Ford Ka Quiz
Audio system

Playback of MP3 and WMA files

In this manual: Audio system
Introduction — 6Quick guide — 3Child safety — 6Seat belts — 5Supplemental restraint system — 7Keys and remote controls — 3MyKey — 4Doors and locks — 3Safety — 3Steering wheel — 4Washer/wipers — 4Lighting — 6Windows and mirrors — 3Instrument cluster — 4Information display — 4Climate control system — 6Seats — 8Auxiliary Power Outlets — 1Storage Compartments — 1Starting the engine — 7Fuel and refuelling — 7Transmission — 1Brakes — 4Traction control — 1Stability control — 1Ultrasonic parking system — 3Cruise Control — 1Driver assistance — 4Carrying a load — 3Towing — 8Driving tips — 5Emergency equipment — 6Fuses — 4Maintenance — 22Vehicle Maintenance — 6Wheels and Tyres — 14Technical specifications — 7Audio system — 18SYNC — 12Appendices — 3
~2min read

MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer-3) and WMA (Windows Media Audio) are standard technologies and formats for compressing audio data. They allow more efficient use of the media.

You can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW discs. The disc must be in ISO 9660 level 1 or level 2 format, or Joliet or Romeo extended format. A disc recorded in multiple sessions can also be used.

ISO 9660 format

This is the most common international standard for the logical format of files and folders on CD-ROM.

There are several levels of specification. In Level 1, file names must be in 8.3 format (no more than eight characters for the name, no more than three characters for the MP3 and WMA extension) and in uppercase letters.

Folder names must not exceed eight characters in length. There must not be more than eight folder levels (tree levels). Level 2 specifications allow file names up to 31 characters long.

Each folder can have a maximum of three sub-levels (branches).

For Joliet or Romeo in expanded format, keep these limitations in mind when configuring the CD burning software.

Multi-session

This recording mode allows data to be added using the "track-at-once" method.

Standard CDs begin with a CD control area called the "lead-in" and end with an area called the "lead-out". A multi-session CD is a CD with several sessions, in which each segment from lead-in to lead-out is treated as a single session.

CD-Extra: The format in which audio (CD audio data) is recorded as tracks in session 1 and data is recorded as tracks in session 2.

Mixed-mode CD: In this format, data is recorded as track 1 and audio (CD audio data) as track 2.

File formats

With formats other than ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2, folder or file names may not be displayed correctly.

When naming a file, make sure to add the MP3 or WMA file extension to the file name.

If an MP3 or WMA extension is assigned to a file that is not in MP3 or WMA format, the unit will not recognize the file correctly and will produce noise that could damage the speakers.

The following discs take longer to start playback.
  • Disc recorded with a complicated tree structure.
  • Disc recorded in multi-session.
  • An unfinalized disc on which data can still be added.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Ka quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.