02 - Creating a Ringtone

This page will show you how to create a ring tone file  in Audacity.  I use Ubuntu Linux, and will use that in this tutorial.  Audacity should work simular on Windows.

The format of ring tones for my phone is "WAV (Microsoft 4 bit MS ADPCM)" at 22050 Hz no longer than 29 seconds.

Load the source sound file into Audacity

On my Ubuntu Linux box, after I have installed Audacity I am able to click the right mouse button on the source sound file and then goto "Open With -> Audacity".

Make the file a mono track

Assuming you have a stereo file you will need to make it a single track.  To do this you need to select the option for the loaded project  (the down arrow button on the left hand side of the window with both tracks in it in Audacity) and then select the "split track" option then you will have to seperate track project/file/windows one for the left and one for the right.  Notice they are now in seperate windows. Then you can delete the track you don't need. (You could also combine the tracks, instructions for that are in the next section)

Changing to the correct audio format

1. Next select the portion of the audio file you want to be your ring tone, for my ring tone format I can only have a max of 29 seconds.  (You can select a portion by dragging you mouse over the 29 seconds you want and then goto the Menu and select File -> Cut or just hit Ctrl-X)
2. Next create a new project by going to File->New, you should have a new blank audacity window.
3. Then change the "Project Rate (Hz)" setting to 22050.  (This is in the lower left hand side of window.)
4. Then Paste the section of sound. ( You an use Ctrl - Y)

Export the file

1. Goto File -> Export
2. Type in a name
3. in the bottom of the Export File window on the right hand side select the format of "WAV, AIFF, and other uncompressed types"
4. Then below that select the "Options...." button
5. Selec the "WAV (Microsoft 4 bit MS ADPCM)" from the format drop down box.
6. Hit OK
7. And then hit the save button!

Work around Audacity bug

I had a problem with the files I saved, they were all a little longer that what I wanted, and longer than what I had saved.  To fix this I opened up the file in Audacity and then cut off the excess and resaved the file.  The second time the file didn't have the extra space.

Done, file ready to load!

I can't tell you how to do that, or if it will work ?  I do know it can make your phone very unhappy if there is a problem.  When I tried to load ring tones to my Wife's phone the tone didn't work.  And would cause her phone to reboot every time a phone call came in with the defective ringer.  So *TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK *

How to load the ring tone on your phone.

This page gives some details about  how you might load a ring tone to your phone.  http://excastle.com/blog/archive/2007/10/07/50369.aspx