looking for music idea

[Eric58701]

 I'm looking for ideas for music going down the road, the radio stations suck and I listen to so much variety, right now I hook my phone up to the factory interstate system, but I'm looking for something different, I was thinking a gps with  storage for music,  what are you guys using?

[Itinifni]

I know it's personal preference but my MarkT exhaust is all the music I need! And I'm a musician.

[Bighead]

IPod.

[97BLKVALK]

Ditto on Mark T. Exhaust

Michael

[gordonv]

Any means of recording music, ipod, cell, mp3, they all work, plugged in through the aux port.

Sounds like you already have it in your cell. Now you just have to find the music you want.

[MarkT]

I have 3 sources.  Installed a Lanzar crossover with Bluetooth to feed into the 300w amp, installed an X-mount with USB power to hold an Iphone, then can play Pandora or any other phone music ap, wireless (except for the phone's power wire). You might know on Pandora you create your own station based on a favorite artist and they play his and similar music.  Thumbs up / down modifies what they play.  I like John Prine, for one example.

Have a 665 Zumo which will play 2000 mp3's per SD card, with several cards set up but rarely need to change them.  The 665 also has Sirius/XM satellite tuner so have satellite radio. It's wired to feed audio into the crossover. Of course the MP3 player and the satellite radio don't depend on a cell signal - so they always play even in the mountains or desert. I could also feed the Escort radar into the Lanzar's mixed input port if I couldn't hear it over the other sounds - but it's loud enough.



Thanks for the kudos guys.

[Gryphon Rider]

How is a GPS with music storage better than a phone with music storage? I play the music in my phone through my Bluetooth helmet communicator.

[Kevin Valk]

You have several options. Yes, the Aux port does work well with an IPOD, MP3, smartphone, etc.. if you turn the volume all the way. You may have trouble changing songs, stations, etc... with gloves on, and even some trouble with changing a station or song while riding.

If you put songs on a 32G sandisk, and put in your GPS, then you can change stations/songs on the GPS itself with ease, and with gloves on. You can also blutooth your phone to your GPS. Good luck.

[Eric58701]

the Gps with scandisk is kinda what I was thinking about, I see several low cost  ones on ebay,   and just for the record, I have MarkT pipes, but would like to add some nice background music to them.

[Pappy!]

Yep, Mark T pipes make that special kind of grin music we all seem to love.

[Steel cowboy]

I too have an interstate model and plug my I phone to the input cable and use the Pandora option. I use the free trial version of it, Pandora plays one or two commercials about every six songs with the trial version. I play anything from the Allen Jackson radio to Def Leppard radio all for free. You can pause the song or skip ahead to the next one too. Even with a low data plan it won't suck up that much that you need to worry about it, it's not video, that will eat up data.

[Fazer]

I downloaded everything on my old MP3 player to my Android phone that links to my helmet and UClear blue tooth communication system.  Sounds great.  Only problem is, if I have the music selection on shuffle, I get a recording from one of any dozen or so albums, and the volume ranges to the point I am always adjusting on the helmet control.  Not a huge deal, but the best solution is to play the entire album in lieu of shuffle.  I also need to get some of those gloves that allow for using a touch screen. 

Any reports on how well they work?

I can also listing to the MP3 or the phone, thru my amp and speakers.  I also have a small AM/FM radio hooked up to that for use around town.  It's OK up to about 45 mph but any faster than that, I have to increase the volume to the point its hard to listen.  I would love to find an AM blue tooth radio transmitter that would link to my head set.  There are IHeart Radio programs that allow listening thru PC or smart phones, but then I am using part of my limited data plan.

[MarkT]

I downloaded everything on my old MP3 player to my Android phone that links to my helmet and UClear blue tooth communication system.  Sounds great.  Only problem is, if I have the music selection on shuffle, I get a recording from one of any dozen or so albums, and the volume ranges to the point I am always adjusting on the helmet control.  Not a huge deal, but the best solution is to play the entire album in lieu of shuffle.  I also need to get some of those gloves that allow for using a touch screen.  

Any reports on how well they work?

You can level the volume of your mp3's with several aps.  I like a program called mp3gain.  It's free, does the levelling "lossless" (no data loss, can revert), fairly quick, can level by song or by album.  All your tunes then play at the same average volume - no chasing them with the vol control.  There are many such audio aps that include levelling.

All of my gloves work with the touchscreens on the phone and the gps.  The less bulky ones with better tactile ability are better for that.  Have a hi-tech pair by Olympia I call my "rain gloves" that are very snug, thin, and warm below 40°. Hard to put on when wet but hands stay warm when wet. Synthetic leather palm, shell 89% nylon 11% spandex. The lining is 100% nylon with "aquatex insert". Of course sometimes you need gloves for the cold first and my electric Warm-N-Safe gloves are best there. On my music - well I set up my playlists with only songs I like so don't need to change them much - might hit the "next" button sometimes, same for Pandora.

[Fazer]

Cool--I was unaware of the mp3 leveling apps.  I will check it out.  As for the gloves--I will try the ones I have.  I don't really use my phone much when riding but I just bought the Marlin phone holder--pricey but very well made--and intend to listen to music when going on longer trips.  As a relatively new Valk owner, I have not made many long trips.  Cinci to Morgantown, Inzane being the longest so far.

[Eric58701]

thanks guys awesome information here,  the only problem with my Samsung is it seems that its not loud enough, not sure if I have a setting off, in the phone but its been this way since I got it, my old one was perfect, I like the gps idea to load music into, buy open to other options

[Psychotic Bovine]

I like the GPS idea because it works with gloves and the display is large. Also, the Garmin motorcycle gps units are waterproof.
I use a zumo 450, which is pretty old, but it still works.  The 550 is nearly the same with some added features. 
A guy in Canada made me a inline volume knob so I can more easily adjust the volume.  Before you had to hit one button to bring up the volume control then hit up or down to adjust.

[Paladin528]

No need to worry about loss when converting MP3 files if you are using Bluetooth.  Bluetooth is ridiculously lossy anyway.  you are always better with a hard connection for the best sound.

[Firefighter]

I have an old Sony mp3. I glued two little  round pieces of plastic onto the menu and the song advance buttons. I can pause, skip to the next song etc. with gloves on. I recently installed a weather proof usb plug so I can charge my MP3 or phone while on the road. Has been working good for years.

[Alzacs]

I have been using the iPod Shuffle.  The little 1" square gizmo.  I have a 6" male-to-male cable that I attach between the iPod and the AUX input under the seat (right side - Interstate).  I have the iPod clipped to the wire.  It weighs nothing so it doesn't bounce around at all.  Plug it in, hit play, turn up the volume on the iPod and now the volume controlling for the speakers is all done with the volume control at the thumb.  It lasts all day long.  I never even hit the pause at the stops.  NOTE:  I actually have two iPod shuffles, just in case the ride goes even longer.  Easy to pick up for real short funds. - I can do photos if necessary.

[Harryc]

Android phone that links to my helmet and UClear blue tooth communication system.  Sounds great. 

This is exactly my setup. I have a 32GB card in my Android phone that is only half full and has 3000 songs on it. It's removable so if I ever get 6000 songs I can just swap cards for another 6000. Don't care what kind of external audio system you have, it will never sound as good as helmet speakers a few cm's away from your ears. Uclear also lets you take and place cell calls with voice commands. You can also link to other units for intercom. It will also link to GPS, but I use MAPS on my Android phone most of the time. Voice navigation is crystal clear and interrupts the audio stream, which quickly resumes. Single charge easily lasts 24 hours. Great unit ...

[Gavin_Sons]

I use a usb bluetooth adapror under my seat. Makes my phone wireless and listen to pandora. Also use my I pod with my tunes loaded on it. Works great 

[mrgeoff]

Heck, I have a 99CT and I use a Bluetooth speaker that lays between my two gages and use my cell phone radio and GPS...works great...!!! Just a thought ...!!! I'm Old School and just like the sound of the exhaust and engine...Use the Bluetooth every once in a while...!!!

[Eric58701]

Update, but still not the answer, i found the input plug from the wires, i hooked up a extension and ran the wire under the tank bib, and poked a small hole threw it just under the "POUCH" i plugged in my phone to Pandora, but was not very loud, so i hooked up wifes phone and it was way louder, i contacted my local Att to find out why, apparently samsung has a volume limit and its way low, so damm it next option, i want to load music and not have to rely on data or connection im in a remote area with very sketchy reception.

[Roidfingers]

I bout this amp and speaker combo. Cheap and works great. Has a cable I routed up to my right handle bar and attached with zip tie to front break master cylinder. Stands straight up and is right next to my throttle hand. Then I bought an aux cable and a cheap mp3 player that mounts to my center of handle bars with Velcro. Got tons of songs on it and have amp and mp3 turned all most all the way up. And then just adjust volume as needed from volume control on throttle side.

https://www.amazon.com/BOSS-MC400-Motorcycle-Speakers-Control/dp/B004S4XMH2/ref=pd_sim_107_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004S4XMH2&pd_rd_r=5HK07H67HV33269FSSC1&pd_rd_w=0SMHd&pd_rd_wg=tklNA&psc=1&refRID=5HK07H67HV33269FSSC1

[Tourus]

   I was using my iPod that was pluged into an amplifier under my seat, it was controled by a seperate switch on handlebars that turned it on and controled the volume with 3 inch speakers mounted to my crash bars and it worked fine but I would mute it at traffic lights. Now I bought a sena so I can listen to music on Pandora or use my iPod that plugs right into the sena. I prefer the iPod pluged into the sena much better.

[Black Dog]

Get yerself a XM radio, and plug it in to the same place you do for your current music...

My station of choice is 'Deep Tracks', but if you can't find something you like, there is no pleasing you.  The variety of music, and the different genre's (40's, thru current hits, of Rock, Country, Christian, talk...) are great.

Their commercial a few years ago was 'Like an iPod, with surprises'...   

Same station can be listened to, coast to coast  

***Note*** I love my music, and the fact that my one XM receiver can be used on my Valk, my truck, and my home, makes the subscription $$ Worth it to me  

Black Dog

[fudgie]

I have a Rock Box on mine. Plays FM radio stations with(out) a antenna. I also have a mp3 player for when reception sucks. I can use Iheart radio from my phone thru my Rock Box if I want to. But that will just suck my battery down. Plus I don't have to worry about my phone getting wet.

[Roidfingers]

long rides or just short. I couldn't see doing sat radio if not all over country riding.