Random and next song

larrywal · 01-14-2008, 01:14 AM

Hi folks -- I'm wondering if anyone here can help me. I love listening to CDs with random on (I particularly like random across folders for MP3 CDs since it doesn't seem to take that long to switch folders (like it does to switch CDs).

However, I jump around with songs that I like, and if I'm not in the mood for the one selected by random, I like to go to the next song. However, when I do this, it just increments by one song instead of picking another song randomly.

This is very irritating. The only way to pick a 2nd random song seems to be to turn random off and turn it on again.

Can anyone help me? Is there an easier (i.e. reasonable) way to do what I want to do? Thanks.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-14-2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrywal

Hi folks -- I'm wondering if anyone here can help me. I love listening to CDs with random on (I particularly like random across folders for MP3 CDs since it doesn't seem to take that long to switch folders (like it does to switch CDs).

However, I jump around with songs that I like, and if I'm not in the mood for the one selected by random, I like to go to the next song. However, when I do this, it just increments by one song instead of picking another song randomly.

This is very irritating. The only way to pick a 2nd random song seems to be to turn random off and turn it on again.

Can anyone help me? Is there an easier (i.e. reasonable) way to do what I want to do? Thanks.

Ya unforunately that's the only way to do it. I haven't found any other method.

Sitting Duc · 01-14-2008, 02:14 AM

If there is a way, I've not heard of it; and I suspect there isn't one.

I've given up on the random play, because even with folders, it isn't a "fair" algorithm. I've got one artist who represents <10% of the total audio on a CD who seems to get played more like 20-25% of the time; and it will play the same song again before it has played every other song.

Sad, because it would be nice to have a decent CD changing MP3 playing car stereo.

qbee42 · 01-14-2008, 08:20 AM

I've run into this on other electronic playback devices. It's odd that the designers don't do a better job with it, since it's just a little bit of firmware. Being firmware driven, the algorithm isn't truly random, but it should have a level distribution, which brings up another interesting point: Most users don't want a truly random playback, but instead want a random selection of a song not yet played. A truly random playback will have some clumping, where you will occasionally get the same song played twice in a row, or the same artist will hit several times. The devil is in the details.

Tom

larrywal · 01-14-2008, 08:56 AM

Wow -- ok. Thanks folks. I'm not as bummed about the "not true random" algorithm though that's annoying. To me it seems fairly pathetic that there's no way to "go to next random song" without turning random on and off.

Even if the algorithm is poor, that would seem like basic functionality....

Oh well. Hmmmm....does anyone know if this is stuff that can be fixed in a yearly nav firmware update?

(along those lines, is it possible that text-to-speech for street names can also be added in nav updates?)

Thanks!

Gilbert · 01-14-2008, 12:27 PM

I have the same problem, Its really annoying that the random doesnt really work well. Hopefully they trow a firmware fix for it if possible.

01-14-2008, 01:14 AM	#1
larrywal Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Random and next song Hi folks -- I'm wondering if anyone here can help me. I love listening to CDs with random on (I particularly like random across folders for MP3 CDs since it doesn't seem to take that long to switch folders (like it does to switch CDs). However, I jump around with songs that I like, and if I'm not in the mood for the one selected by random, I like to go to the next song. However, when I do this, it just increments by one song instead of picking another song randomly. This is very irritating. The only way to pick a 2nd random song seems to be to turn random off and turn it on again. Can anyone help me? Is there an easier (i.e. reasonable) way to do what I want to do? Thanks.

01-14-2008, 02:14 AM	#3
Sitting Duc Feathered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Posts: 59 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: I-Tech Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Random and next song If there is a way, I've not heard of it; and I suspect there isn't one. I've given up on the random play, because even with folders, it isn't a "fair" algorithm. I've got one artist who represents <10% of the total audio on a CD who seems to get played more like 20-25% of the time; and it will play the same song again before it has played every other song. Sad, because it would be nice to have a decent CD changing MP3 playing car stereo.

01-14-2008, 08:20 AM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,236 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: Random and next song I've run into this on other electronic playback devices. It's odd that the designers don't do a better job with it, since it's just a little bit of firmware. Being firmware driven, the algorithm isn't truly random, but it should have a level distribution, which brings up another interesting point: Most users don't want a truly random playback, but instead want a random selection of a song not yet played. A truly random playback will have some clumping, where you will occasionally get the same song played twice in a row, or the same artist will hit several times. The devil is in the details. Tom __________________ *Black* 2006 package #7 Northern Michigan

01-14-2008, 08:56 AM	#5
larrywal Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Random and next song Wow -- ok. Thanks folks. I'm not as bummed about the "not true random" algorithm though that's annoying. To me it seems fairly pathetic that there's no way to "go to next random song" without turning random on and off. Even if the algorithm is poor, that would seem like basic functionality.... Oh well. Hmmmm....does anyone know if this is stuff that can be fixed in a yearly nav firmware update? (along those lines, is it possible that text-to-speech for street names can also be added in nav updates?) Thanks!

01-14-2008, 12:27 PM	#6
Gilbert Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 125 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Random and next song I have the same problem, Its really annoying that the random doesnt really work well. Hopefully they trow a firmware fix for it if possible.