Glen8

Q: How to convert songs to ringtones?

On iTunes I paid for Beatles songs that were labelled as ringtones.  I changed the extension to .m4r on a couple but they are too long to be used as ringtones.  How do I take a chunk of a song and convert it (shorten it) suitably to be used as a ringtone?  I am using a Mac computer.

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 5:00 PM

Close

Q: How to convert songs to ringtones?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 of 3 last Next
  • by Chris CA,Apple recommended

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 6, 2012 6:33 PM in response to Glen8
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 6, 2012 6:33 PM in response to Glen8
    1. Find the song you want and note the start/stop time you want the ring tone.
    2. Right click - get info, click the Options tab and set the start/stop times as above.
    3. Right click - Create AAC version. This creates a new file.
    4. Drag this new file from the iTunes window to the desktop.
    5. Delete the file from iTunes and also select Delete from hard drive.
    6. On the desktop, rename the file whateveryouwant.m4r (first part you can change to whatever you want & change the extension to .m4r).
    7. Drag the file back to the iTunes library at top left.
    8. Make sure iTunes prefs > General has Tones ticked.
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Mar 6, 2012 9:43 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 9 (53,643 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 6, 2012 9:43 PM in response to Chris CA

    We should just note I believe a ringtone has to be 30 seconds or less in length.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 7, 2012 9:42 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 7, 2012 9:42 AM in response to Limnos

    Yes, that is correct.

  • by EstebanX,

    EstebanX EstebanX Mar 17, 2012 11:30 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2012 11:30 PM in response to Chris CA

    Hey Chris

    i have been making ringtones for a while through itunes, but recently after i updated, i dont have the option to create an ACC version of the song, i only get create an MP3 version, which does not enable me to add the file to the ringtones folder. Do you know the solution to this problem?

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 18, 2012 2:20 AM in response to EstebanX
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 18, 2012 2:20 AM in response to EstebanX

    iTunes prefs General tab - Import settings.

    Set to AAC.

  • by SamLKim,

    SamLKim SamLKim Sep 20, 2012 8:19 PM in response to Glen8
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2012 8:19 PM in response to Glen8

    I used this ringtone trick and it worked for me plenty of times before but now it does not seem to work.

     

    ~I selected the options tab

    ~I clicked start and stop buttons and hit ok

    ~I created AAC version

    ~I showed in folder

    ~I renamed .m4r and dragged it back into iTunes

     

    Usually at this point it'll play under the "Tones" tab on the left, but now it only plays under "Music" and i cant drag it into my iPhone or into "Tones"

     

    I just updated to iOS6. Could this be a problem? I really cant figure it out. It was originally a .wav then i converted to .mp3 since that always worked for me. I used this a lot in the past and now im not sure why it doesnt work. HELP!

     

    i am running on macbook pro 10.8.1 and itunes 10.6.3

  • by Nishantjoshi,

    Nishantjoshi Nishantjoshi Feb 10, 2013 4:47 AM in response to SamLKim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 10, 2013 4:47 AM in response to SamLKim

    You need to do this before renaming the file to .m4r:

     

    Go to: Control panel > Appearance and themes > folder options > view > uncheck hide extensions for known types

    rename file from: FILENAME.m4a to FILENAME.m4r

    double click file and it should pop up in the ringtones section. sync your iphone and it should work.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Feb 10, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Nishantjoshi
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 10, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Nishantjoshi

    "Go to: Control panel > Appearance and themes > folder options > view > uncheck hide extensions for known types"

     

    There is no such option on a Mac.

  • by skaralan,

    skaralan skaralan Mar 19, 2013 12:06 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2013 12:06 PM in response to Chris CA

    Hi, Once i set the start and stop time the new file which itunes creates still remains the same size as the original song. Im using itunes version 11.0.2 (25). Why am i unable to create a shorter version for a ringtone? kindly help.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 19, 2013 12:23 PM in response to skaralan
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 19, 2013 12:23 PM in response to skaralan

    Make sure you are viewing the new file and not the original file.

  • by skaralan,

    skaralan skaralan Mar 19, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Chris CA

    It was a temporary error, i force quit itunes and tried again and was successful. Thanks.

  • by elliosnet,

    elliosnet elliosnet Mar 29, 2013 2:19 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2013 2:19 AM in response to Chris CA

    I drag m4r file into ringtones  but it does not appear....please suggest

  • by elliosnet,

    elliosnet elliosnet Mar 29, 2013 2:20 AM in response to Glen8
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2013 2:20 AM in response to Glen8

    I drag m4r file into ringtones  but it does not appear....please suggest

  • by elliosnet,

    elliosnet elliosnet Mar 29, 2013 2:47 AM in response to Glen8
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2013 2:47 AM in response to Glen8

    found it ......!!!! if you don't get to see the tone under the tones section in itunes drag it it the desktop then erase from itunes library and open again the file from the desktop...it will be under the tones library section....

Page 1 of 3 last Next