iPod Classic & Mach-e: Can they ever be compatible?

[ArthurDOB]

connecting my iPod to a car is not a new problem. Back then my car had no USB port. i ended up with a solution that still works: a Belkin iPod Tune FM. Basically it turns the iPod into a radio transmitter!

Wow. You had to dig deep to find this dormant thread! ?

I've heard of those transmitters. If you read through my posts, I'm interested in controlling it and viewing metadata through the 15.5" screen, and that won't do it.

I'm taking delivery soon, so I'm about to find out for certain that it won't work. I still hold out hope until I see for myself that it won't. I'll probably use a small, high-capacity flash drive instead and make my own playlists. I know that will work. I just wish I could still use "the Pod."

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[AzCoronaDog]

I have that same 160G iPod.
I never tried it in the MME, but the interface in my 2012 Porsche 911 is really good.
So your very best option is to keep the iPod and buy a Porsche! LOL

For the MME, I am using a 128G USB drive with my 17,000 songs. The MME takes a long time to index it the first time, but it works fine and does get the playlists and shows the album art. (somebody posted a picture earlier in the thread) Pretty sure it is able to index the whole thing, my GMC truck has some limit so I went to a 64G drive for it and eliminated stuff I rarely listen to.

 

[TedsMach-E]

Flash memory is so cheap nowadays, I’m not sure why anyone would go through the hassle of trying to get an obsolete iPod to work. Just get one of these and leave it plugged into the USB port.

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-256GB-Ultra-Flash-Drive/dp/B07857Y17V/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23OAOPP4SE7QA&keywords=256gb+slim+flash+drive&qid=1678631626&sprefix=256gb+slim,aps,109&sr=8-3&th=1

But how do you get the data, playlists etc. downloaded to this flash drive?? I need structure to my music . . .

 

[generaltso]

But how do you get the data, playlists etc. downloaded to this flash drive?? I need structure to my music . . .

You plug it into a computer and create a folder structure.

 

[TedsMach-E]

You plug it into a computer and create a folder structure.

oh dude you are overestimating my technical knowledge! I have the iPod . . . so I plug THAT into my computer via USB, then I also plug the drive into my computer via USB, and then . . . how do I get the iPod files onto the USB? I can't see anything in the folder structure on the iPod at all (everything looks empty, even though my iPod is still full of my music files).

 

[generaltso]

oh dude you are overestimating my technical knowledge!

Then I recommend you get an iPhone. Sync the iPod to iTunes and then sync iTunes to the iPhone.

 

[bdaughtry]

OK, "streamer."

What people who stream don't know (or don't remember) is that there is a lot of music out there that is not available to stream. I have literally thousands of songs that will never be on any streaming service (my son's orchestra performances, bootlegs, obscure artists, etc.). I'd like to listen to them in my car using my iPod as I have for the last 11 years. If there's a way, I'll find it. I just don't want to reinvent the wheel if someone else has already done it.

There are a couple of ways to do it, all involve putting the music on i Tunes then transferring it to your phone. I have over sixty years of music on my phone and four other devices via i Tunes Match. For $24 a year, all of the music I have on i Tunes is available on up to five devices with i Tunes Match. Your music lives in the cloud and you can access it where ever, when ever you want. I have a 160GB iPod classic, it's charged and on my desk with 13,777 songs and rarely used. They all "live" on iTunes and are accessed through iTunes Match.

The key is transferring the music to CD's then copying the CD's to iTunes. And as another poster mentioned syncing that iPod with iTunes.

 

[OON7]

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The one thing I do know, if someone says it works just fine with a Zune, I’m out of here!

Challenge accepted... if I can get it to turn on!

EDIT: IT WORKS... great for charging only lol. No music working as expected.

This did help me find out the original Zunes are selling for $250 and up. I guess some Guardians of the Galaxy nostalgia.

 

[21st Century Pony]

So I consolidated a bunch of CDs onto a large USB drive, plugged it in and I get the same message on the big screen...

 

[Herbknowsit]

Though this is an old thread,I read through it since I have a high end music player from Astell & Kern that keeps music files in very high-res formats. So even when playing through a "less than audiophile" system, a lot of tunes on the AK sound fabulous. Not finding a way to get my 2024 MME system to work with the bluetooth on the player. I"m going to try once again to use USB but that means a cord to wrangle with. Man I would just love to have a simple 3.5 jack to use into the MME radio/amp since that is what so many older music players used for headphones and remote speakers. I too have perfectly good Ipods with loads of music. And I'm totally with those that don't want to use my iPhone for music since I love leaving it OFF and being left alone.

 

[azerik]

OK, before I get blasted about old technology,

I see your vintage and go back even further. (I can't find the damn cable or I'd try mine. but I think it's the power being an issue a USB Y splitter grabbing power from the USB-C or cig lighter is probably needed.

 

[Jerrytball]

OK, before I get blasted about old technology, I love my old 2014 iPod Classic. I replaced its failed HD with a modified SD Card setup so it will last a long time. I searched old threads and found a couple of mentions of iPods with few to no specifics of any clarity about whether or not they can be made compatible.

I was wondering if anyone has figured out how to successfully connect one. If so, how? If not, do you know why it won't/can't work?

I'd appreciate any feedback after you've had your laugh at my expense!

So I can tell you here was my set up in my 19 ICE Mustang for some reason they gave me a 3.5 port
But I definitely can’t get it to work on the Mach no 3.5

 

[Jerrytball]

I see your vintage and go back even further. (I can't find the damn cable or I'd try mine. but I think it's the power being an issue a USB Y splitter grabbing power from the USB-C or cig lighter is probably needed.

Mine is charging now and I know it’ll come up in the car but without that 3.5 jack, I don’t think I’ll have any sound but once it’s charged up, I’m gonna go give it a shot lol

 

[azerik]

I would expect a usb to 3.5 or usb to rca to 3.5 to work. There’s the fm transmitter but that’s about as quality as listening to music on your phone speakers.

 

[Jerrytball]

I would expect a usb to 3.5 or usb to rca to 3.5 to work. There’s the fm transmitter but that’s about as quality as listening to music on your phone speakers.

Trust me, I invested a lot of money and time into making my old iPod work on all my vehicles but since this is missing the 3.5 jack tried many different things. I’ve even got a jack that converts it to the iPhone. But I couldn’t get it to work

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