iTunes 9.1 - Ringtones gone after bitrate conversion

I had the same problem when I turned on the bitrate conversion. I was planning on turning off the conversion and see what happens. I expect the same result as you. Do you know where you can tell what the bitrate of a ringtone is?

I just picked one of my MP3 files that I used for a ringtone and experimented with it. It appears that some of the ringtone conversion programs and steps convert the MP3 file to M4R without bitrate conversion. I converted one of my MP3 files to a MP3 96 bitrate and then reconverted it to a ringtone and it works fine now. It is strange that the itunes conversion would affect M4R files, but this works for me; now I just have to rebuild all of my ringtones.

Same problem here. I tried deleting them and adding back to no avail (checking and unchecking). The content is definitely there. just seems that iTunes mangles it so the iPhone can't use it.

Hoping for a quick itunes 9.1.1 update.

--Tom

Well, although I am glad it's not just me, We shouldn't have to go through and "fix" our own ringtones. Frankly, I'm just glad to know that this is probably the issue. I have tried un-syncing/re-syncing my ringtones, but to no avail. I even tried restoring my iPhone, too. Looking forward to a VERY quick 9.1.1 update to correct this.

I second this issue with the iTunes 9.1 update.

The .m4r file is being converted into an .aac file which could be causing the iPhone OS to not place it under the ringtones menu on the iPhone.

If the ringtone is a low bit rate (I think below 128kbps), then iTunes shouldn't convert the file like "mrackers" mentioned and it'll work.

Filed a iTunes bug report. I strongly suggest you all do the same!

By the way, has anybody noticed that it runs a gapless playback check on all the songs on your iPhone if you delete all the ringtones from the iPhone and then re-sync them back on to the iPhone?

Edit: On my previous post, when I said it was converting it from .m4r to .aac, I should of said I think it's not renaming the extension to .m4r from .aac after the conversion process, since .m4r is technically .aac format.

Seems to be an issue with the "on the fly" conversion basically not amending the extension so the iPhone's OS isn't picking it up as a ringtone, just as a standard .aac yet it's still probably been placed in the iPhone's "Ringtone" folder, hence why it doesn't show up in the song list either.

I could be wrong though...

Some more info incase it helps anybody.

It looks like the ringtones transferred onto the iPhone have the extension .m4a

Does anybody know if they should read .m4r?

I know that .m4r files are technically .m4a files but as I've said, I don't know if the OS interprets the extension differently.

Renaming the files doesn't seem to change anything on the iPhone's menu, even after turning off and on.

iPhone -> iTunes_Control -> Ringtones

I too unchecked the bitrate conversion box, re-synced and all ringtones came back. I did notice when they were missing, it was only my "homemade" ringtones that were gone. The originals that I purchased when I first got my phone were still there. Did Apple maybe mean to do this with this update?

Yes, I have the same problem. All my custom made ringtones have vanished when I did the AAC converstion tickbox doofer.

I've bug reported it as well.

I don't think this would have been done to prevent anything. I had about 45 home made ringtones and am only able to sync about 11 of them. The 11 that did make it onto my iPhone were made in the same way that the others were...

One other thing I noticed when it kept the ringtones I had purchased but removed the "others". The purchased ringtones were already at 128 kbps where my homemade ones are 256 kbps. Any way to easily convert the homemade ones to 128?

Easily Convert? No. Not really. I'm sure there's a program out there that can do it, though. I shouldn't have to adjust my files to work with the application like this, though. All Ringtones I've created were done legally and under Apple's Approved guidelines...

Yes!!! I have been banging my head against the wall about this all week! see here. http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11341331#11341331

I'd just like to add that I made all my ringtones in Garage Band using the ringtone feature. But yeah def looking for 9.1.1

Actually iPhones Seems to accept only 128kbps stereo ringtones after the option to convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps is enabled.

In order to solve this you will have to do the following for each ringtone:

First of all, go to iTunes Preferences and in General, click on the Import Settings button ( after "When you insert a CD" ).

Select the following options:

Import Using: AAC Encoder
Setting: High Quality (128 kbps)

You can enable error correction if you want, it will make no difference.

Now, do the following.

- Go to Ringtones, drag your ringtone to your desktop.
- Rename the .m4r file to .m4a
- Delete the Ringtone ( and move to trash ) on iTunes.
- Drag your .m4a renamed file back to iTunes.
- Select the file and on iTunes Menu go to: Advanced -> Create AAC Version
- A new file will be created ( If you go to Info on iTunes you will see that the file is now 128kbps )
- Delete the old .m4a from your iTunes ( and move to trash )
- Delete the old .m4a file from Desktop
- Empty your trash
- Now drag the copy created on iTunes ( the 128kbps one ) to the desktop again
- Delete it from iTunes ( and move to Trash )
- Rename the .m4a file on your Desktop to .m4r
- Drag the .m4r file back to you library
- Resync your iPhone
- Go and select your ringtone on your iPhone Settings -> Sounds Menu


That's it folks... I did it to my 12 Custom Ringtones and It works nicely !

Remember to turn back the Setting to iTunes Plus on your iTunes Settings so when you copy a CD to your library the quality will be far better 🙂

This will be a pain for me as I have over 40 that I'll have to convert this way.