Mariner Fan Posted July 22, 2008 #1 Posted July 22, 2008 Actually a couple of questions. My computer does not have a SD card slot. Can I put the card in my Zumo and download music with the USB cable? Does anyone know of a free site to convert WMA music files to MP3. I read that the Zumo only plays MP3.
Freebird Posted July 22, 2008 #2 Posted July 22, 2008 If your computer has a USB port, you can pick up a small USB card reader at Best Buy, Circuit City, probably even Walmart for about $12.00 or less sometimes. Just plug the card into the reader and then the reader into the USB port.
SaltyDawg Posted July 22, 2008 #3 Posted July 22, 2008 Actually the music can be downloaded directly to the SD card you put into the Zumo 550. I do it all the time. Look for it in My Computer or use Explore to find it.(right click on Start then left click explore) When you plug the Zumo into the USB port it comes up as 2 drives. One being named Garmin, and the other should be named USB mass storage or something like that. It should be the LAST drive letter. Make an MP3 folder in there and download all your music into it. You can also put pictures on it and view them with the Zumo. That part was great on our last trip, we were able to take the Zumo into the restaurant with us and look at pictures we took to determine if we wanted to keep them or not. As for converting files, well there are a lot of programs that do that stuff free. Go to download.com and do a search for MP3 converter. Or just rip the songs from CD's in the MP3 format.
Maritimer Posted July 22, 2008 #4 Posted July 22, 2008 Don't mean to hijack but my questions are related to Mariner's in a way. To get music/jpg/maps/routes on the zumo, it should go on a memory card if I understand correctly. Is there a max size for the memory card (as in meg)? Is there a size (as in dimension)?...not sure if it is standard sizes Can maps, music and jpgs mixed on the care or should there be a card for each type of files? My zumo has been ordered and should be here in a couple of days I would like to be ready. Thanks
loehring Posted July 22, 2008 #5 Posted July 22, 2008 The card reader information is the same as what I've found. The conversion of the music will need to be done with your player on the computer. I don't have an I-Pod so I probably have it easier. I have Rhapsody and it alows my to choose the format of anything I rip. When I purchase I also have the ability to choose format. If you can't choose the download format your player should at least let you choose the rip format so you could burn a CD and then rip it back in the MP3 format. That would work.
BuddyRich Posted July 22, 2008 #6 Posted July 22, 2008 Don't know about a max size. But I put an 8gb in mine and there is a performance issue with it when you get that large. It takes a lot longer for the Zumo to read that big of a card. A 2gb is much faster. Now I remember reading somewhere if you create folders its faster/ Haven't tried that yet.
SaltyDawg Posted July 22, 2008 #7 Posted July 22, 2008 I read on the Zumo forums that SD cards up to 4G were fine, but there are 4G and up SD cards that are using the new SDHC format (Secure Digital High Capacity) which the Zumo's have problems reading. They do read some of them, but as buddyrich stated it takes longer. I use a 2G card and have 200 songs and still haven't used but half the cards capacity. As for maps, when you upgrade the procedure replaces the current map with the newest one. I just did it. The process to upgrade the Zumo takes about 2 hours. The other things that can be stored on the SD card are jpegs, POI's, and Waypoint files, and yes they can all be stored on the same card.
SteveP Posted July 22, 2008 #8 Posted July 22, 2008 Take a look here for some WMA / MP3 conversion programs: http://www.download.com/3120-20_4.html?qt=convert+wma+to+mp3&tag=srch&tg=dl-20 I've used (and like) "Free WMA to MP3 Converter 1.08" and it has a good Editor's rating from C-net. http://www.download.com/Free-WMA-to-MP3-Converter/3000-2140_4-10494267.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10494268
hig4s Posted July 22, 2008 #9 Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Actually a couple of questions. My computer does not have a SD card slot. Can I put the card in my Zumo and download music with the USB cable? Does anyone know of a free site to convert WMA music files to MP3. I read that the Zumo only plays MP3. Yes,, but don't bother converting,, it is a pain, and then you will have to add or modify the ID3 tags or the Zumo will not be able to categorize the songs, they will just list as name and unknown artist, unknown album. I just went through this.. the easiest way to do it is to upgrade to Micorsoft Media Player 11. Needs Windows XP. It allows ripping straight to MP3 and converting to MP3 and it takes care of all the ID3 tags.. It also allows you to sync to the Zumo SD card and it automatically loads anything you have in the WMP 11 library to the SD card. As far as size of card, the Zumo has no limit, but it can only index 1000 songs (500 if you don't have the latest firmware) I have a 4G card with right at 500 songs and still have 1.2 G left. Also you want to use at least 196 bit MP3 conversion, less than that can have a noticeably reduced quality. Bit rate of 196 may not sound all that good on a quality sound system. Edited July 22, 2008 by hig4s
Mariner Fan Posted July 22, 2008 Author #10 Posted July 22, 2008 Well, one problem solved. I forgot to look at the laptop and sure enough it has a SD slot in it!
WIKD Posted July 23, 2008 #11 Posted July 23, 2008 Although media player 11 will rip to MP3 it doesn't work if you already have a large amount of WMA files on your computer like I did. I downloaded this free program and it works great and is very simple. Did 300 WMA files to MP3 in less than an hour and thats with me listing every bit of info in to categorize it right. jodix free WMA to MP3 converter. Not exactly sure where I downloaded it from but I believe it was from here http://www.jodix.com/
Maritimer Posted July 23, 2008 #12 Posted July 23, 2008 Tx for tall the info guys. Greatly appreciated.
Mariner Fan Posted July 23, 2008 Author #13 Posted July 23, 2008 Well I was listening to the MP3 player today. Really sounds nice! I'm going to have to work on how to sort the music a bit.
gibvel Posted July 23, 2008 #14 Posted July 23, 2008 I read on the Zumo forums that SD cards up to 4G were fine, but there are 4G and up SD cards that are using the new SDHC format (Secure Digital High Capacity) which the Zumo's have problems reading. They do read some of them, but as buddyrich stated it takes longer. I use a 2G card and have 200 songs and still haven't used but half the cards capacity. I asked Garmin the question and the recommend using no more than 2GB cards as anything over 2 will "will limit the units performance in using the data quickly."
hig4s Posted July 24, 2008 #15 Posted July 24, 2008 One other piece of info for those that don't know,, if the unit seems to have low output volume, there are two volumes in the Zumo.. one is the on screen where you choose the percent of volume for either directions or music. Then there is the hard button volume by hitting the button the looks like a speaker and then using the actual + and - buttons.. (this causes the yellow volume bars on the screen to move up and down) The hard volume only works when the unit is in a powered mount!!!
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