wav or others, etc. Also, (and I just discovered this), putting in a retail music CD...displays on the "Track-01" and not the song/artist info. Nothing else, and no button I push changes it. It was my understanding a re

You're totally barking up the wrong tree. Display of mp3 metadata has nothing at all to do with CD-Text. CD-Text is a standard for supplying metadata for Redbook CD-Audio tracks.

To my knowledge non-iDrive head units don't support CD-Text, but that's not your problem.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by JoshuaWong1989

Also can our CD Player display foreign text? like japanese or chinese characters?

Yes. Don't know how extensive the capability is, but I have mp3s with Chinese id3 tags that seem display fine.

[JHFW89225]

so.... how do i get song titles to show up instead of track #?

[bsd107]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

To my knowledge non-iDrive head units don't support CD-Text, but that's not your problem.

My 2009 iDrive E90 does not support CD-Text, which is really annoying to me.

Yes, the 2009 iDrive units use a GraceNote database to recognize recent retails CD's, but this does not help when playing a home-made compilation CD.