# Play song with usb A
**URL:** https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091
**Category:** Qu General Discussions
**Created:** [23 October 2025 08:24 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091 "2025-10-23T08:24:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@didierrs](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/didierrs)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 08:24 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/1 "2025-10-23T08:24:46Z")
```auto
Hello, I bought a QU5 and I'm just getting to know it.
Can you copy music to a USB drive using a computer and then play it on the QU5?
I can't do it.
Thank you very much for your help.
Didierrs
```
---
### Author:  [@SQuser](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/SQuser)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 09:51 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/2 "2025-10-23T09:51:35Z")
It should actually work as described in the User Guide on page 96.
To be on the safe side, format your USB stick in your QU, which will also create the necessary folder structure.
Then, on a PC, copy the desired WAV files to the “AH\_QU\USBPLAY” folder.
These files must be mono/stereo, 44.1/48/96kHz, 16/24bit!
If that really doesn’t work, please also note the following:
> They must not contain any headers (such as BWF) or data (such as markers)
---
### Author:  [@didierrs](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/didierrs)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 10:24 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/3 "2025-10-23T10:24:19Z")
```auto
Hello, I've done everything you mentioned before, but no audio files appear on the console, even though they're in the USB play folder...
I've uploaded 16/44 and 24/48 wave audio files.
No files appear?
My console's firmware is the latest, 1.10.
I've tried with three different USB drives, all formatted in FAT32...
I don't know what to do anymore
```
---
### Author:  [@SQuser](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/SQuser)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 10:58 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/4 "2025-10-23T10:58:43Z")
If you’ve also taken the additional note into account, I’m also at a loss at the moment.
What happens if you make a short stereo recording and then move it on your PC to the playback folder?
Does it then appear on the QU and is playable?
Also check out this still current thread with the same problem:
> [@Correct file format specs Qu-5 playback USB A](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/correct-file-format-specs-qu-5-playback-usb-a/29565):
>
> Expanding on the title. What exactly are the required format specifications for audio file play on the USB A drive on the Qu-5? I have a USB that I used previously in my old mixer. I’ve removed my audio files, reformatted the USB to erase all. After file conversion, here’s what I’ve got, on a SanDisk 32 GB USB A. What’s incorrect or missing? As the audio files are purchased music, they should be interleaved already. No SD card being accessed to record simultaneously, and USB C for DAW isn’t us…
You might find a solution there.
If not, could you also link one of your WAVs so we can try it on QU or SQ.
Ah - and maybe you could write “normally” instead of in a “text box” …
---
### Author:  [@didierrs](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/didierrs)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 17:01 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/5 "2025-10-23T17:01:35Z")
```auto
Hello, I've done everything you mentioned before, but no audio files appear on the console, even though they're in the USB play folder...
I've uploaded 16/44 and 24/48 wave audio files.
No files appear?
My console's firmware is the latest, 1.10.
I've tried with three different USB drives, all formatted in FAT32...
I don't know what to do anymore
```
---
### Author:  [@mikec](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/mikec)
#### Post date: [23 October 2025 23:22 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/6 "2025-10-23T23:22:46Z")
Did you format the USB stick in the QU mixer first and then copy the audio WAV files into the playback folder?
---
### Author:  [@didierrs](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/didierrs)
#### Post date: [24 October 2025 07:54 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/7 "2025-10-24T07:54:44Z")
```auto
Hello, I've finally found the solution, and I can now view and play my xaves files on the QU5.
I was actually using .mp3 files that I had converted to .wave, and these files weren't visible on the console.
Now I have to figure out how to "rewrite or modify" these files (mp3-->wave) so I can play them directly via USB on the QU5.
```
---
### Author:  [@didierrs](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/didierrs)
#### Post date: [24 October 2025 07:55 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/8 "2025-10-24T07:55:17Z")
```auto
Now I have to figure out how to "rewrite or modify" these files (mp3-->wave) so I can play them directly via USB on the QU5.
```
---
### Author:  [@GGGss](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/GGGss)
#### Post date: [30 October 2025 13:47 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/play-song-with-usb-a/30091/9 "2025-10-30T13:47:45Z")
Use Audacity to convert your .mp3 to .wav (you can even do it in batch)