USB Flash Drive for music (folders)

I've been using USB Flash Drives as well as a NAS for music on my streamers using the App or front panel display for navigation of the folders for Artist/Album etc.

I've just bought a little Yamaha CRX-B370D for casual listening and using USB is a bit long winded for navigation and takes some time to find the artist I want as it's not in Alphabetical order as the folders are structured. I know that it sorts files by date of file creation and I also know I can go through and add numbers at the start of the song file names so they then appear in order but not by Artist etc unless I use a number system that separates Artists and of course would take heaps of time. To overcome the time to navigate through the USB, I now only put a few Albums on the USB and when sick of them I delete and add new Albums.

The question is, has anyone found a work around to the way the player handles USB folders as the folder structure I use is Artist / Album /Song?
 
Yamaha CRX-B370D
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it's not in Alphabetical order as the folders are structured. I know that it sorts files by date of file creation
That sounds like my Pioneer MVH-S425BT car media player.
After saving your music to USB drive (and all subsequent additions) run DriveSort -
http://www.anerty.net/software/file/DriveSort/?lang=en

Configuration is a little complex, but it's a once-only situation, so all future usage is quick and easy.
Let me know if you need help.
 
Didn't work so the player must be one of the ones that is set in it's ways.

Easy enough to use and used Long Name / Ascending / Before the Files as well as tried Subdirectories selected and unselected. Sorted and then saved. I did this on the root of the USB, then tried on each artist folder, then tried creating a music folder and moving all files there.
 

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Here are my notes;
Plug in your USB drive. Launch DriveSort, and go to -
Disk > Open (select USB drive)

For configuration (a once only process)
click on "Sort current folder" toolbar icon > Comparison base
choose "Long Name" and check "Subdirectories"
This means the files will be sorted by the actual name you see in Windows explorer, and the sort will go down into your folders instead of only sorting the top level of files and folders.
Order
choose "Ascending"
Directories
select "Before the files"
click on the "Save current folder" toolbar icon
check "Subdirectories"
This means that when you save the newly sorted order, it will save it for all the contents of the folders, not just the top level.

With all of these settings done, your normal process will be to open DriveSort, choose the USB drive
Folder > Sort
Folder > Save

Close the application, and safely eject the USB drive.
 
Thank you. That's what I have done except I did not check subdirectories in the Save icon and I chose the USB drive before I started so will give it another go. I think the player's handling of USB drives is fixed.
 
For reference, DriveSort works for other USB players but not the Yamaha as it plays them in chronological order based on date of creation. I watched a YouTube video review which highlighted the problem with this Yamaha unit.
 
Just to elaborate my above comment.

Since your device plays folders exclusively in chronological order by design then there is no solution to this.

I think there may be a chance using a workaround to play folders at least in alphabetical order setting all folders on the same date/time using a freeware utility, but player behaviour can't be predicted.

Give it a try and let us know.
 
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I did download an Attribute Changer but Windows Defender did not approve. No problem as not worth the hassle as I only use this device as a headphone amp. I also have 3 other streamers with USB that work well.

I did ask Yamaha about this but never had a reply which is not surprising.

I use plan B on this unit where I only copy about a dozen albums onto the USB which make navigation easier and swap and change the albums according to my flavour of the month.
 
No problem, I'm passionate about this issue because I love computer science workarounds.
However, please do you mean you have all folders set to the same date/time and it always plays them in "chronological" order?
Or how?
Furthermore sorry if I do not know what is a SOB player...
 
I´m also irked by the apparently random/crazy way MP3 players use to sort files.

Of course it´s not actuallycrazy or random, simply they think different than me.

I solved that by using MP3Tag software, which lets me edit hem and change such labels to something player "respects"
You may even add your own "time stamp" or whatever, so after a little exprimenting you should certainly find what makes player little brain agree with yours 😉

https://www.mp3tag.de/en/
 
Yes I set all folders to the same date and time and still it chose it's own order. SOB is son of a bitch.

The music files are FLAC and are also on a NAS and a USB drive on my modem router for my streamers.

Not wasting any more time on this as plan B works as it's only for occasional headphone listening. Thank you everyone for the help.