Can I use a flash mp3 player to transfer songs from one computer to another?

December 6, 2005 8:17 AM

DummyFilter: Can I use a flash mp3 player to transfer songs from one computer to another?

I have a whole bunch of music on my office computer, and for a variety of reasons need a way to move those files to my home system that doesn't involve a CD burner or email/the internet.

I want to get an mp3 player anyway -- the iRiver T30 I think -- and if someone can answer whether I can use it as described above that would seal the deal.

posted by melimelo to Technology (9 answers total)

Almost definitely yes if both computers mentioned have USB ports. I don't want to say 100% yes since I don't have an iRiver. I do have an older Creative flash player and I do the same thing.
posted by poppo at 8:33 AM on December 6, 2005

Yes, you (probably) can. You may have too look up how to use the thing as a mass-storage device, though. My GF has the IFP 790 and using it as mass storage involved flashing the firmware, so that putting music on it required only copy/paste instead of using their software. It didn't affect the playback of the device, though. The plus side is that it now looks like a removable drive and can be used to move any type of file, plus it plays music.

Check the forums at http://www.misticriver.net for more on iRiver devices.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:34 AM on December 6, 2005

This thread shows that converting the T30 to UMS (mass storage) isn't pretty. It may not even be possible. The IFP series players may be a better bet for you if lack of UMS capability is a deal-breaker.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:43 AM on December 6, 2005

It really depends - do you want to be able to PLAY the mp3 files while you are using the device for transferring them? Because you can very easily use an iPod shuffle to transfer the files (if you copy the files to it as a mass storage device), you just can't easily play them that way :)
posted by antifuse at 8:48 AM on December 6, 2005

You can at least with the mobiblu DAH-1500i, which doubles as a regular data drive.

You could technically transfer songs from one computer to another with a cassette tape, if you were so inclined.
posted by vanoakenfold at 9:39 AM on December 6, 2005

I do this for fun and profit.
I use a PikaOne GrooveCase, which is pretty much just an external hard drive with a MP3 player OS sprinkled on it. No lock.
posted by XiBe at 9:56 AM on December 6, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for the comments everyone!

To clarify, yes I would want to be able to play the files, as well as store and transfer them.

The scenario I'm thinking of would be 1) tranfer songs from office computer to player 2) listen to files on the way home 3) plug player into home computer 4) transfer files onto home computer 5) burn CDs off of home computer using said files.

I'll have to look into the iFP 790 again. That is a model that I had considered, but I've looked at so many in the interim that I don't remeber why it fell off the list.

If there are any more suggestions as to specific models please go ahead and post. I'm essentially looking for flash-based, wearable (for jogging), and dead simple.

Cheers!
posted by melimelo at 11:34 AM on December 6, 2005

I can only suggest that you avoid MPIO and Sandisk. They both have models that do what you want, but I've used both of them and they had pieces falling off in less than a week, and I'm not hard on electronics.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 12:21 PM on December 6, 2005

You may be able to do it without using the player as a data drive (which means you can still use it normally to play songs on the go). I don't know about the iRiver, but iPods can do this, although Apple doesn't want you to. There are a number of programs that allow you to do this, but you have to be able to install one (EphPod worked for me) on the computer that doesn't have the music yet.
posted by booksandlibretti at 4:03 PM on December 6, 2005