Trouble Playing Music Playlists from USB or MP3

[musicmafia]

No matter what I try, playlists will not work properly or at all on my 2015 with MFT using Windows Media Player and a USB drive. Music files are in compatible .wma format. I've tried playlist formats .wpl, .pla and .m3u.

 

NOTE: This is not an Apple thread. I am looking for help specific to WMP playlists.

I started with my old mp3 player. All songs loaded fine but indexing was very slow. A couple incomplete playlists showed but that's all.

Bought a USB. Sync'd all the files (@ 40 gbs) via WMP, checked the drive and no playlists were showing. Copied/pasted the playlists manually onto the USB drive (into root and into folder) and neither works. Playlist titles will show but playlists show as empty and will not play.

Saw other members comments on software called SyncPlaylist. Downloaded program but it requires install of bug vulnerable Java, which I've been living happily without for some time. I found another workaround (posted below) but it would sure be nice and easier if Sync (powered by Microsoft) would simply play Windows Media Player playlists via USB. This makes sense as everything in this chain is a Microsoft product.

Any help appreciated. MM

Edited November 3, 2014 by musicmafia

[musicmafia]

anyone have any ideas?

[SteveB_TX]

The only playlists I have gotten to work are via (gulp) Apple's iTunes. :)

[musicmafia]

this week I figured out a workaround. Its not difficult, just time consuming.

 

I import my wpl playlists into Amok Playlist Copy (free download, doesnt require java), then simply re-sort them to number serially, then export the renamed files into folders in the root of my usb. I had to manually create a folder and name it to match each playlist.

 

so my usb drive has these folders:

 

Music (all the songs)

Title of "playlist" folder 1 (containing the numerically renamed files)

Title of playlist folder 2

etc etc

 

I cant voice command the folders in Ford Sync BUT I can hit browse and see the list of playlist folders and they play fine.

It is merely a folder containing those songs in a way that is read by Ford Sync but at least it works.

Others say Media Monkey can sync m3u playlists to usb, but so far I cant get m3u playlists to read by Sync. I dont use itunes but am definitely looking for an easier way to play my playlists from usb.

[SteveB_TX]

Sounds like too much trouble. I think I will stick with iTunes. :)

[acdii]

Since the 8.1 iOS update, my music has been really flaky over USB. When first upgraded to 8.0, Pandora was fixed, it would resume play after a call, and not lose sync with MFT. Now its back to doing it, even worse now. On top of it, 8.1(now 8.2) has also screwed up my playlists. I have to disconnect the USB to resync it in order to change a play list.

 

This is an Apple issue though, not MFT since it worked fine prior to the 8 upgrade, only occasionally would it lose sync, now it does it quite frequently, and the oddest part is only during a commercial, and I think it has something to do with metadata, none of the commercials send information on whats playing.

 

There are more issues not related to Sync on the phone as well, and its getting frustrating.

[FordIVTteam]

Since the 8.1 iOS update, my music has been really flaky over USB. When first upgraded to 8.0, Pandora was fixed, it would resume play after a call, and not lose sync with MFT. Now its back to doing it, even worse now. On top of it, 8.1(now 8.2) has also screwed up my playlists. I have to disconnect the USB to resync it in order to change a play list.

 

This is an Apple issue though, not MFT since it worked fine prior to the 8 upgrade, only occasionally would it lose sync, now it does it quite frequently, and the oddest part is only during a commercial, and I think it has something to do with metadata, none of the commercials send information on whats playing.

 

There are more issues not related to Sync on the phone as well, and its getting frustrating.

 

Hi acdii,

 

Since updating to 8.2, have you done the basic troubleshooting steps listed here? Even thought this does sound like an issue with iOS 8, these tips can help after updating (the phone or MyFord Touch): http://support.ford.com/sync-technology/troubleshooting-sync-myford-touch

 

Kim

[acdii]

I am almost to the point of finding an apple store and just format and reflash it to 8.0 and be done with it, Email keeps crashing, keeps prompting for the password even though it retrieves the email. The BT portion of the phone though works fine, makes and receives calls, pairs every time, etc. Its the USB that is f'd up with the phone, have issues playing on my plain jane speaker dock now too.

[FordIVTteam]

I am almost to the point of finding an apple store and just format and reflash it to 8.0 and be done with it, Email keeps crashing, keeps prompting for the password even though it retrieves the email. The BT portion of the phone though works fine, makes and receives calls, pairs every time, etc. Its the USB that is f'd up with the phone, have issues playing on my plain jane speaker dock now too.

 

iOS 8 has now been tested and added to our compatibility chart. I'm seeing some similarities in the connection behavior throughout all iOS 8 versions. Take a look here to see what features are confirmed to work with your phone: http://support.ford.com/sync-technology/device-compatibility-sync-myford-touchwith each version.

 

Kim

[musicmafia]

now if I could just play playlists via usb

[FordIVTteam]

now if I could just play playlists via usb

 

Hey musicmafia,

 

I see that you are already working with Rebecca on Facebook and the Explorer Forum. I recommend continuing to work with her to keep things organized. As a reminder, here are the instructions on how to create playlists in Windows Media Player that she recommended.

• Make sure the music is listed on the flash drive.
• Transfer the music from the flash drive to Windows Media player in the Media Library tab.
• Click on Playlists, and then Create New Playlist.
• Go back to the Media Library and Sort the music by the file name to show the file path starting with the Flash Drive Location (E.g…E:\Music\MyMusic\...).
• Select the songs that you would like to add to the playlist and drag and drop them, or right click them and send them to the correct playlist.
• Once the playlist is complete, click on File and then Save Playlist As.
• Click on My Computer, and then select the drive associated with the flash drive.
• Change the Save As Type to Any Playlist.
• Name the file and click on Save.

Kim

[musicmafia]

I posted about this problem in multiple forums hoping to reach more users who might have some answers or better workarounds. I don't know if the convoluted method above works or not but for me it's just not viable as it would require manually rebuilding dozens of playlists, each with hundreds of WMA song files from a WMP library of 5000 songs. It has taken me years to build these playlists and they are just too large to manually rebuild song by song just to try this method.

 

Has anyone here tried the above and did it solve the problem?

 

My workaround posted above takes a little time but it's a lot less time for me than the rebuilding workaround suggested, so I guess I'm stuck with it for now.

[acdii]

Well, I looked at the software update on my phone, and I know it said 8.2 update available, and I did proceed to install it, the phone did its reboot, etc. but get this, it still shows as 8.1, Funny thing though, today it worked perfectly.

[djminfll]

I've been having a problem playing music from my iPhone, but only since I downloaded the latest version of IOS 8.1. When I plug the iPhone into the USB, the music doesn't play; if I press the pause button, then the play button on the MFT screen, it still doesn't play. The only way I can get music from the iPhone is to press play directly on the phone. I'm going to need to call Apple to see what's going on. Anyone else having the same problem?

[acdii]

Yes, exact same problem. Apple F'd it up with the latest update.

[hybridbear]

Well, I looked at the software update on my phone, and I know it said 8.2 update available, and I did proceed to install it, the phone did its reboot, etc. but get this, it still shows as 8.1, Funny thing though, today it worked perfectly.

What 8.2? My iPhone 5s has 8.1 and says it's up to date.

[FordIVTteam]

I posted about this problem in multiple forums hoping to reach more users who might have some answers or better workarounds. I don't know if the convoluted method above works or not but for me it's just not viable as it would require manually rebuilding dozens of playlists, each with hundreds of WMA song files from a WMP library of 5000 songs. It has taken me years to build these playlists and they are just too large to manually rebuild song by song just to try this method.

 

Has anyone here tried the above and did it solve the problem?

 

My workaround posted above takes a little time but it's a lot less time for me than the rebuilding workaround suggested, so I guess I'm stuck with it for now.

 

I'm glad you were able to come up with a workaround. If I hear of a better one, I'll be sure to share it with you. :)

 

Kim

[djminfll]

Yes, exact same problem. Apple F'd it up with the latest update.

I was thinking it was a problem with MFT, but everything else works perfectly, so I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. I will say, Apple is pretty good about fixing their mistakes, so I'm assuming 8.2 should be out soon.

[acdii]

What 8.2? My iPhone 5s has 8.1 and says it's up to date.

Yeah thats what mine says too, so you can imagine my confusion when it said it had an 8.2 update, but it never actually updated. Guess it was sent by mistake.

[djminfll]

Yeah thats what mine says too, so you can imagine my confusion when it said it had an 8.2 update, but it never actually updated. Guess it was sent by mistake.

My iPhone 5 settings "Software Update" says "iOS 8.1 Your software is up to date." It doesn't say anything about 8.2 anywhere.

[acdii]

My iPhone 5 settings "Software Update" says "iOS 8.1 Your software is up to date." It doesn't say anything about 8.2 anywhere.

Like I said must have been sent out by mistake. I picked up the phone one morning to check it, and it said iOS update 8.2 available, and since 8.1 is screwed up I eagerly applied it. Went to settings, tapped update, agreed to terms, then it ran the update check, rebooted, but never applied it, so my guess is it was sent out by mistake, and only a few people may have seen it? Looks like 8.2 may have been only for iPad, and was mistakenly sent to phones.

[hybridbear]

I hope they fix it soon. I've been an Apple fan for years but I'm really fed up with their issues right now. If I had a choice I would get an Android phone right now instead.

[musicmafia]

Maybe the Apple / iOS issues should be moved to another thread? Per my OP, I am specifically looking for ways to play Windows Media Player playlists via USB drive. Thanks :)

[corncobs]

I hope they fix it soon. I've been an Apple fan for years but I'm really fed up with their issues right now. If I had a choice I would get an Android phone right now instead.

Don't do it ;)