How to Connect Computer MP3 Audio to a Car Radio

Getting MP3s to play in your car stereo is extremely easy.

Regular drivers can relate to the frustration that can come from listening to the radio too much. Between the DJs and the commercials, finding good music on the radio can be difficult.



So, why not cut out the middle man and play your MP3s through your car radio? Depending on where your MP3s are stored, the method may vary slightly, but getting your car properly set to do so is extremely easy.

Things You'll Need

• Blank CD-R

Instructions

Create a CD

1. 

   When used as an MP3 or audio CD, CDs can hold 650MB to 700MB of data.

   Create a playlist of MP3 files that you'd want to listen to on your computer, making sure that the total size stays within the CD's storage capacity. Traditionally, a CD can store 650MB to 700MB when used as an MP3 CD.

2. Put all of those songs into a folder and remember where it is located on the computer.

3. Open up your CD burning software and change the burning software's settings to "MP3 CD" or "Audio CD". Add the folder of songs into your program's burning queue.

4. Place the blank CD-R into the computer and click "Burn" to produce the CD.

5. Put the CD in your car's CD player, and press the "Play" button.

Using An FM Transmitter

1. 

   Playing your MP3 player through your car stereo only requires an FM transmitter.

   Plug in the iPod/MP3 player FM transmitter into your car's cigarette lighter. If the transmitter is large in size, adjust the positioning so that it's easily accessible from the driver's side.

2. Turn on the car's radio and set the FM transmitter to an open station. Typically, channels below 90MHz work the best, but you are only looking for a frequency that has nothing being broadcast on it.

3. Connect the transmitter to your iPod/MP3 player. For iPod friendly transmitters, you will plug in a male iPod cable end into your own iPod. Most MP3 player transmitters just use a 3.5mm headphone cable, though---connect the two by plugging in the transmitter's cable into the MP3 player.

4. Select a song through the device's menu to play it through the car stereo. Because the car treats the transmitter like a normal radio station, customization options like favoring and equalizer changes are possible.

Tips & Warnings

• If your car has an auxiliary input jack, you can bypass the second step entirely. Connect the MP3 player to the stereo via a 3.5mm headphone cable and set the stereo to auxiliary mode to route the player through the car audio.

• Because FM station density varies by location, finding a free frequency to park your transmitter onto can be difficult.

References

• CNET: Burn an MP3 CD
• Audacity: How to Burn CDs
• Crutchfield: Auxiliary Inputs

Resources

• Popular Science: Best iPod Adapters