Playing m4a files
 

Can the CD player play m4a (iPod) file formats burned to CD or the files have to be mp3 format ?

Not sure, but why would you burn from your Ipod to a CD instead of just using your Ipod in the car? You can use the AUX input in the center armrest to connect your Ipod, or get the Ipod interface that will allow you to control your Ipod through the Idrive.

Burning music from an Ipod to a CD is like recording a CD on a cassette tape...... backwards.

True, but it is not my iPod, it is my daughters so I don't have it all the time.

Oh, I guess that makes sense then... If no-one on here can answer whether or not it would play the files, you can always burn a CD and then take it to a dealership to find out. I would be shocked if it wouldn't be able to play them.

Keep in mind, if you bought the songs through iTunes, they definitely won't play, as they are protected with DRM. Burning an audio cd would still be an option.

I believe the M4a file format is for the ipod and does not burn to CD's. Unless you specifiy differently what you get is AIFF burned to CD which retains the quality of the Songs found in iTunes but limits the number of burned songs to the standard 10 or 11 songs based on length of course. But if you decide to burn MP3 which I believe some CD changers will handle the amount of songs you can burn on a single CD increases to more than 100 which can be very convienent. Yes you do lose some quality but for many it's good enough.

Either way, I would recommend just getting another iPod and syncing to your daughter's iTunes anyway. No need to constantly burn CD's even if it did work.

I agree with your recommendation, if a person can spend 60-70K for a car, I think he can easily spend $200-300 on a new ipod!

While your cruising around in other folks wallets. How about a trailer hitch, or running boards, or a new exhust system, let's see what else Hmmmm. :rolleyes:

Fact is many folks around here didn't pay 60-70K for their SAV. They in fact bought used.;)

So the arguement regarding what they can or cannot afford is irrevelant and not a decision for any of us to make. What technology they can or cannot use perhaps should be the suggestion given and the choice they make based on the information given should be their own. :thumbup:

You're correct, he would have to burn them as standard audio cds. Burning back to AIFF doesn't give you any better quality than an original mp3/mp4 track though. It's the initial conversion to mp3/mp4 where the song quality is downsampled.