miamizsun wrote:  

ok, some of you have inspired me to take a few baby steps
i've got one room (my home office/man cave) that i can probably rock out in
it's like 12x14
going to ease into a budget friendly option by adding a powered subwoofer and a dac to the above setup
or after reading a bit that seems like the next reasonable move

 kurtster wrote: I would just load all my songs onto the drive.
And hope whatever I use for playback would have a random button to push. Listening to them in alphabetical order would not work well. If that happened, I would have to randomly load them.
That's pretty much what I do with my I Tunes library at home.
And surprisingly, my computer selected playback flows really good. Mostly, I suppose, because they are all songs I really like. Every once in a while, when something like "Blues Theme" by Davie Allen and the Arrows goes up to something like "Greenback Dollar" by the Kingston Trio... it kinda jars. That's where I need Bill's "Now for something completely different" quote added.

Getting close to 5,000 and adding more all the time.

 kurtster wrote:
Yeah, I guess most portable devices would not play FLAC files, or anything other than MP3, WMA, or WAV files.  Those are the only kind of audio files I have on my devices anyhow.  I recently had to use the voice recorder on my phone and that saves it as an MP4A file.  I had not heard of that format before.

 Proclivities wrote: 
Here's the conversion calculator I use.  http://www.theaudioarchive.com/TAA_Resources_File_Size.htm

For the type of playback usage we're talking about there really is only two file choices.  mp3 or 16 bit wav files and then 44.1 khz. Most devices will play 16 / 48 khz wav files but not all.  Not aware of anything at this level that will play flac or other type files using a USB drive.

USB's are particular, too.  The playback order will always be in the order a file or folder was loaded, regardless of alphabetical name or number at the front of the file.  Of course you can always manually select a particular file depending on the graphic display options or do a random if that option is available.  For mobile playback like we are talking about, just use folders and files.  Do not use subfolders to keep things simple.

If you want to load something in a particular order like a playlist, do it one file at a time or use the formal copy mode.  Use the formal copy mode for folders, too.  Folders are best for playlists.  When you just highlight and mouse click to copy and paste the order sometimes gets changed.

These drives will also work in any car equipped with a USB drive.  I have different drives for the different cars.  The new Honda has a nice GUI and I can see and open files, but the old Honda with the Pioneer deck only has a single line display LED so looking for things is too tedious.  Easier to have a drive with just songs and another one with album sides.  And you can also have back up folders with the entire contents stored on your computer for a quick reload in case you loose one or just want to update one.  Do the updating in your back up folder.  Erase / delete all the files on the USB and reload, with the formal copy and paste.

I learned all of this the hard way by trial and error over the years.  You don't have to.  It is a pain in the ass getting these requirements down, but once you are there, it's like black coffee, once you switch, you'll never go back !

 thisbody wrote: Thanks for that info. I'm quite familiar with those units.
My stereo I built, which I still have, outperformed those guys. It's just too annoying to use on the job.
I'm looking even better sound.

 miamizsun wrote: The only power tools I use are my muscles.
I use a bazooka to "string" the tape. It's called an "Auto Taper"... it's only auto when someone is pushing it.
That's why I have new knees. And probably in a few years... new shoulders.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

you still have ten digits right?
napping and power tools don't mix

 miamizsun wrote: I'll definitely will have to something different with my playback system.

Even the more mellow music, if it's stuff I like, puts me in a work mood.
Besides, I've been doing my job so long now, I can sleep and still produce. 

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

yeah you can put two tons of music on $15 usb stick

edit: 
on another note you could do a hammer time demo mix
upbeat mixes for busy work and chill for the finish stuff

 Proclivities wrote: Thanks for that info. This might be a good option for me.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
I think a 128gb drive will hold about 15,000 6 MB MP3s.  6 MB is the average size for a 3-minute song in MP3 format.  For FLAC files, or other less-compressed formats, there will obviously be less storage space.  
Depending on what device you're using to play the music there can be shuffle and skip options.  I have a 32gb memory card in my tablet and I play it to a Bluetooth speaker when I'm sitting out in my backyard beer lounge.  I downloaded a music player app which allows you to make playlists and shuffle the songs.  Of course, if you're driving you don't want to be noodling around with a device.
Oh...This site has some useful info about music storage.

 kurtster wrote: So. How many songs can you cram on one of those biggie flash drives?
And does one have to manually select your songs to play back?
Or is it played back on the way their loaded onto it? No random playback?
Sorry. New to the idea of using a USB mini audio software device.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote: 
I remember that pic. 

USB flash drives are as good as what you put on them.  I've been using them for around 10 years now, first in my Pioneer deck in the old Honda and now with our new Honda because it does not have a CD drive. I'm listening to 16 bit 48 khz wav files on them. I'm not sure how widely accepted AIFF files are in car audio, but for sure nearly everything will play 16 bit 44.1 khz wav and most will do 48 khz.  Have some that are 128 GB and 256 GB that play just fine.  I use the in house brand Microcenter ones.  Cheap and reliable.  Highly recommend.  Get them online if you don't live close to one.

 kurtster wrote: I'm not sure about flash drives sound quality?
I love the Bluetooth and use it a lot. I even have a high zoot unit in my almost 49 year old truck.
It's awesome driving around with old tech mixing with high tech.
I even have a powered sub under my seat.

The install a few years back...

Pretty spectacular now that I can overpower the exhaust somewhat.

For mobile use in and around the house, or for outdoors in general, even garden parties, this Makita thing has a real good sound(!) plus mucho volume. 

For an extended use, a second set of batteries would be recommendable, esp. when travelling with it. The original one's arent exactly cheap, though.

I know quite a few craftsmen and other folks, who are very happy with it. Also, it is quite cheap when compared to other speakers designed for mobile use. It should nicely fit in your truck...  oh, and you can even charge your mobile through it's USB port...

For features, see the pdf's flyer, or manual. Available at Amazon, too.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote: 
get something that will play a USB flash drive.  A lot of those units are blue tooth capable that you can sync up your phone with I believe and you can load up your phone if you have enough space.

 miamizsun wrote: AM and FM would be way down on the list, because of the mentioned lack of anything decent worth listening to here in the Coachella Valley.
I rely on my phone to pull in better FM choices. Or my default R. Paradise.
I've been on my daughter recently to figure out how to access all my music library through the cloud.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

lot of peeps seem to choose the Dewalt 
i think they may have blazed that trail

edit: are am and fm tuning important?

 miamizsun wrote:
But it takes up some space. And I only have a short bed truck.
But what's more important... tools and material... or music.
I always choose my drug first... music.

I put it in my watch list.

 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote: 
its got wheels!