How do I get an mp3 as a ringtone on my phone?

[Doctor Setebos]

First off, while I'm great with computers, I am completely phone illiterate. I'm surprised I've figured out how to text someone and work the camera.

I have an LG vx8550 (Verizon) phone. I've got an mp3 file that I want to have as a ringtone. I have a micro-SD card for the phone and an SD/USB adapter for connecting it to my computer (I'm currently just using it to transfer music to the phone).

I don't appear to have a place to put ringtones on the SD card. It has places for music and "sounds", but not ringtones. Do I need the file to be in a certain filetype? Does it need to be in a certain location? Can I not do this at all, and have to rely on just buying ringtones?

A friend of mine pointed me to a hack on a website, but I don't want to hack the phone. It's a work phone, and I want to stay legal. Other than hacks, I can't find any info on the internet to get this to work.

Help?

[pomeroy]

Dude, Verizon's phones are pretty much locked. Good luck.

[Aggort]

What pomeroy said. Otherwise I'd say it's as easy as having your MP3, having a Micro SD card, and using Audacity (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Faudacity.sourceforge.net%2F&ei=yBbtSMyLK4SYevyt7MsL&usg=AFQjCNEjZ2LIXUq09FvorQJKXfovOmNfWg&sig2=ccPrCtyUngIYfbsRUbPWTg) to make a simple cut of the selection of the song you want. As long as you have the file small enough and as an MP3 it should work, regardless of the folder, as I;d assume the phone at least has a media browser.

Audacity is very simple to use, but if you need help feel free to PM me even if you want to send me the file and have me do say the chorus of the song.

[Sandman]

This is one thing I love about the iPhone....make your own ringtone for $2. $1 if you already own the song through iTunes. I just wish they'd get some older stuff available for ringtones.

[sparkfizt]

This is one thing I love about the iPhone....make your own ringtone for $2. $1 if you already own the song through iTunes. I just wish they'd get some older stuff available for ringtones.

You love paying for ringtones to a song you already have? I thought apples ringtone extortion was derided? I haven't looked into it but probably with a little work and some ripping you could get around that.

[Sandman]

You love paying for ringtones to a song you already have? I thought apples ringtone extortion was derided? I haven't looked into it but probably with a little work and some ripping you could get around that.

Eh, I don't mind .99 for iTunes doing the conversion work for me. I'm happy with my Also Sprach Zarathrusta ringtone.

[sparkfizt]

www.audiko.net <- free iphone ringtones a friend of mine uses. I personally keep my phone on vibrate.

[squirrelTactics]

I have an LG Rumor, and what I had to do to get custom ringtones using the MicroSD card was actually clip the song to 30 seconds and then set it as a video file, then use the set the video as my ringtone.


I realize that you aren't using a rumor, but it being an LG phone this (http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149201&page=3) may still work.

[Doctor Setebos]

Dude, Verizon's phones are pretty much locked. Good luck.Grrrrr. This does not please the doctor. :mad:

[pseudopseudo]

This is one thing I love about the iPhone....make your own ringtone for $2. $1 if you already own the song through iTunes. I just wish they'd get some older stuff available for ringtones.

You can make your own ringtone using iTunes, with any song you own, without any hacks, for free.

Pi5L9oEXycI

At least... you could with iTunes 7.4. I haven't tried it yet using 8.0 - I'll have to try it tonight to see if they blocked the workaround.

[Doctor Setebos]

I have an LG Rumor, and what I had to do to get custom ringtones using the MicroSD card was actually clip the song to 30 seconds and then set it as a video file, then use the set the video as my ringtone.


I realize that you aren't using a rumor, but it being an LG phone this (http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149201&page=3) may still work.I can't set a video as my ringtone.

[Soldat]

Check out BitPim (http://bitpim.org/), it should fit the bill and a quick check shows it supports your phone. I'm currently using it for LG vx8560 and used it for the vx8600 before that. I recommend using the data cable if you don't already have one, transferring over bluetooth is painfully slow. It has a built-in tool to make ringtones out of an mp3, but it's clumsy. Some phones are more sensitive to length, file size and bitrate of ringtones so keep that in mind.

If you run into problems check out the Howard Forums (http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295) board. Good luck!


Oh yeah and... First Post!

[sparkfizt]

You can make your own ringtone using iTunes, with any song you own, without any hacks, for free.

At least... you could with iTunes 7.4. I haven't tried it yet using 8.0 - I'll have to try it tonight to see if they blocked the workaround.

Yeah I remember hearing about an itunes workaround, I thought they'd stopped it but I never paid too much attention.

[Aggort]

I can't set a video as my ringtone.

Is ignoring my Post?

[Doctor Setebos]

Check out BitPim (http://bitpim.org/), it should fit the bill and a quick check shows it supports your phone. I'm currently using it for LG vx8560 and used it for the vx8600 before that. I recommend using the data cable if you don't already have one, transferring over bluetooth is painfully slow. It has a built-in tool to make ringtones out of an mp3, but it's clumsy. Some phones are more sensitive to length, file size and bitrate of ringtones so keep that in mind.

If you run into problems check out the Howard Forums (http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295) board. Good luck!


Oh yeah and... First Post!Hey, thanks! It looks like my phone isn't on their supported list, though. They have the vx8500, but not my vx8550. Might be close enough to work, though. I'll have to give it a try tonight!

[Doctor Setebos]

Is ignoring my Post?Sorry. I didn't ignore it, just didn't respond. :o

I can't access other folders for ringtones. The ringtone has to be in the "ringtone" folder in order to be available, and I can't access the "ringtone" folder on the microSD card when it's hooked up to the computer. Just having the mp3 in the music or "sounds" folder does not allow me to set it as a ringtone.

[Aggort]

Sorry. I didn't ignore it, just didn't respond. :o

I can't access other folders for ringtones. The ringtone has to be in the "ringtone" folder in order to be available, and I can't access the "ringtone" folder on the microSD card when it's hooked up to the computer. Just having the mp3 in the music or "sounds" folder does not allow me to set it as a ringtone.

In that case, it sounds locked.

[Soldat]

Hey, thanks! It looks like my phone isn't on their supported list, though. They have the vx8500, but not my vx8550. Might be close enough to work, though. I'll have to give it a try tonight!

Not a problem. Weird about your phone though... if you look at the phone features supported it says LG-vx8550 in red, but elsewhere it isn't listed. You'll probably have to use the 8500 or 8600 settings like you said. I'm pretty sure the 8550 and 8600 were the same but in a different packaging. If that's the case there's also a way to set a video as a ringtone but can't remember off hand.

[KingGorilla]

http://inrepair.net/2008/06/26/how-to-set-mp3-as-ringtone-on-lg-chocolate-vx8550/

1 Make sure the file is under 350kb. You can crop and save the mp3 to reduce its size.
2 Send it as an email attachment to yourtendigitphonenumber@vzwpix.com (i.e. 5555555555@vzwpix.com).
3 When your phone receives the message and attachment, simply set it as your rington

[TheKeck]

Dude, my buddy at work said that it's super easy. Just e-mail yourself the mp3 (less than 30 seconds) as a text, and then you can save it as a ring tone. I haven't tried it myself yet. Maybe I will right now.

Edit: Oops, yeah, what KingGorilla said.

[Xerxes]

This is one thing I love about the iPhone....make your own ringtone for $2. $1 if you already own the song through iTunes. I just wish they'd get some older stuff available for ring tones.

This one thing I love about the Wing is just putting a mp3 I have on a MicroSD card, sticking it in my phone and selecting it as my ring tone without paying anyone. My ring tone however is cool and possible annoying.

"THUNDER THUNDER CATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...."
Full theme song mind you.

I was going to use the MMPR initialization for my text messages but can't find a good, "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" I probably wouldn't be able to stand that too long anyway.

[KingGorilla]

This is one thing I love about the iPhone....make your own ringtone for $2. $1 if you already own the song through iTunes. I just wish they'd get some older stuff available for ringtones.

My Blackberry lets me use any MP3 as a ringtone for free. All I need is Audacity. Right now it is Still Alive.

[Rogue_hunter]

Bone knows how awesome my ringtone collection is. MP3s downloaded off maximumpc.com in an article about geek ringtones, all on a microSD card in the "audio" folder. My crappy free phone from AT&T is unlocked in terms of what content you can do/use.

It's all up to your carrier to what the phones can do. Sure, I could pay $0.99 for ringtones through the webapp on the phone, but they don't lock it out either.

[Xerxes]

Bone knows how awesome my ringtone collection is. MP3s downloaded off maximumpc.com in an article about geek ringtones, all on a microSD card in the "audio" folder. My crappy free phone from AT&T is unlocked in terms of what content you can do/use.

It's all up to your carrier to what the phones can do. Sure, I could pay $0.99 for ringtones through the webapp on the phone, but they don't lock it out either.

Geek ring tones? Like what?

[KingGorilla]

Geek ring tones? Like what?
The sound of a fanboy crying when the FF XIII 360 announcement went down.

[Xerxes]

The sound of a fanboy crying when the FF XIII 360 announcement went down.

Found it. (http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/20_musthave_geek_ringtones_and_text_message_alerts _and_10_avoid?page=0%2C0)

I think I'll stick with Thundercats. However the Prices Right Fail theme would be a fitting text message sound. Or maybe MGS codec alert.

[TheKeck]

Just tried it, and it worked like a charm.

[pseudopseudo]

Yeah, I just did the iPhone ringtone edit trick with the latest version of iTunes... so it definitely works!

[Kagger]

http://inrepair.net/2008/06/26/how-to-set-mp3-as-ringtone-on-lg-chocolate-vx8550/

1 Make sure the file is under 350kb. You can crop and save the mp3 to reduce its size.
2 Send it as an email attachment to yourtendigitphonenumber@vzwpix.com (i.e. 5555555555@vzwpix.com).
3 When your phone receives the message and attachment, simply set it as your rington

Ding!

If you want a way to get it small enough, I used to use mxertones.com Sometimes it can send it...but it will still let you download the file

[Kagger]

This one thing I love about the Wing is just putting a mp3 I have on a MicroSD card, sticking it in my phone and selecting it as my ring tone without paying anyone. My ring tone however is cool and possible annoying.

"THUNDER THUNDER CATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...."
Full theme song mind you.

I was going to use the MMPR initialization for my text messages but can't find a good, "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" I probably wouldn't be able to stand that too long anyway.

Have you ever been able to find a decent copy of the MMPR beeper?

[KingGorilla]

Ding!

Gratz

stupid letters.

[Xerxes]

Have you ever been able to find a decent copy of the MMPR beeper?

I'll have to check. I had some sounds but I didn't like them. I was even looking for the Green Ranger zoid flute call.

[Inspector Fowler]

Hey! My dad just got an iPhone and I was going to walk him through this if I could.

Can't you just load any MP3 onto the phone and use it as a ringtone?

[pseudopseudo]

Hey! My dad just got an iPhone and I was going to walk him through this if I could.

Can't you just load any MP3 onto the phone and use it as a ringtone?

Nope. You have to go through all that crap (the video I posted) if you want to use your own songs for ringtones.

Alternatively, he can pay $.99 to buy a iTunes ringtone-approved song from the iTunes Marketplace, then pay another $.99 to cut 30-40 seconds from the song to use for the actual ringtone.

[IIntrude]

I was just going to mention that I use phonezoo.com (http://www.phonezoo.com). You can upload any songs you own as long as they don't have DRM, and you can crop and edit the song on the site after you upload it, they then send it to you in a text msg.

[KingGorilla]

Nope. You have to go through all that crap (the video I posted) if you want to use your own songs for ringtones.

Alternatively, he can pay $.99 to buy a iTunes ringtone-approved song from the iTunes Marketplace, then pay another $.99 to cut 30-40 seconds from the song to use for the actual ringtone.

The correct answer was Jailbreak that motherfucker.

[Doctor Setebos]

http://inrepair.net/2008/06/26/how-to-set-mp3-as-ringtone-on-lg-chocolate-vx8550/

1 Make sure the file is under 350kb. You can crop and save the mp3 to reduce its size.
2 Send it as an email attachment to yourtendigitphonenumber@vzwpix.com (i.e. 5555555555@vzwpix.com).
3 When your phone receives the message and attachment, simply set it as your ringtonHoly crap! That worked perfectly!

Thanks, KingGorilla! :D

[TheKeck]

Holy crap! That worked perfectly!

Thanks, KingGorilla! :D

Awwww, no secondary thanks for me? :(

:p

[pseudopseudo]

The correct answer was Jailbreak that motherfucker.

Nah. Jailbreaking isn't worth it. (Not in my mind anyhow.)

[KingGorilla]

Holy crap! That worked perfectly!

Thanks, KingGorilla! :D

Whi loves you baby?

[boratika]

God damn it! I just wrote a long arse reply, hit reply and was presented with an internal server error and upon backing the text box was empty. Nuts.

[cppcrusader]

http://inrepair.net/2008/06/26/how-to-set-mp3-as-ringtone-on-lg-chocolate-vx8550/

1 Make sure the file is under 350kb. You can crop and save the mp3 to reduce its size.
2 Send it as an email attachment to yourtendigitphonenumber@vzwpix.com (i.e. 5555555555@vzwpix.com).
3 When your phone receives the message and attachment, simply set it as your rington

Damn, Pix Place is actually useful for something finally. Now I'll no longer have to repay for the Knight Rider theme like a chump every time I get a new phone.

[Bad Buddha]

For the love of God, don't do it! Nobody wants to hear your cute little song erupting through the crappy phone speaker! :p

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tones.png

[Wraith]

God damn it! I just wrote a long arse reply, hit reply and was presented with an internal server error and upon backing the text box was empty. Nuts.If you ever get this again, try clicking in the empty textbox and doing CTRL+Z (undo). Sometimes this will get your text back.

The error you received might be related to this (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=699).

[Zero]

This one thing I love about the Wing is just putting a mp3 I have on a MicroSD card, sticking it in my phone and selecting it as my ring tone without paying anyone. My ring tone however is cool and possible annoying.

"THUNDER THUNDER CATS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...."
Full theme song mind you.

I was going to use the MMPR initialization for my text messages but can't find a good, "IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" I probably wouldn't be able to stand that too long anyway.

Dude, I've been wanting the little communicator watch thing tones for my text message notification for a long time. I've never been able to find it though.

[TheKeck]

For the love of God, don't do it! Nobody wants to hear your cute little song erupting through the crappy phone speaker! :p

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tones.png
This one made me smile. However, I recently decided to leave the phone-ringing sound behind. My ring tone is now my son laughing. The upshot? WAY more quiet and subtle, for less interruption factor.

(And my phone speakers are AWESOME. :p)

Edit: And just to be an elitist, I have to mention that the xkcd comic made me smile when I first read it the day it was put out, not just now. ;)

[Doctor Setebos]

For the love of God, don't do it! Nobody wants to hear your cute little song erupting through the crappy phone speaker! :pScrew you, man. My ringtone is the "codec" sound from Metal Gear Solid. :p

[Inspector Fowler]

Nope. You have to go through all that crap (the video I posted) if you want to use your own songs for ringtones.

Alternatively, he can pay $.99 to buy a iTunes ringtone-approved song from the iTunes Marketplace, then pay another $.99 to cut 30-40 seconds from the song to use for the actual ringtone.

Huh. This is not fun for poor ol' dad, who is jealous of the many, many ringtones I have.

[boratika]

For the love of God, don't do it! Nobody wants to hear your cute little song erupting through the crappy phone speaker! :p

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tones.png

Well that's all well and good, but it isn't without issues. Since a few of the manufacturers put the same .aac of a ringing phone on all their phones and it's a reasonably popular notion that a ringing phone should sound like a ringing phone, when someone's phone goes off in a public place, twelve people check their phone. You can get around this by putting a different ringing phone sound to use, but that would require doing what this thread was about.

[JerrmyBoi]

Uhh i have the chocolate 3 but what i did was i went to the sound and i i Sent it to my self and i saved as ring tone, i thouhgt it was easier than e-mailing it to my self cuz that didn't work lol but i probebly did it wrong, but yeah you can just txt it to you're self, don't even need to attach it to a pix, but thats if you have txt or if you're willing to spend the money. hope i helped someone :)

[KingGorilla]

http://www.bitpim.org/

Saw this from Engadget. Basically lets you hack around with any CDMA phone.

[Lint of Death]

I don't get why it would be locked. I have a Verizon phone and I have no problems using homemade mp3 ringtones that I put on the micro SD card.

The most important thing is that the music file be small. I use Audacity to clip a 15-30 second section of a song and export it as MP3 (since I think it's smaller than WAV). Then put it on the Micro SD. To check for it I go to the "My Stuff" -> "Tones and Graphics" -> NO NAME (which is what the SD card is called) and they're in there.

Granted, my phone is designed to be part MP3 player (though they make you buy a special headphone plugin because the jack doesn't fit any standard headsets, so fuck 'em).

[pseudopseudo]

I use Audacity to clip a 15-30 second section of a song and export it as MP3 (since I think it's smaller than WAV).

Sorry, I giggled a bit at this.

.mp3 is much, much smaller than .wav. Usually anywhere from halfway to two-thirds smaller. All that compression.

[axion]

http://www.bitpim.org/

Saw this from Engadget. Basically lets you hack around with any CDMA phone.

Yup I used this with my LG Keybo and can put my own ringtones and games on it for free :).

[Lint of Death]

Sorry, I giggled a bit at this.

.mp3 is much, much smaller than .wav. Usually anywhere from halfway to two-thirds smaller. All that compression.

Hehe, yeah, OK, I just couldn't be bothered to double-check or jog my memory any more than that. Lazy me... :p