Please check out these Frequently Asked Questions for answers to most questions, we will continue to update them with any common questions. Please click the Email support button if additional help is needed.

 

 

 

Q: Will the MuzicVault work with my Garmin iQue?

A: Yes, you can have a complete GPS guidance system and ultimate MP3 control. The MuzicVault cable continuously charges the power hungry PDA keeping it ready for mobile use. Additionally an optional feature routes the navigational audio and mixes it into your line outputs eliminating that little PDA speaker giving you clear directions while driving. All other PDA noises are also routed to the MuzicVault as well. Combine the system with one of our gooseneck mounts and IR steering wheel remote to make a truely awesome system!!

Q: What's the best Palm device to get?

A: We recommend a PDA with internal battery and color display. The MuzicVault charges the battery so you'll never need to worry about it again. We also highly recommend the color models with a TFT screen, because of their superior displays. These displays can withstand a large temperature range so you'll never need to adjust the contrast if you leave the PDA in your car permanently, hot or cold. TFT models do not have a contrast control only brightness. The MuzicVault works with low or high resolution models. Some models also have an internal Bluetooth communication radio, which we support with an optional Bluetooth adapter. We support a large range of Palm, Treo, Garmin, and Sony PDA's. There are many to choose from giving each person a personal touch or cost level.

Click here for a complete list.

Q: Is the communication spec availible? Can I develop my own application?

A: Yes! Wiring and communication specifications are now availible on the download page. We have also made availible the PDA source code to allow developers to more esily port the application to other OS's. We have also made availble a demo Windows control program to control the MuzicVault with any standard PC serial port. An independently formed software development forum can be found HERE. We are also offering a free MuzicVault system to any developer that releases a stable bluetooth enabled Pocket PC version, please contact us for more info..

Q: What makes the MuzicVault better in a car than an "iPod" like player?

A: The MuzicVault is...
** Designed to be permanently installed for a much more professional installation.
** Increased control includes IR remote control input, bigger/better display, PDA touchscreen, PDA buttons and wireless Bluetooth control.

** Automatically turns on then resumes and turns off with car ignition.
** Built in FM transmitter, allowing easy install in cars with no access to audio inputs

(i.e. OEM CD car stereo) plus create an instant party with other cars near you!
** Larger upgradeable removable drive for furture proofing.
** PDA users that already carry a PDA don't need to carry another new device.
** Bluetooth option allows support to more and more devices in the future once again for furture proofing.
** Does not have any rights management, allowing you to move muzic around easily and freely...
** No proprietary software, Windows 2000/XP/ME will recognize it with no software at all..

Q: What's the wireless Bluetooth range?

A: The Bluetooth range is limited by the weak transceivers used in the PDA's. Walls and metal objects will effect the range but a 15-50FT radius was found when using a Tungsten T or any Palm with optional SD Bluetooth card. When using a Palm simulator as described in next question we are able to go more than 100FT away from the MuzicVault.

Q: Can you use a PC to control the MuzicVault?

A: You can control the MuzicVault with any PC via serial cable or Bluetooth adapter.

Here is a picture of on a laptop running XP and using a Bluetooth adapter. With the laptop we were able to go more than 100FT away from the MuzicVault and control the muzic on any portable radio nearby!

Q: Can I use my old Palm?

A: Yes, we sell cables for many older PDA's. Old PDA's that no longer can hold a charge for long are also good to use since the MuzicVault supplies power, saving you a repair cost. Be carefull when buying a used or "refurbished" PDA.

 

Q: What Palm devices do you support?

A: We produce cables for Palm, Treo, Garmin, and Sony PDA's. Our software should be able to run on any device that uses the Palm OS including even some new cellphones, however each device requires a different cable and we must focus on the most popular models. If your device can be Bluetooth enabled our Bluetooth adapter may work with it. If your device is not supported stay tuned and we may have you covered soon...

Q: How much room will the Palm application use?

A: The application itself uses about 200K, but the database will vary dependant on the number of files and the number of playlists. The database will normally use about 500K per 20GB of music. Scanning the entire drive is optional and you can create the database as you go to keep it smaller if you like.

 

Q: Can I look at my personal muzic database in the Palm without a player attached?

A: Yes, We've found it to be a convenient way to remember what muzic you have, use it in a store when buying new muzic or comparing a friends collection... ;-)

Q: What do I use the line inputs for?

A: They can be used to "break a line level source you already use. So if in your car, your head unit goes to an amp, you can unplug the lines going into the amp, plug them into the MuzicVault and then take the outputs and feed them back to the amp. With this configuration if the MuzicVault is off your system is as it was, then when you turn it on the MuzicVault will take over the audio. This allows you to have two devices in you car with only one line input on the amp. If you don't use them at first but do use the line outputs you could later use them for a game system, etc...

Q: I want to listen to some audio books and need the files in order, how can I do this?

A: There are two different ways. Simply add the entire book directory into a playlist, then in the playlist window move the files into the order you like. The other way it to make sure (track number) is turned on in the MusicMatch recorder options before you create the MP3's, or use their SuperTag function to rename them. Then the songs will be named 01-xxx,02-xxx,etc... Then you can use the alpha sort option on the PDA to automatically order them properly.

Q: I want my muzic to be in the same track order as on the original album?

A: Many MP3 players have a problem with track ordering, some allow you to manually adjust the position of each file, which is a pain, the MuzicVault does this for you automatically. Just read the question above and your albums we be in the same order as they originally were on the CD.

Q: My muzic is stored in many formats including WMA, Ogg, Etc. How can I convert them all to MP3 for use on the MuzicVault?

A: We've tried a few converters and best we can tell dBpowerAMP Music Converter (dMC) is THE program to use. Get it here http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

The program is free and easy to use. Make sure to download the separate CODEC's you need like WMA and also the file manager plug-in which allow a complete drive or directory to be converted at once. Make sure to select both V1 & V2 ID3 tag creation in the setup. If you want to keep your original muzic files as is and don't want to use any more space just have the MuzicVault USB drive bay connected and point the new files to be created directly on the drive cartridge, so you create and copy at the same time.

Q: What bitrate should I use when making MP3's?

A: 128kbps is what was originally called "CD" quality, however this is not true at all, in fact listening to muzic at this rate had previously caused some audiophiles to not accept MP3. This rate is fine for most applications which is why MP3 players usually state how much can be stored on them at this rate, but if you want "REAL" CD quality you should encode at 160 or 192kbps. We here at MPTRONIX all use 192kbps, at rates above this we were unable to hear a difference after extensive examination with trained ears. Since the MuzicVault has lots of storage space there's no reason to encode your muzic below 160kbps.

Q: How can I make all the songs on the entire drive be played?

A: The player will play the entire directory you select, so if you for example play on a album, it will play the entire album, if you play on a band directory it would play all the albums from that band, and if you click play on MuzicVault it will play the entire drive. The player will only play directories that have been scanned into its database so it a good idea to scan the drive if you want to play everything.

Q: Can I replace my old obsolete car CD changer with the MuzicVault?

A: Yes, obviously you can use the built in FM transmitter and keep the changer as is or use a auxiliary input converter, car input adapter. Several manufactures produce adapters to replace your old CD changer, normally called an AUX adapter.

Check these sites to buy one.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/auxinpconv.html

http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/

Q: Why does the MuzicVault require both battery and switched 12V(ignition) inputs for power?

A: All in-dash car stereos require both to keep time, settings, etc... When the switched 12V(ignition) line goes away, the MuzicVault will automatically shut itself down and remembers what song it was playing. It properly shuts down the hard drive for longer life. It also remembers if it was previously shut off manually, so if you manually turn it off, it won't turn back on unless you manually turn it back on. When you start the car it will wake up the MuzicVault which in turn wakes up the PDA,then starts the music where you left off. We do offer a cig power cable, but you'll need to turn off the player yourself.

Q: Can I replace the hard drive myself?

A: The MuzicVault does not support 3.5inch drives which are not able to survive in a car with any margin of safety, also the MuzicVault was not designed to power these power hungry drives. Our 2.5inch drives are suspended in shock absorbing foam and have special software installed for even better ruggedness ensuring a long life.