tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post8854607726778604359..comments2024-03-27T08:40:31.785-06:00Comments on Clayton Cramer.: MP3 FM TransmitterClayton Cramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-49189707562136612112012-08-31T08:45:11.844-06:002012-08-31T08:45:11.844-06:00It's seems with any kind of MP3 fm transmitter...It's seems with any kind of MP3 fm transmitter, its a sub standard solution to a straight in line jack.<br /><br />I spent a boatload on one with hopes it would work in my old Mazda, I don't think it hit CD quality.Mp3 FM Transmitterhttp://wholehousefmtransmitter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-15081174340041281342011-11-23T21:19:31.320-07:002011-11-23T21:19:31.320-07:00The latest email indicates that all purchased MP3s...<i> The latest email indicates that all purchased MP3s will have DRM--which makes this unit pretty much useless, unless you are ripping from CDs. </i><br /><br />They're either incompetent or lying. You can purchase MP3s from Amazon without DRM and have been since 2008. Some of the details are available here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_MP3" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_MP3</a>. Amazon started the DRM-free trend, and for that I thank them. I tend to do only Amazon purchases for that reason -- I hate having to buy the same thing twice if for some reason I want to switch to yet-another player. And with the original file in MP3 format it's playable by all players without hassle.<br /><br />In general, I've had good luck using LAME to convert WMA files to MP3s. I tend to do it under Linux, and you can see the instructions here: <a href="http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Applications_GUI_Multimedia/Convert_WMA_to_MP3" rel="nofollow">http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Applications_GUI_Multimedia/Convert_WMA_to_MP3</a>. There are Windows apps that use LAME to do the conversion, too, but I've not really used them much. Try LAME, I think you'll like it. I know some audiophiles claim it's not perfect, but honestly, for something in the car and for someone with older ears I doubt the difference will be detectable.<br /><br />As for DRM, there are rippers that will break all audio DRM out there, and there's always the "analog hole" method of playing the tune to the speakers while capturing it on the mic using a patch cord. And you don't always have to burn to a real CD, you can use a virtual disk, too. For direct digital methods, I'll leave it to your own Google-fu to find methods and just say that it's FairUse of your own files if you want to convert them. I did direct digital conversion myself long ago.PhaseMarginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631941929380901353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-67226864381903867132011-11-23T19:11:26.482-07:002011-11-23T19:11:26.482-07:00I use an FM transmitter on my Siruis receiver. Si...I use an FM transmitter on my Siruis receiver. Sirius has a handy <a href="http://www.siriusxm.com/frequency" rel="nofollow">FM Channel Finder</a> on their website that can help you find the best frequency in your area.<br /><br />WV: premestr - The period before a semesterLink Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06224136060277861396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-49262126887080338932011-11-23T12:40:33.174-07:002011-11-23T12:40:33.174-07:00There is a way to keep steering wheel controls wit...There is a way to keep steering wheel controls with a new head unit, but this is fast becoming a major exercise in spending money and time, especially because there seems to be very little aftermarket interest in the X-type. You would think that I bought something expensive and exotic, as opposed to just oddball.<br /><br />I only have one song that is WMA, and I will probably burn that to an audio CD and then rip it from there; the rest are MP3, but it appears from the behavior of this unit and what the tech support guy says that even MP3s that I purchased (through WalMart's online store) have some sort of DRM on them.Clayton Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-78421747408853604912011-11-23T11:19:00.324-07:002011-11-23T11:19:00.324-07:00If the head-unit is replaceable in any sort of sen...If the head-unit is replaceable in any sort of sensible way, I suggest you just do that. My experience with such things is that it solves lots of problems, by itself.<br /><br />(Yes, you're likely to lose steering-wheel controls. But considering that they already won't work very well with an FM broadcaster, you're at parity on that.)<br /><br />(Also, WMA is a problem in and of itself, in principle - especially if there's DRM on it.<br /><br />I'd re-acquire the content in MP3 or AAC; since I presume you legitimately own it now, there's no moral (and barely - if any - legal) issue in you just downloading an MP3 version afresh.<br /><br />WMA causes nothing but problems.)Sigivaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152366541957466049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-52690721289472289722011-11-23T08:25:24.275-07:002011-11-23T08:25:24.275-07:00That's for the suggestion. They don't mak...That's for the suggestion. They don't make one for the Jaguar X-type.Clayton Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-53294040946996506272011-11-23T07:56:38.074-07:002011-11-23T07:56:38.074-07:00Turns out that they are called Factory Radio Adapt...Turns out that they are called Factory Radio Adapters.<br /><br />http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/car/changers.html?g=599&tp=532<br /><br />No idea if they make one for your car(s).The Comedianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614188660305910320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-9713401169117211722011-11-23T07:49:18.695-07:002011-11-23T07:49:18.695-07:00(My knowledge is dated, but I can't imagine th...(My knowledge is dated, but I can't imagine that this market has died out.) <br /><br />There is an active aftermarket of companies that make bridge devices that enable using OEM factory head units with non-OEM (Sorny/Panaphonic and the like) CD changers.<br /><br />I used one on a VW that had the capacity to control an OEM cd changer. The adapter, a small device with some brains inside, translated the OEM control signals so that the buttons on my stock stero could drive an aftermarket CD changer. The control implementation wasn't complete, but it was functional and predictable.The Comedianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614188660305910320noreply@blogger.com