They are great but like most things they have some limitations,
One of the biggest limitations is ring tones, It is annoying when you meet someone else with an iPhone and it rings and you think its yours!
Well here is my little tutorial on how to create your own ringtones without purchasing them!
YES, Use your own MP3 library.
I used windows vista for this demo, if you are using XP and are struggling then let me know. I am also using iTunes version 9.0.1.8.
WHAT DO I NEED ?
An iPhone,
iTunes,
An MP3.
Some knowledge of how to use a PC.
INSTRUCTIONS
Ok I will try to make it simple, I will add pictures too.
1: First open iTunes, then select the track that you would like to use to create your ringtone.
For my demo I am selecting Boom Boom Pow by the black eyed peas.
2: Right click the selected mp3 and click "get info"
3: Then select at the top of the menu "options" we need to tick the box "start time" and "stop time" and add the stop time as 30 seconds as that is as long as a ringtone can be for the iPhone
4: Now we need to close the window we was using to edit stop and start times, Then on the boom boom pow track we need to right click and click on the "create AAC version"
5: You will find now that you have two versions of the same song in your library (Don't panic if you can't find it. Just use the seach box at the top of iTunes).
You should be able to tell the difference of your new AAC version as it is only 30 seconds long (see picture below)
6: Drag this 30 second AAC Version of your song to your desired folder of choice, I moved mine straight to my iTunes directory and put them into a new folder called "ringtones", I found this easier so I remembered where I put them.
For the purpose of the tutorial I have shown my file on my desktop in my images
It could get tricky here (I will explain it as best I can.)
7: We now need to rename the file type (extension) to turn it into a ringtone file that iTunes will recognise, as you can see from the previous picture I have file extensions visible so you can see the track on my desktop (BUT in your desired folder on your PC) is called boom boom pow.m4a, We need to rename it too boom boom pow.m4r (a ringtone format.)
If you cannot see file extensions as you can on my computer then see this link here for instructions.
You need to do this before you can continue with this tutorial !
If you have now fixed it so you can see file extensions I shall continue :icon_thumleft:
8: Right click the AAC version of your mp3 that you dragged to your desktop (ringtone folder) and select "properties" then you will see that you can rename it from
boom boom pow.m4a to boom boom pow.m4r
Finally
9: Now in iTunes go to "ringtones" and then drag the now renamed file/ringtone to the iTunes window and it will add it to your ringtones!
10: Connect your iPhone and sync! Don't forget to check the sync ringtone box in iTunes!!
SORTED!
I hope this was easy enough to follow, You dont have to have to make your ringtones start at the begginging of your mp3 files you can start them and end them wherever you like.
But remember 30-40 seconds is about the maximum length they can be.
Happy converting!