CNET Insider Secrets has posted a video on how to create an iPhone ringtone using only iTunes. This is a very simple trick and I’ll go through it step by step. 

For this trick to work, you will need iTunes 8, and any DRM-free Mp3 or AAC track. This includes “iTunes Plus” songs purchased from the iTunes store, the ones ripped from your CDs, or even those purchased from the Amazon music service. 

Right click on the song in iTunes and select “Get Info”. In the Options tab, enter the start time, and put the end time 40 seconds (or less) after the start time. For instance, in the example track, I have set the start time to 0:00, and the end time at 0:30. Anything more than 40 seconds and it will not work. Click OK.

Now right click the track again, and select “Create AAC Version”. If you see Mp3 version instead, you need to change your encoder setting in the General tab of the iTunes preferences. Once the conversion is done, the new track will be created right next to your earlier one. 

Drag the 30 second track to your desktop. Hitting enter will put it into rename mode. Change the extension from m4a to m4r. Accept the change.

Then, back in iTunes, delete the 30 second track that was created. After doing that, drag the track from your desktop into your iTunes library. If ringtones are set to sync automatically, it will be on your iPhone the next time you sync up.

This trick also works in iTunes Windows, and the steps are very similar. Of course, Mac users can also use the more advanced controls in Garageband, and then send the song to iTunes directly as a ringtone.

In Tips, iPhone on 12 Oct, 2008| |