LG VX8500 WMA MP3 & Ringtone Howto

Seems to be lots of confusion regarding loading/playing WMAs, MP3s, and MP3 Ringtones to/with the LG VX8500 (at least with the latest version of the firmware). My experiences with the Verizon Music Essentials Kit, Verizon Micro SD card, and BitPim follow:

Phone: LG VX8500 Cherry Chocolate w/T85VZR04 firmware
Optional Accessories: Verizon Music Essentials Kit, Verizon Micro SD Card.
PC OS: Windows XP Home Edition 2002 SP2
Windows Media Player: v.10.00.00.3802
BitPim: version 0.9.09-official

Loading WMAs on the phone through Windows Media Player Sync:

1. Install software and USB driver from/per the Verizon Music Essentials Kit.
2. Follow these instructions to synchronize WMA files to the phone:
Click Here for Instructions on Synchronizing music to the handset with Windows Media Player 10

Note: The most common problem reported in forums seems to be that people do not configure the handset, before trying to synchronize files.

Note: MP3s WILL NOT sync to the phone through Windows Media Player – so forget about doing this. I asked tech support at my city’s main (large) Verizon store about this and was told this is per contractual agreement between Microsoft and Verizon. I guess it makes sense – Microsoft is pushing WMAs. Verizon tech support said best way to get MP3s on the phone is drag & drop onto formatted micro SD card (see below). If you have to play MP3s, you should get a micro SD card for your phone (unless you want to jack around with BitPim or some other program to use the USB connection, most likely very slowly. Please note that I am not attempting to rule out the feasibility of wireless Bluetooth transfers – just don’t have any experience with them.

Installing and Formatting micro SD card / loading WMAs and MP3s on the phone through the micro SD card.

Note: You will need a SD card reader either built into, or attached to your PC – as well as an adaptor for the micro SD card (comes with the Verizon micro SD cards).

1. Turn off your phone and install the micro SD card in your phone
2. Turn on your phone and follow these instructions to insure the memory card is formatted correctly:
Click Here for Instructions on Ensuring that the memory card is formatted correctly - LG Chocolate (VX8500)
3. Turn off your phone and remove the micro SD card.
4. Install the micro SD card in the card reader of your PC
5. Drag and drop desired WMA and/or MP3 files into the MY_MUSIC folder on the SD card. (Make sure they are first properly tagged with song info)
6. Reinstall micro SD card into the phone
7. Turn on your phone and let it boot. Your WMA and/or MP3 files will now be available to play.

Installing MP3 Ringtones using BitPIM

1. Install BitPim version 0.9.09-official (minimum) on your PC.
2. Make an appropriate MP3 ringtone.
3. Turn off your phone and remove the micro SD card.
4. Install the micro SD card in the card reader of your PC
5. Follow the instructions below “Access Ringtones from a Micro SD Card” to install the ringtone:
Click Here for the Howto
6. You will now be able to select your ringtone from the phone’s usual ringtone menu.

do you need the data cable to do this?

You need the Verizon Music Essentials Kit (cable + drivers + software) to Sync WMAs using WMPlayer. Also the cable + driver is necessary to connect with BitPim to do ringtones. (note that v.5 and V.6 of phone software is Verizon's apparent attempt to restrict you from directly accessing files using BitPim - possible workarounds see threads on HowardForums.net).

You do not need a cable or software to install MP3s or WMAs using a micro SD card - but you do need a SD card reader in your computer.

LM

This statement is absolutely not true.

Windows Media Player 10 has no problem playing and/or pushing your MP3 files to your phone. You don't have to worry about converting your huge collection of MP3's to WMA format. As for the alleged contractual agreement between Verizon and Microsoft... can anybudy say Antitrust? There in no factual basis behind such a statement and the employee who said it has obviously never gone through any of Verizon's training... or used any of our products. So go ahead, sync your MP3 files all day long, it will work just fine!

[quote=paulcman]This statement is absolutely not true. Windows Media Player 10 has no problem playing and/or pushing your MP3 files to your phone. QUOTE]

I respectfully disagree regarding syncing MP3s to your VX-8500 phone with WMP10. It is not possible with my VX-8500 v.4 firmware / Verizon MEK driver and cable.

How about it - has anyone out there actually successfully done this? Please explain why I am successful in syncing WMAs, but not MP3s - yet same MP3s work fine when loaded directly on the SD card?

If more than one person agrees that they have actually done this with the software/firmware I described - then I will concede the argument. Otherwise I stand by what I previously said.

LM

I do it all the time with my version 4 Chocolate!

I absolutely refuse to convert my collection of over 8,600 MP3 files just so that I can put a few of them on my phone. Plus, my iPod will not play WMA files, and I do not have enough hard drive space to duplicate my music collection.

As for WMP10 being able to play MP3 files, you should check Microsoft's release notes for the software, it is very clearly stated that it will recognize and play them. In fact, you can even rip your CD's to MP3 files using WMP10.

I am not sure what the problem is with your installation or setup, but there is no reason why you should not be able to push your MP3 files to the phone using WMP10 and the Verizon MEK.

I don't recall saying that WMP10 couldn't play MP3s. No problem playing MP3s with WMP10 - just gives an error when it tries to sync MP3s to my phone. WMAs sync fine using exactly the same procedure, so I must surmise that I am doing it correctly.

In any case, I also don't like the WMA format and I put MP3s on my phone using the micro SD card in my PC method. I suspect you do also. What is still not clear is if you actually claim to have successfully put MP3s on your phone using WMP10 sync with the MEK cable?

LM

Yes, to clear up any possible confusion, I use WMP10 regularly to sync my MP3 files from my PC to my Chocolate.

Ok, I stand corrected. Thanks for your input.

LM

I think I may have an explanation:

Answers to FAQS

"Unprotected music may be transferred using Windows Explorer if it is in WMA format. V CAST Music phones with Version 01.02.000 or higher software such as the Chocolate by LG can also accept unprotected MP3 files. The file must be saved to the MY_MUSIC folder on the memory card to be played. Note: only unprotected MP3 files can be played after being sideloaded. Protected MP3 files must be transferred using the sync function in order to be played on the phone."

If I remember correctly, I tried to sync MP3s to the base memory on the phone before I bought the micro SD card, and this was the unsuccessful attempt I have been referring to. It seems that the above info states that MP3s must be transferred to the memory card (sd card) only in order to be played. This is the possible explanation for the error I observed in syncing MP3s. Haven't tried it since buying the micro SD card.

LM

Let us know if you are successful in syncing MP3 files given the new information.

Tried it last night. No problem syncing mp3s to either base memory OR to SD card using WMP10. Can't figure out why I was having problems originally with MP3s and not WMAs, but obviously I was doing something differently.

Paul is correct in that MP3s are no problem to sync using WMP10 and USB cable.

LM

I am glad that it works for you and that my success was not just a fluke. Thanks for giving it another try!

Hi, I've been having trouble with the micro s card working with the lg choclate. I loaded 2 albums to the card off my hardrive and reinstalled the card to the phone, it still doesn't work. I have did what you said step by step and still having problems. Is there something i'm missing?

1. Did you load them to the "my_music" directory on the SD card, without creating any subdirectories? All music needs to go together in one big directory. Phone relies on MP3 tags to sort them.
2. Did you turn off your phone when removing/installing the SD card? If I remember correctly it apears to recognize new files after booting up.
3. Are your filenames too long? Try shorter ones without unusual characters.
4. Are your MP3 tags appropriate? Try re-ripping one in WMP.

Hope something here helps. Good luck.

LM