How to format a flash drive for the best quality of music?

[OrangeStreak]

I copied all my individual Amazon mp3 music files directly to a PNY 16GB Flash Drive without formatting it and its plays the music OK on my audio system.

But I am wondering which is the best choice of the 3 formats to use for the best music sound quality?
1. NTFS
2. FAT32
3. exFAT

Am assuming it would be either 2. or 3?

Also, is there any preference as to the Allocation unit size selection choice?

If anyone has any other suggestions about copying music to a Flash Drive for the best sound quality it would be appreciated.

Regards,
Paul

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[Rick - Saber]

The formats you mentioned do not change the quality of the music files. I would stay with NTFS it is the newer file system on the list and does not have the file size limits that the other two do. For example large single files such as video files and greater than a GB each. Not something to really worry about for music. They are file storage systems but not in the way you are thinking of for music.

Allocation size and such, leave to defaults unless you really know what you are doing else asking for trouble.

Music formats like mp3, AAC, FLAC, OGG do have the ability to determine the quality of the music stored in them based on how they compress the music. FLAC being closer to the best of near lossless, then OGG and AAC. While the others are lossy and drop data points to reduce file size. MP3 being the least quality unless recorded near 300 kbps.

 

[OrangeStreak]

The formats you mentioned do not change the quality of the music files. I would stay with NTFS it is the newer file system on the list and does not have the file size limits that the other two do. For example large single files such as video files and greater than a GB each. Not something to really worry about for music. They are file storage systems but not in the way you are thinking of for music.

Allocation size and such, leave to defaults unless you really know what you are doing else asking for trouble.

Music formats like mp3, AAC, FLAC, OGG do have the ability to determine the quality of the music stored in them based on how they compress the music. FLAC being closer to the best of near lossless, then OGG and AAC. While the others are lossy and drop data points to reduce file size. MP3 being the least quality unless recorded near 300 kbps.

So you are saying that the only change preferred from the way I copied the files to the Flash Drive is to choose the NTFS selection? Should I do a Quick format or a complete format before copying these files again? Thanks.

 

[VAMike]

doesn't really matter. unlike the previous poster I'd use exfat if I had to pick one, ntfs is too complex for thumbdrives. exfat does not have an practical limits on file size. it's also newer than ntfs (not that it matters). there is never a reason to do a "full format" unless you're trying to use it as a lazy data wipe.

 

[Trigganometry]

doesn't really matter. unlike the previous poster I'd use exfat if I had to pick one, ntfs is too complex for thumbdrives. exfat does not have an practical limits on file size. it's also newer than ntfs (not that it matters). there is never a reason to do a "full format" unless you're trying to use it as a lazy data wipe.

Same, exfat would be my choice. The fact that Ford recommends using this format for Sync upgrades via USB says something.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Same, exfat would be my choice. The fact that Ford recommends using this format for Sync upgrades via USB says something.

Thanks for the input. Will the exfat choice give a popup that I need a damper?

 

[Trigganometry]

Thanks for the input. Will the exfat choice give a popup that I need a damper?

Only if Dave @AzScorpion preps your USB stick. Then who knows what tunes he might add along with a damper beat. I’m guessing “Who let the dogs out”

 

[OrangeStreak]

Only if Dave @AzScorpion preps your USB stick. Then who knows what tunes he might add along with a damper beat. I’m guessing “Who let the dogs out”

I'm thinking he might come up with "Don't let me down"
The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down - YouTube

 

[VAMike]

Only if Dave @AzScorpion preps your USB stick. Then who knows what tunes he might add along with a damper beat. I’m guessing “Who let the dogs out”

 

[Zaph]

I use exfat also. The only problem: some other older cars that read USB don't recognize exfat. If anyone wants to occasionally stick your USB in something old to play, it's probably better to use NTFS. All my CDs are ripped to MP3 at 320kbps using CDex (free). I don't use Ogg, Flac or other lossless codecs for compatability reasons and their improvement is minimal anyway.

Though most of the time I'm just listening to Spotify premium, which streams at 320kbps. It's an improvement over free spotify that is 160kpbs And a super massive improvement over satellite radio that is pretty much the lowest form of hi-fi possible, sometimes 64kbps. Damn satellite radio sucks.

 

[VAMike]

I use exfat also. The only problem: some other older cars that read USB don't recognize exfat. If anyone wants to occasionally stick your USB in something old to play, it's probably better to use NTFS. All my CDs are ripped to MP3 at 320kbps using CDex (free). I don't use Ogg, Flac or other lossless codecs for compatability reasons and their improvement is minimal anyway.

Though most of the time I'm just listening to Spotify premium, which streams at 320kbps. It's an improvement over free spotify that is 160kpbs And a super massive improvement over satellite radio that is pretty much the lowest form of hi-fi possible, sometimes 64kbps. Damn satellite radio sucks.

If you have something that won't read exfat there's a good chance it won't read ntfs either; fat would be the way to go for maximum compatibility (and also a relatively small thumbdrive because you may run into problems there as well). Realistically, the 4G fat file size limit isn't going to be a factor for audio files, especially on a 4G or 8G drive.

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