CarGuy

You should be aware that there is no direct way to burn songs purchased from iTunes to CD's as MP3's. There is a work around where you can make audio CD's from the iTunes songs and then reimport them into iTunes as MP3's. Therse MP3's can then be burned to CD's without a problem. This is a pain caused by the proprietary format used by Apple and the company's need to prevent unrestricted copying and distribution of copyrighted material. The best alternative is the iPod interface which delivers a clean digital signal to the audio system.

subterFUSE

Sorry for being pedantic here.... but speaking technically, the iPod doesn't actually deliver a digital signal. The music is stored digitally.... but the output from both the line out and headphone jacks are analog. The iPods all feature D/A converters.

my530i

Reading your comment, it trickles something in my mind is that signal output from iPod connector (not the headphone jack) to BMW adpter could be digital. I have not done any research as yet, but I guess so. Any comment?

subterFUSE

It absolutely is not a digital signal coming out of the iPod.


The Line Output from the iPod bypasses the internal headphone amplifier.... which is a slight advantage... but it is still an analog signal.

my530i

OK, I found Apple iPod pinouts as below:
Apple iPod MP3 player dock pinout
Used in 3rd and later generation iPods for charging, connecting to a PC via USB or Firewire, to a stereo via line-out, to a serial device (controlled via the Apple Accessory Protocol). This connector exists in all Apple iPod MP3 player (iPod 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Nano, Shuffle)

Pin Signal Description
1 GND Ground (-), internaly connected with Pin 2 on iPod motherboard
2 GND Audio & Video ground (-), internaly connected with Pin 2 on iPod motherboard
3 Right Line Out - R (+) (Audio output, right channel)
4 Left Line Out - L(+) (Audio output, left channel)
5 Right In Line In - R (+)
6 Left In Line In - L (+)
8 Video Out Composite video output (only when slideshow active on iPod Photo)
9 S-Video Chrominance output for iPod Color, Photo only
10 S-Video Luminance output for iPod Color, Photo only
11 GND Serial GND
12 Tx ipod sending line, Serial TxD
13 Rx ipod receiving line, Serial RxD
15 GND Ground (-), internaly connected with pin 16 on iPod motherboard
16 GND USB GND (-), internaly connected with pin 15 on iPod motherboard
18 3.3V 3.3V Power (+)
Stepped up to provide +5 VDC to USB on iPod Camera Connector. If iPod is put to sleep while Camera Connector is present, +5 VDC at this pin slowly drains back to 0 VDC.
19,20 +12V Firewire Power 12 VDC (+)
21 Accessory Indicator/Serial enable Different resistances indicate accessory type:
1kOhm - iPod docking station, beeps when connected
10kOhm - Takes some iPods into photo import mode
500kOhm - related to serial communication / used to enable serial communications Used in Dension Ice Link Plus car interface
1MOhm - Belkin auto adaptor, iPod shuts down automatically when power disconnected Connecting pin 21 to ground with a 1MOhm resistor does stop the ipod when power (i.e. Firewire-12V) is cut. Looks to be that when this pin is grounded it closes a switch so that on loss of power the Ipod shuts off. Dock has the same Resister.
22 TPA (-) FireWire Data TPA (-)
23 5 VDC (+) USB Power 5 VDC (+)
24 TPA (+) FireWire Data TPA (+)
25 Data (-) USB Data (-)
26 TPB (-) FireWire Data TPB (-)
27 Data (+) USB Data (+)
Pins 25 and 27 may be used in different manner. To force the iPod 5G to charge in any case, when 'USB Power 5 VDC' (pin 23) is fed, 25 must be connected to 5V through a 10kOhm resistor, and 27 must be connected to the Ground (for example: pin 1) with a 10kOhm resistor.
28 TPB (+) FireWire Data TPB (+)
29,30 GND FireWire Ground (-)


30 pin iPOD special connector at the player ( white side up)
Back side of dock connector;
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29


Depending which signal pin BMW ipod connector connects to. It it connects to Firewire pins, it'll be digital. If it grabs pin 2 and 3 from iPod pin connector, it'll be analog.