Use iTunes 7.4 To Import (Almost) Anything as a Ringtone [Updated Solution]

[Michael Johnston]

<div id="inlinead" class="inlinead"><IFRAME src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewHTML?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000" width="300" height="250" align="middle" frameborder=0 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 scrolling=no><script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script></IFRAME></div><div class="nodecontent"><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/september07/ringtonestab.jpg" align="right" />

<b>This tip is outdated. Please see <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/create-free-iphone-ringtones-using-only-itunes" target="_blank">this new tip</a> for updated instructions.</b> We all know that the new iTunes adds the ability to create custom ringtones and buy them from the iTunes store. What you probably don't know is that you can easily add your own ringtones as well. By now I'm sure that, with great tools such as iFuntastic and iToner available, a large majority of us already have ringtones ready to go. For all you folks too scared to hack your iPhone, this is a great semi-Apple supported way of adding ringtones for free.<!--break-->

The first step is to find a song you want to make a ring tone. The easiest way is to use the technique from an earlier tip, <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/create-iphone-ringtones-from-itunes-previews">grabbing them straight from the iTunes Store</a>. Sure feels like sticking it to the man, eh? You can also take any audio you have, just as long as it's encoded in the AAC format (.m4a).

The next step is to rename said file to .m4r, which is the iTunes ringtone format. To do this on the Mac, go to the Finder Menu and click "Preferences". Go to "Advanced" and check "Show all file extensions". Once you've done that, you can freely rename your audio file to .m4r. You should be able to rename it in a similar way on Windows.

All you have to do now is drop your new file into iTunes, and that's it! Next time you plug in your iPhone, you'll have the audio you just added available as ringtones. You can sync all or some of them right through iTunes. No hacking required. Now that's sweet!

<b>Update:</b> In iTunes version 7.4.1 this method has been crippled. However, there is a work-around. After you've added your .m4r file, you will need to rename it to .m4a in the iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/ folder. Once you do that, double click them <i>again</i> and they will work. To add more ringtones, you will need to follow the original instructions and then change your file back to .m4a. I'm not sure how this all works exactly, but there's something about this process that marks the file as a ringtone. Go figure.

Things I don't know about this method:
<ul><li>How iTunes manages the ringtones
<li>How to delete them</ul>

Things I <i>do</i> know about this method:
<ul><li>It only works with AAC audio files
<li>The .m4r extension is key
<li>Files are stored in <i>iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/</i>
<li>This works on both Mac and PC
<li>It's <i>really</i> easy</ul>

Enjoy!

<b>Update #2: </b> Check out <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/create-free-iphone-ringtones-using-only-itunes" target="_blank">this new tip</a> to see how to create free ringtones using nothing but iTunes.</div>

[Unregistered]

Nope - doesn't work (at least for me)

[Unregistered]

I don't have iTunes 7.4. I am a PC user. Is this only on the mac?

[bboyredcel]

Awesome Tip!!

The ringtones will not show up in itunes until apple turns the feature on though, you should add that as a disclaimer, but if you follow this process the ringtones you create DO appear in the ringtones folder so I'm assuming once this thing gets activated they will show up in the ringtones library as well!

[chbphoto]

I just tried the transfer (Mac) - no problems when re-sync.

Further note -- ringtones previously created with iFuntastic were ALSO on the iPhone - they were not affected by the 7.4 update.

[Unregistered]

it works for me!! if your file is an mp3 you can change it to a .m4a by going into itunes and going under advanced and clicking consolidate to AAc which will let you use that song. Then do the finder stuff.

[Bobnease]

I don't have iTunes 7.4. I am a PC user. Is this only on the mac?

You need to go to apple.com, click on the iPod+iTunes link in the nav bar, and download the new iTunes 7.4 available for Mac & PC

[Spoon]

I just tried the transfer (Mac) - no problems when re-sync.

Further note -- ringtones previously created with iFuntastic were ALSO on the iPhone - they were not affected by the 7.4 update.
That's because iTunes doesn't delete ringtones uploaded by iFuntastic and iToner, it simply erases a .plist file required for iToner to work. The iFuntastic method does not require plists, just proper ringer placement.

[Unregistered]

I installed 7.4 and I dont have a ringtone tab. My phone is still a 1.0 version though. Will this make a difference? If so, if I update will I have to activate it all over again?

[Spoon]

I installed 7.4 and I dont have a ringtone tab. My phone is still a 1.0 version though. Will this make a difference? If so, if I update will I have to activate it all over again?
You might have to update, I'm not sure. You'll only have to activate again if you've hacked your phone at all with jailbreak or whatever.

[James Blond]

I downloaded 7.4, and changed the things to m4r, and put them back into the itunes folder...and nothing. I re-synced...and I have a new "ringtones" folder on iphone, but there aint nothin in it.

Any thoughts.....feelings......emotions?

[Spoon]

I downloaded 7.4, and changed the things to m4r, and put them back into the itunes folder...and nothing. I re-synced...and I have a new "ringtones" folder on iphone, but there aint nothin in it.

Any thoughts.....feelings......emotions?
You're supposed to drag the files to the iTunes app itself, not the folder. Just like you would if you were adding music

[Unregistered]

Tried many different ways... Did not work for me.

[Unregistered]

This is a post for the people that our having problems creating Ringtones with the updated iTunes (v 7.4). This is the way I am doing it. It is by no means the ONLY way, but it is a way that works for me as well as keep everything organized.

(1) Select your song. If you want to edit it (picking a particular starting and ending point) you can use the method described in earlier posts (see below) or with some free audio programs. I am on a MAC and like Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) but there are others.

(2) Create a folder titled "iPhone Ringtones" so you can keep track of all your Ringtones and come back to them if you need to. This also keeps all of your files neat and tidy and causes less confusion as to where your files are.

(3) If you are using the "itunes" method, select your original song in iTunes. Select "Get Info" in itunes. Click on the "Options" tab. Here you can increase the volume as well as select a starting and ending point for your song.

If you are using this method, you can skip step 4.

(4) If you are using an audio editing program, edit your song and then export as an AIFF or WAV file. Export the song to your "iPhone Ringtones" folder

(5) Open your exported song in iTunes. Select your song and right-click (if you don't have a right-click mouse, use control-click). Select "Convert Selection to AAC." This option is available to me because I have my settings under "Preferences/Advanced/Importing" to "Import Using AAC Encoder." Once it is done converting, right-click the converted song and select "Show in Finder." This will reveal where the song is located on your hard drive. Move the song to your designated "iPhone Ringtones folder" that I told you to create in step 2. If this is merely copying the file and not actually moving it, delete the original file if you don't want duplicates all over the place. Again, this keeps things nice and tidy.

(6) Delete the MP3 playlist file (the one you used BEFORE converting it to AAC) as well as the converted AAC playlist file from iTunes. This will keep iTunes from having several different directories for the same song, keeping things tidy and neat as well as keeping you from having a headache on keeping track of where everything is.

(7) Create a playlist on iTunes called "iPhone Ringtones." This is also for convenience sakes. It will help you have easy access to your Ringtones "playlist" and be the only place where iTunes keeps a directory of your Ringtones items (besides the Ringtones tab).

(8) In the finder, select the song you converted to AAC and press "Command-I" (or right-click and select "Get Info.") and IN THE GET INFO WINDOW (NOT the finder) change the extension of this file to "m4r" - IMPORTANT - Do NOT change the extension name in the finder. IT might appear as m4r in the name, but if you Get Info on this file, you will notice that the file now has TWO extension to it (i.e. "Start Me up.m4r.mr4") which REALLY confuses iTunes as well your iPhone.

**The song HAS to be in an AAC format FIRST before proceeding to renaming the extension. MP3s do NOT work. Repeat, MP3s do NOT work.

(9) Select your mp4 (lowercase works just fine) song and drag it into your "iPhone Ringtones" playlist in iTunes.

(10) Now sync up your iPhone, select the "Ringtones" tab. Select your songs and you should be good to go.

Hope this helps.

[Bruce]

I have done all of what you stated in your email, but when I go to iTunes and to the Advanced in the preferences I can't seem to find anywhere where it will allow me to click a box that says, "show all file extensions" If there is something that I am missing or not going to the correct place, please let me know. Thanks.

[Unregistered]

Okay, I am the Unregistered that complained a minute ago but I figured it out. I did *not* have the Finder Preferences > Advanced > Show All File Extensions enabled...

This is key, even if your files show up with the .m4a extension, if this Finder preference is turned off, the file system will simply think you are renaming the song to "01 Songname.m4r.m4a"

Instead, make sure this Finder preference is enabled and I can assure this worked for me on my MacBook.

[James Blond]

I have done all of what you stated in your email, but when I go to iTunes and to the Advanced in the preferences I can't seem to find anywhere where it will allow me to click a box that says, "show all file extensions" If there is something that I am missing or not going to the correct place, please let me know. Thanks.

You have to do it in Finder, not in ITunes.

[James Blond]

Okay....

Now I have got the stuff in the Ringtones folder on Itunes....but none of them are showing up as options on Iphone.

Thoughts, feelings, emotions?

[Unregistered]

Okay....

Now I have got the stuff in the Ringtones folder on Itunes....but none of them are showing up as options on Iphone.

Thoughts, feelings, emotions?

Did you "check" their respective boxes and then sync your iPhone?

[james Blond]

Did you "check" their respective boxes and then sync your iPhone?


I did indeed.

[Spoon]

I did indeed.
Look up ^ http://www.iphonealley.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3005#post3005

[Unregistered]

Here are step by step instructions from scratch. This is the method i use and it has worked quite well. It is for a Mac only.

Make sure you have iTunes 7.4.

Create a folder called Ringtones in your iTunes Music folde

Open iTunes and GarageBand

Now either drag songs from iTunes in to Garageband or drag any audio file Garageband can play in.

Edit to your desire

Once you have the audio clip the way you want it click on "Share" in the menu bar and go to "export to disk" Export the file as AAC and save it wherever you want.

Go to the location you saved the newly created AAC file and either right click or hit Command-i to take you to the "Get Info" window. Scroll down to the "Name & Extension" field and change the extension to .m4r. It willl probably ask you if you're sure.

Now either double click the .m4r file or copy it to the "Ringtones" folder you made in your iTunes Music folder.

They should now appear in the ringtones tab of your iPhone syncing info


I don't know how to change the name or delete ringtones once they're in itunes. If anyone finds out let us know.

[James Blond]

Look up ^ http://www.iphonealley.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3005#post3005

it says Page Not Found

[Spoon]

it says Page Not Found
I hope you're kidding.

You're supposed to drag the files to the iTunes app itself, not the folder. Just like you would if you were adding music

[James Blond]

I hope you're kidding.

I kid you not -- I just tried it again. What was it supposed to say, o spoon?

[eltripone123]

it works for me!! if your file is an mp3 you can change it to a .m4a by going into itunes and going under advanced and clicking consolidate to AAc which will let you use that song. Then do the finder stuff.
whats the finder stuff

[James Blond]

this is "the finder stuff."

it's not perfect, per all these other posts, so read through and figure out works and doesn't for you.

<img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/september07/ringtonestab.jpg" align="right" />

We all know that the new iTunes adds the ability to create custom ringtones and buy them from the iTunes store. What you probably don't know is that you can easily add your own ringtones as well. By now I'm sure that, with great tools such as iFuntastic and iToner available, a large majority of us already have ringtones ready to go. For all you folks too scared to hack your iPhone, this is a great semi-Apple supported way of adding ringtones for free.<!--break-->

<div class="bigdiggbutton">
<script type="text/javascript">
digg_url = 'http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/use-itunes-7-4-to-import-almost-anything-as-a-ringtone';
</script>
<script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
<style>#diggbutton{display:none;}</style>The first step is to find a song you want to make a ring tone. The easiest way is to use the technique from an earlier tip, <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/create-iphone-ringtones-from-itunes-previews">grabbing them straight from the iTunes Store</a>. Sure feels like sticking it to the man, eh? You can also take any audio you have, just as long as it's encoded in the AAC format (.m4a).

The next step is to rename said file to .m4r, which is the iTunes ringtone format. To do this on the Mac, go to the Finder Menu and click "Preferences". Go to "Advanced" and check "Show all file extensions". Once you've done that, you can freely rename your audio file to .m4r. You should be able to rename it in a similar way on Windows.

All you have to do now is drop your new file into iTunes, and that's it! Next time you plug in your iPhone, you'll have the audio you just added available as ringtones. You can sync all or some of them right through iTunes. No hacking required. Now that's sweet!

Things I don't know about this method:
<ul><li>How iTunes manages the ringtones
<li>How to delete them</ul>

Things I <i>do</i> know about this method:
<ul><li>It only works with AAC audio files
<li>The .m4r extension is key
<li>Files are stored in <i>iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/</i>
<li>This works on both Mac and PC
<li>It's <i>really</i> easy</ul>

Enjoy!

[Micah]

Just did this, works great! Takes a little more effort than iToner etc. but now my ringtones won't get deleted every time I sync my phone, and I don't have to pay the ridiculous Apple double-charge to use my own damn music for ringtones.

Caveat: Be *sure* you go to your finder > preferences > advanced and select "show all file extensions" if you don't this will NOT work. You'll understand why when you do it :)

[fotomatique]

If you are using an m4a song already in your itunes library you need to make sure the file that you change to m4r does not have the same tags. Example, change the artist to ringtone.

[Unregistered]

Nope - doesn't work (at least for me)

It didn't work for me either as long as I left my converted AAC files in iTunes. So I copied my new AAC files to the Desktop then RENAMED them as .m4r

I then DELETED the AAC .m4a files from WITHING the iTunes app to insure they were no longer in the iTunes Music Library list nor in the Music/iTunes/x folders.

Once gone you can double-click the new .m4r files and they will work, create a RingTone folder, Synch with the iPhone and all that good stuff...

iTunes sees them as in it's library as AAC even after you rename their extension so you have to remove them completely from iTunes before the double-click of the new .m4r file(s).

[Oops]

I don't know how to change the name or delete ringtones once they're in itunes. If anyone finds out let us know.


If you take notice, After you have added the Ringtone and its showing up in the Box located under the Ringtone Tab, you can then change the selection from " All Ringtones" to " Selected Ringtones " This will allow you to check which tones you want sync'ed to your Iphone. By unchecking this box it will remove it from the phone as well.

As far as how to rename it. You could always remove the ring tone from the phone, delete it from the iphone ringtone playlist, then browse to your ringtone folder and rename the file and drop it back into your playlist.

[Uncle Foobar]

Ok so i read this thread
and got jazzed.

Futzed around a bit
(it seems iTunes likes the AAC
from the Advanced menu best)
and created the Ringtones folder.

Somehow, iTunes 7.4.1 (new version
7 Sept 07 pm EST) seems to have
"eaten" my ringtones folder.

I am trying this on my crappy yet
trusty PPC TiBook, but beware/make
sure to import the ringtones into
itunes (anyway) before converting
then copy from the file structure
into a Ringtones folder.

Foob

[Spoon]

I kid you not -- I just tried it again. What was it supposed to say, o spoon?
Sorry. What I said was, to get the ringtones to appear, you need to add it to the iTunes app itself, not the Ringtones folder. That help?

[Uncle Foobar]

Still not sure what happened to my Ringtones folder
but i have achieved RingTone.

the RingTone has landed.

Foob, squashing his own rumor

[Mubs]

Still not sure what happened to my Ringtones folder
but i have achieved RingTone.

the RingTone has landed.

Foob, squashing his own rumor
How did you get ringtones onto your iPhone using version 7.4.1?

[James Blond]

Sorry. What I said was, to get the ringtones to appear, you need to add it to the iTunes app itself, not the Ringtones folder. That help?

Spoon....Thanks for following up. But my problem is this: I have done everything right (I think) and created m4r files and deleted the orig AAC files and, and, and..... and now have a Ringtones Tab on my sync options, with all the ringtones I created in them.....BUT they don't show up on the Iphone, and I have synced it a dozen times. I just have the orig. Iphone ones, which, as we know, you can't hear unless you're in a meditation room.

How do I get them onto the Iphone from the Sync thing? I have selected the ones I want....and still nothing.

[James Blond]

Okay, now I have more info. I upgraded to 7.4.1., and now the sync-er tells me that the ringtones I selected cannot be copied because they are of a file type not supported by Iphone.

But this is how they appear in the newly renamed file extension.

Cell Phone Ringing.m4r

Did I do something wrong? They are AAC files, with the extension renamed manually.

[James Blond]

Hey everyone -- I have achieved success!

But using 7.4.1., it's very important that you NOT leave the file named .m4r, but change it to .m4a, per Michael's post below.

Now if someone could tell me how to just up the volume a little bit more on these.... it's a bit louder, but it aint gonna wake the neighbors yet....


<img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/september07/ringtonestab.jpg" align="right" />

<b>Update:</b> In iTunes version 7.4.1 this method has been crippled. However, there is a work-around. After you've added your .m4r file, you will need to rename it to .m4a in the iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/ folder. Once you do that, double click them <i>again</i> and they will work. To add more ringtones, you will need to follow the original instructions and then change your file back to .m4a. I'm not sure how this all works exactly, but there's something about this process that marks the file as a ringtone. Go figure.

[Unregistered]

I was having problems with this, until I realized I needed to create a "Ringtones" folder in my iTunes Music Folder. I thought it would create one at some point, but not the case. So if you put your files there, then drag them into an iTunes Playlist (something like "iPhone Ringtones" as was suggested earlier), you can rename them and/or delete them as you like. Strangely enough, if you add them to such a playlist, they still won't appear in your library, just in that playlist. Craziness.

[Unregistered]

What a pain it was to convert, add to list, delete original files in itunes, the rename original files in their folders. it worked, but man i hope it works with next update.

Thanks all. I'm going to register for this forum right now!

[Spoon]

Glad to hear you figured it out. I just hope that come next week, we will be able to see/delete ringtones in iTunes, not just the little tab...

[Unregistered]

If you take notice, After you have added the Ringtone and its showing up in the Box located under the Ringtone Tab, you can then change the selection from " All Ringtones" to " Selected Ringtones " This will allow you to check which tones you want sync'ed to your Iphone. By unchecking this box it will remove it from the phone as well.

As far as how to rename it. You could always remove the ring tone from the phone, delete it from the iphone ringtone playlist, then browse to your ringtone folder and rename the file and drop it back into your playlist.


I guess what i meant by delete is delete them from itunes not the iphone. I can delete them from the ringtones folder in the itunes music folder but they still show up in the ringtones tab of the iphone summary. So now with 7.4.1 i have doubles of all the ringtones listed. Some of them work and some don't now.

[jman995x]

I want to upload alot of ringtones I have on my Mac to my iPhone, and the process at the heart of this thread seems really simple.
However, although my iTunes interface does have the "Ringtones" tab, my iTunes/iTunes Music folder DOESN'T have a "Ringtones" folder.

Am I missing something (both literally and figuratively)?

Thanks,

Justin

[Unregistered]

@jman995x

Create one yourself.

[Unregistered]

this is "the finder stuff."

it's not perfect, per all these other posts, so read through and figure out works and doesn't for you.

mmmmm...........i had the problm that it showed up in my ringtone tab but it wont show up in my iphone. i'm very TIRED i've been trying for the last 2 days but still no luck. PLEASEE help me. i'm so sick of my ringtones originally from apple.

[BillyMayes]

I want to upload alot of ringtones I have on my Mac to my iPhone, and the process at the heart of this thread seems really simple.
However, although my iTunes interface does have the "Ringtones" tab, my iTunes/iTunes Music folder DOESN'T have a "Ringtones" folder.

Am I missing something (both literally and figuratively)?

Thanks,

Justin
iTunes creates it for you when you open an .m4r file.

mmmmm...........i had the problm that it showed up in my ringtone tab but it wont show up in my iphone. i'm very TIRED i've been trying for the last 2 days but still no luck. PLEASEE help me. i'm so sick of my ringtones originally from apple.

Rename to .m4r, double click the files, they'll end up in the Ringtones tab. Go into your iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones folder, rename to .m4a, double click and sync your iPhone.

[Unregistered]

hi,
I'm done this in my mac and it works! Now I'm trying to set it up for my mother in law (pc) and I can't find a way to change the file name... I'm going crazy with windows... Can any one post how to change the file to .m4r? What is the windows version of "get info"
I will really aprsciate if some one can help! I will continue telling her that she need to buy a mac!!
thanks

[Sam]

any1 know where i can get a download of 7.4
if u update to 7.4.1
u cant do the nice lil ringtone trick :[

[Bernie]

http://www.iphonealley.com/forums/showthread.php?t=904&page=2
There is a link to iTunes 7.3.2 here

[Uncle Foobar]

i know theres a command line way to
do batch file renames for suffixes/prefixes
(lil help please!)

but here's a way too:
http://publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/index.html

Foob

[iPodAddict]

i know theres a command line way to
do batch file renames for suffixes/prefixes
(lil help please!)

but here's a way too:
http://publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/index.html

Foob
Mac OS X Hints article: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20010509130450691

Can't automator do it, though?

I'm going crazy with windows... Can any one post how to change the file to .m4r?

Go into any exlorer window and click on the tools menu and select "Folder Options". Click on the "View" tab. Uncheck the box that says "Hide extensions for known file types"

[newwavedave]

I was forced to upgrade to 7.4.1 (2) and it doesn't seem to be working. Any of you geniuses figure out a way to get it to work with the latest version yet?

[iPodAddict]

I was forced to upgrade to 7.4.1 (2) and it doesn't seem to be working. Any of you geniuses figure out a way to get it to work with the latest version yet?
Check the update on the main article. The workaround has been posted

[Unregistered]

iTunes creates it for you when you open an .m4r file.



Rename to .m4r, double click the files, they'll end up in the Ringtones tab. Go into your iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones folder, rename to .m4a, double click and sync your iPhone.

i understand that part... i changed it in itunes to m4a then renamed it in the itunes folder to m4a again but it doesn't work.... it's in my ringtones tab but it just doesn't show up in my phone. i've repeated it again but all i have is a duplicate of my ringtones in the ringtone tab. wat's wrong with my iphone?

[BigFoot]

i understand that part... i changed it in itunes to m4a then renamed it in the itunes folder to m4a again but it doesn't work.... it's in my ringtones tab but it just doesn't show up in my phone. i've repeated it again but all i have is a duplicate of my ringtones in the ringtone tab. wat's wrong with my iphone?
maybe you should try a restore of your iPhone?

[Hans]

ya unfortunately any time you start doing way to much to the phone it seems to need a restore, thats why i would suggest keeping things simple and only using one mod program and not updating itunes or iphone firmware until it has been worked around

[Uncle Foobar]

Happened to be trying Amadeus Pro (see http://www.macupdate.com to find) after getting it with the MacHeist software bundle.

It's a sweet little editor. The thing is, the AAC it writes is kerplopy and stuff; just doesn't work. AAC may have extensions and stuff that iTunes can't deal with, or the author is still working them out.

What i did work out:

Open song in Amadeus from Itunes Music Library (most of mine are ripped in AAC).

Get the ringtone snatch section; copy.

Make a new sound apple-N.

Paste snatch; finalize tuning/trimming.

Save As an mp3.

import into iTunes using the Import option or Open With in Finder from the context click menu.

Assign all snatches Artist,album and Genre (Ringtone).

Select batch and Advanced:Convert to AAC.

Delete MP3s still selected

Do the m4r / m4a magic above; use the BetterFinder Rename to automate.

Last But Not Least: i read the fricken iPhone manual.

i'm on a PPC TiBook and have had severe problems with 7.4.1 and mounting the iPhone.

The Solution: launch iTunes with iPhone uncradled. Hold down the cmnd-option (apple-option) keys; ; cradle the phone.

It should now mount w/o problem.

Foob

[Hans]

seems like way too much work, should just not update itunes or if you did uninstall and get old one would just make hacking life so much easier

then again i am sure a fix will be out in a day or two

[James Blond]

i understand that part... i changed it in itunes to m4a then renamed it in the itunes folder to m4a again but it doesn't work.... it's in my ringtones tab but it just doesn't show up in my phone. i've repeated it again but all i have is a duplicate of my ringtones in the ringtone tab. wat's wrong with my iphone?

Hey....my hunch is that you still have the ringtones on your Itunes as plain m4a files (not as the converted to m4r then reconverted to m4a ones) -- you need to DELETE these from Itunes before the other ones will work.

Klazy, I know, but.....I had the same problem as you.

[James Blond]

Meanwhile....

I would love to be able to convert a batch of files to ringtones (like the ones in the Hard Drive/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Ilife sound effects folder -- all the orig. iphone ringtones are actually in there, including cell phone ringing which is nice and loud) but I would love a way to convert them automatically to m4r and then back.

Anyone know a batch-convert Mac soloosh that doesn't require a PhD in code?

[James Blond]

BTW...

from another post, here is a link to some cell phone ringers that are much louder than the iphone's.

http://www.hoehne-design.com/ringtones/

[Unregistered]

I dont have the Ringtones folder in iTunes Music folder... My iTunes ver is 7.4.1(2). Will this work with it?

[agent6998]

An instructions on how to do this in iTunes 7.4.1?

[BillyMayes]

Meanwhile....

I would love to be able to convert a batch of files to ringtones (like the ones in the Hard Drive/Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/Ilife sound effects folder -- all the orig. iphone ringtones are actually in there, including cell phone ringing which is nice and loud) but I would love a way to convert them automatically to m4r and then back.

Anyone know a batch-convert Mac soloosh that doesn't require a PhD in code?
Try automator. It works wonders

I dont have the Ringtones folder in iTunes Music folder... My iTunes ver is 7.4.1(2). Will this work with it?

It's created when you go through the process of adding the ringtones

An instructions on how to do this in iTunes 7.4.1?

Check the main post, it's in the update

[Unregistered]

Ok Look i have been at this for like two long days and i am a noooob. i am so confused i have a PC. i have been trying to do this on three different computers and i still can't get it to work. I have gotten as far where it shows the ringtones in my tab, but when i sync them it says they weren't copied because they couldn.t be played on the iPhone. CAn some one please help me? I don't know what i am doing.

[BillyMayes]

Ok Look i have been at this for like two long days and i am a noooob. i am so confused i have a PC. i have been trying to do this on three different computers and i still can't get it to work. I have gotten as far where it shows the ringtones in my tab, but when i sync them it says they weren't copied because they couldn.t be played on the iPhone. CAn some one please help me? I don't know what i am doing.
Go to the folder where the ringtones are stored. This is likely My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones

Once you've changed the extension to .m4r and gotten them to show up in the ringtones list, you need to change the extensions back to m4a and open them again in iTunes.

[Unregistered]

Go to the folder where the ringtones are stored. This is likely My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones

Once you've changed the extension to .m4r and gotten them to show up in the ringtones list, you need to change the extensions back to m4a and open them again in iTunes.

Ok i don't know where the ringtones are stored because it is not in the My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones. The only reason i have a ringtones folder is because i created, and i can't get them to stay there. I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes and it is on my desktop. From there I right clicked then rename and changed the .m4p to a .m4r

[Unregistered]

Can anyone just please give me a very simple, dumbed down, non-techy, step-by-step procedure on how to do this on a PC? I have the latest versions of everything. I have the file i want on my desktop called song.m4p, where do i go from here?

[Unregistered]

I Don't know how but i did it

[Unregistered]

I got it on the phone, but i can't hear it.

[Unregistered]

WHy can't i hear my ringtones on my phone?

[BillyMayes]

Ok i don't know where the ringtones are stored because it is not in the My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones. The only reason i have a ringtones folder is because i created, and i can't get them to stay there. I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes and it is on my desktop. From there I right clicked then rename and changed the .m4p to a .m4r
Drag it into iTunes

[james Blond]

Ok i don't know where the ringtones are stored because it is not in the My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones. The only reason i have a ringtones folder is because i created, and i can't get them to stay there. I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes and it is on my desktop. From there I right clicked then rename and changed the .m4p to a .m4r

Ok from my reading of this the first problem I see is that you need to start with m4a files and not m4ps.

The other thing I see potentially wrong is that you can't create your own ringtones folder; itunes has to do it for you. I would delete it and start over using the m4a conversion process.

Third of all -- and this seems to be a mistake a lot of people are making -- you CANNOT have the original m4a or even aif or m4p files still in Itunes when you start all this. They (and their files) should be IN THE TRASH. You can always take them out if you need to.

The quick rundown (did I forget anything?)
Disconnect Iphone.
Choose file, add to Itunes.
Convert file to m4a.
Copy file from Itunes to desktop.
Trash original.
Change m4a to m4r.
Add to Itunes icon in DOCK.
Check for ringtones folder (address in previous posts).
Add m4r file to ringtones folder
Convert m4r to m4a.
Open m4a file in Itunes.
Connect iphone.
Check ringtones tab in iphone syncher.
Choose sync selected ringtones, not "all."
Sync.

Hopefully this will work

I could be wrong, but I faced a few of these problems and did get it to work.

Good luck.

[James Blond]

[QUOTE=BillyMayes;3275]Try automator. It works wonders

/QUOTE]

Hey Billy Mayes....I opened Automator, but I don't see any option for changing file extenstion names (and have never used automator) so I don't know if there's a way to customize a command like this. Do you?

[iNck]

Try automator. It works wonders



It's created when you go through the process of adding the ringtones



Check the main post, it's in the update
I followed every step, triple checked, but still, there's no Ringtones folder inside iTunes Music. I dont think this works with 7.4.1(2).

tnx BTW.

[James Blond]

I followed every step, triple checked, but still, there's no Ringtones folder inside iTunes Music. I dont think this works with 7.4.1(2).

tnx BTW.

I did it with 7.4.1.....what is the (2).

?

[iNck]

Ok from my reading of this the first problem I see is that you need to start with m4a files and not m4ps.

The other thing I see potentially wrong is that you can't create your own ringtones folder; itunes has to do it for you. I would delete it and start over using the m4a conversion process.

Third of all -- and this seems to be a mistake a lot of people are making -- you CANNOT have the original m4a or even aif or m4p files still in Itunes when you start all this. They (and their files) should be IN THE TRASH. You can always take them out if you need to.

The quick rundown (did I forget anything?)
Disconnect Iphone.
Choose file, add to Itunes.
Convert file to m4a.
Copy file from Itunes to desktop.
Trash original.
Change m4a to m4r.
Add to Itunes icon in DOCK.
Check for ringtones folder (address in previous posts).
Add m4r file to ringtones folder
Convert m4r to m4a.
Open m4a file in Itunes.
Connect iphone.
Check ringtones tab in iphone syncher.
Choose sync selected ringtones, not "all."
Sync.

Hopefully this will work

I could be wrong, but I faced a few of these problems and did get it to work.

Good luck.
OMFG!!!

It works!

Thanks alot! This goes for BILLY MAYES too... Thank you guys!

Keep it up!

Sweet!!!

[iNck]

I did it with 7.4.1.....what is the (2).

?
iTunes updated 2 days in a row. I got them both, the latest was the (2).

Anyway, I got it working now.

Many thanks to Billy Mayes and James Blond!

[Unregistered]

this method works perfect. make sure you use finder to rename all of your files. I made 10 ringtones in garageband for various people that call me so that their names are announced on the phone prior to me picking it up. Thanks, appreciate the help!

[newwavedave]

Here's what happened to me for anyone who is suffering from the same frustration. I had turned off the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" feature in my iTunes prefs. Thus, when I double clicked on my .m4r file it was just playing the file in the place it was at, not importing it into the ringtones folder. When I turned it back on, bingo, I clicked on the .m4r file and it magically created a ringtones folder and my file appeared in it. After that, I renamed the files to .m4a and synched my iPhone. Now when my wife calls me, I hear "Swing Life Away" and when work calls I hear "the Imperial March". Thanks iphonealley!

[iPodAddict]

Now when my wife calls me, I hear "Swing Life Away" and when work calls I hear "the Imperial March". Thanks iphonealley!

Nice! I might have to do that.

[QUOTE=BillyMayes;3275]Try automator. It works wonders

/QUOTE]

Hey Billy Mayes....I opened Automator, but I don't see any option for changing file extenstion names (and have never used automator) so I don't know if there's a way to customize a command like this. Do you?
MakeiPhoneRingone

http://www.iphonealley.com/news/rogue-amoeba-announces-makeiphoneringtone

w00t

[Unregistered]

Ok from my reading of this the first problem I see is that you need to start with m4a files and not m4ps.

The other thing I see potentially wrong is that you can't create your own ringtones folder; itunes has to do it for you. I would delete it and start over using the m4a conversion process.

Third of all -- and this seems to be a mistake a lot of people are making -- you CANNOT have the original m4a or even aif or m4p files still in Itunes when you start all this. They (and their files) should be IN THE TRASH. You can always take them out if you need to.

The quick rundown (did I forget anything?)
Disconnect Iphone.
Choose file, add to Itunes.
Convert file to m4a.
Copy file from Itunes to desktop.
Trash original.
Change m4a to m4r.
Add to Itunes icon in DOCK.
Check for ringtones folder (address in previous posts).
Add m4r file to ringtones folder
Convert m4r to m4a.
Open m4a file in Itunes.
Connect iphone.
Check ringtones tab in iphone syncher.
Choose sync selected ringtones, not "all."
Sync.

Hopefully this will work

I could be wrong, but I faced a few of these problems and did get it to work.

Good luck.

I got to the change m4a to m4r step, but i don't understand what you mean when you say add to itunes icon in dock

[Unregistered]

Ok from my reading of this the first problem I see is that you need to start with m4a files and not m4ps.

The other thing I see potentially wrong is that you can't create your own ringtones folder; itunes has to do it for you. I would delete it and start over using the m4a conversion process.

Third of all -- and this seems to be a mistake a lot of people are making -- you CANNOT have the original m4a or even aif or m4p files still in Itunes when you start all this. They (and their files) should be IN THE TRASH. You can always take them out if you need to.

The quick rundown (did I forget anything?)
Disconnect Iphone.
Choose file, add to Itunes.
Convert file to m4a.
Copy file from Itunes to desktop.
Trash original.
Change m4a to m4r.
Add to Itunes icon in DOCK.
Check for ringtones folder (address in previous posts).
Add m4r file to ringtones folder
Convert m4r to m4a.
Open m4a file in Itunes.
Connect iphone.
Check ringtones tab in iphone syncher.
Choose sync selected ringtones, not "all."
Sync.

Hopefully this will work

I could be wrong, but I faced a few of these problems and did get it to work.

Good luck.

ok i followed these steps and i got in on my phone, but i can't seem to hear it. I can see it on my phone and i can set it but i can't hear it. i can still hear the preset ringtones. but not the ones i added. Has this happened to any one and do you know what i did wrong?

[uiop]

Crapper. Not working with for me, maybe because I Windows Vista? :eek:

[Unregistered]

Can someone please help me. I put the ringtone on my phone and i set it but i can't here it play. WHat did i do wrong?

[Unregistered]

I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes preview and when i got to iTunes adcanved > convert selection to AAC it says, "Song Name" could not be converted because protected files cannot be converted to other formats. does any one know how to eork around this?

[James Blond]

I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes preview and when i got to iTunes adcanved > convert selection to AAC it says, "Song Name" could not be converted because protected files cannot be converted to other formats. does any one know how to eork around this?

This has happened to me, too. I think one of the potench probs is that if you try this too many times, you end up with competing versions of a ringtone on your phone, and it doesn't work anymore.

I would, if I were you, try adding another ringtone, following the steps carefully (and make sure that you have "add to Music Library when adding to Itunes" box CHECKED in Preferences when you are doing all this).

[James Blond]

I did the thing where you steal the 30 sec clip from iTunes preview and when i got to iTunes adcanved > convert selection to AAC it says, "Song Name" could not be converted because protected files cannot be converted to other formats. does any one know how to eork around this?

Burn it onto a CD, then re-import it (you can replace the original one, if you want, when that question comes up).

Big pain, but you can do this with any Itunes store song....it removes the protection......

[newwavedave]

I got to the change m4a to m4r step, but i don't understand what you mean when you say add to itunes icon in dock

Just double click on the m4r file. It should automatically add the file to itunes and create a ringtones playlist. Once the ringtones playlist is created, you can just drag your m4r files into that playlist.

[newwavedave]

ok i followed these steps and i got in on my phone, but i can't seem to hear it. I can see it on my phone and i can set it but i can't hear it. i can still hear the preset ringtones. but not the ones i added. Has this happened to any one and do you know what i did wrong?

What are you using to create the ringtones? Are the ringtones longer than 30 seconds? (Not like it matters, I have a 1 min. long ringtone.) You've been making sure to convert your m4r files to m4a once they are in your ringtones folder, right?

I've been using GarageBand to create my ringtones. I just pull an unprotected ACC or MP3 file in and edit it to be a short clip with fade in and fade out. Then I go to "share>export to computer" to create the m4a file.

[Unregistered]

After dropping the new file into iTunes, and sync with iPhone, it tells me that the file cannot be play? Also, I can't find the iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/ folder?! Is it suppose to create it by itself after syncing with iPhone?

Thanks for the help

[james Blond]

Hey everyone....

This program is amazing, it does it all for you.....just drop the converted AAC file into this and it does the rest.

http://www.iphonealley.com/news/rogu...iphoneringtone


MakeiPhoneRingtone.app

[Unregistered]

i have tried it word for word and this does not work for me, am i missing a step

[Unregistered]

i cannot get ringtones at all....i have purchased about 10 from itunes but when i chose to sync my phone there not added into my iphone. please help me, it sucks to not have ringtones

[Unregistered]

Slightly Convoluted
Simply Creative
Successful Conversion

It works great!

[James Blond]

Slightly Convoluted
Simply Creative
Successful Conversion

It works great!

Hey -- all you "unregistered" posters...if you want answers here it's really helpful if you create a name. You don't have to register or anything, just make something up -- that way people can distinguish one poster from another, otherwise no one knows who still needs what kind of help, and who solved their own problems....

[BigFoot]

i have tried it word for word and this does not work for me, am i missing a step
Try restoring your iPhone and make sure that it's 1.0.2

[newwavedave]

After dropping the new file into iTunes, and sync with iPhone, it tells me that the file cannot be play? Also, I can't find the iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones/ folder?! Is it suppose to create it by itself after syncing with iPhone?

Thanks for the help

Yes, the ringtones playlist just appear in iTunes and the ringtones folder is created. Don't try creating your own ringtones folder because it wont work. Once you have the ringtones playlist, you can just drag and drop your m4r files onto it to add.

Don't forget to change the m4r to m4a once you drag it in.

[James Blond]

Hey....

On the Rogue Amoeba site, it says that the MakeIphoneringtone.app does NOT work with the 7.4.2 itunes update. Anyone else have any news on that?

more importantly, does 7.4.2. kill ringtones that have been sneaked into/onto the Iphone using the Rogue app or the methods we describe here?

Let me know.....I cannot go back to the iphone's lame basic ringtones, I like being able to hear the damn thing ring!

[BillyMayes]

Hey....

On the Rogue Amoeba site, it says that the MakeIphoneringtone.app does NOT work with the 7.4.2 itunes update. Anyone else have any news on that?

more importantly, does 7.4.2. kill ringtones that have been sneaked into/onto the Iphone using the Rogue app or the methods we describe here?

Let me know.....I cannot go back to the iphone's lame basic ringtones, I like being able to hear the damn thing ring!
iTunes 7.4.2 totally kills all illicit ringtones. Don't update

[James Blond]

iTunes 7.4.2 totally kills all illicit ringtones. Don't update

YIKES -- thank you Billy Mayes..... this is important info for everyone....and I fear that everyone is not going to get it...

Is there some way this info be put on the IPhone Alley homepage, given the amount of people concerned about the issue?

[BillyMayes]

YIKES -- thank you Billy Mayes..... this is important info for everyone....and I fear that everyone is not going to get it...

Is there some way this info be put on the IPhone Alley homepage, given the amount of people concerned about the issue?
It was mentioned a couple days ago

http://www.iphonealley.com/news/apple-updates-itunes-breaks-custom-ringtones

[newwavedave]

I heard that someone had edited the tags to get our little hack here to work again, but there is some question as to wether it really works or not. I'm sure someone smarter than me is working on this and we'll have an answer to this soon.

[*hes]

they have shut whatever hole/holes there were, a great setback and small dissapointment with apple. WE WANT A2DP!!! WE WANT AVRCP!!!

[newwavedave]

There has to be some way of tricking iTunes into thinking that a ringtone file created outside of iTunes is actually a ringtone file. I remember back in the old days, messing with resource forks and stuff.

[123]

does it work on 7.4.2

[iPodAddict]

Only works on 7.4.1 and 7.4. Read the thread

[*joe]

hey i dont know how to chane back 2 m4a do i go to music then to itunes and soo forth can u plz help

[Chad Vader]

hey i dont know how to chane back 2 m4a do i go to music then to itunes and soo forth can u plz help
You just change it back the way you changed to to .m4r. Find the file using the Finder and rename it.

[keemo112]

you guys i added the .m4r file to ringtones... but now when i try to sync it just doesnt show on my iphone. like even when i go to my iphone in itunes, i go to ringtones and there's nothing to select and sync. and the file is only 407 kb . so what am i supposed to do?

[joshalo3]

i don't know if we covered this already but you can edit the music in garage band and export them as ringtones! i was sooo happy! hope this is something new to you.

[repapips]

Go to the folder where the ringtones are stored. This is likely My Documents>My Music>iTunes>iTunes Music>Ringtones

Once you've changed the extension to .m4r and gotten them to show up in the ringtones list, you need to change the extensions back to m4a and open them again in iTunes.

i did what you said, my ringtone appeared on the ringtones tab of iphone then got back to my ringtone in my windows explorer and renamed the extension again to m4a, successfully synchronized my iphone. the problem is the ringtone doesn't appear in my sounds>ringtone in iphone. how can i set my copied ringtone as a ringtone in my iphone? i also have i tunes 7.5.0, is it possible in this version of itunes?

[*cat chow]

I worked like a charm!

[*rv]

Help I have itunes 7.6 and I do change file extensions to .m4r it does show in the ringtone
library and when I sync it shows in the iphone ringtone but when I go into the iphone to set the ring tone it does not come out in the list of optios.

[Smola]

Will this process continually be updated for newer version of iTunes? No one has posted at all this year. I'm gonna give it a go for iTunes 7.6...

[*betchy]

hi..i just changed my file from mp3 to m4r. my problem is..i cant copy paste or drag it back to my itunes..hope you guys can answer my question.thanks

[Spoon]

This method doesn't really work anymore as far as I know. Best way is to use GarageBand. Maybe Michael should update this guide....

[Techwiz]

The best application for creating iPhone ring tones is "iRinger" found at iringer.net.

This application lets you use any audio file and grab any 30 seconds of the audio file and convert to a ringtone. Allows for fade in and out. After you configure your ringtone, it pop the final file in the ringtones section of iTunes. Works perfectly !!!

[pcconversion]

I do not see a way to change the file extension on a PC. Please help!!!!

[Pepper]

I do not see a way to change the file extension on a PC. Please help!!!!

you can just choose to rename the file, and then change the extension when you do that, i'm guessing

[Unregistered Mike Harwood]

None - I repeat NONE of the aforementioned works on iTunes 7.7.1 and Iphone v 2.02 seems Apple are just shit at upgrades and removing options? don;t get me wrong - I love everything Apple and have been using their Macs for the last 15+ years!

The re-syncing is very dodgy now - if you go and change any of the sync methods ALL of your music gets removed! happened to me twice now!

So I'm trying these routes to get my own songs into the 'Ring Tones' folder - or at least trying to get the folder to actually apply itself to no avail! m4r files are not recognised at all - m4a converted from AAC are though but don't appear as ring tones!? so I'm thinking maybe I need to select 'Sync ringtones' made sense to me - only it deletes all of your music files AAAAAAGH! not again! - Still no ring tone file appearing in the ring tone selection - but it did create a folder titled ring tones but it sees it as a music playlist? no further forward!

So anyone win a route that works would be very helpful.

Mike

[Unregistered]

iTunes creates it for you when you open an .m4r file.

I've opened a .m4r file, but still have no ringtones folder in finder.

Rename to .m4r, double click the files, they'll end up in the Ringtones tab. Go into your iTunes/iTunes Music/Ringtones folder, rename to .m4a, double click and sync your iPhone.

I double clicked a .m4r file, it doesn't end up in the ringtones tab.

please help