How To Make Your Own Custom Mp3 Ringtone With Audacity

Posted by: dragonblogger  //  Category: Consumerism, Technology

I had wondered how to get free ringtones on my wife’s and my own blackberry devices when I tried various web sites that worked, but were slow or required too much time or didn’t have the songs I was looking for. When someone told me that I could create my own from any mp3 with Audacity I decided to try it out. When I realized how simple it was and that it worked, I decided this would be the next topic for my screencast demonstrations.

  • Pre-requisites:
  1. Your phone must accept mp3 ringtones, there are ways to make midi / amr ringtones but not with this tutorial
  2. Your phone must be setup to receive email from gmail, yahoo, blackberry, or some other email service
  3. You should download and install audacity on your computer, this is freeware you can get here: Audacity 1.3.7 (I do recommend the beta 1.3 version as the 1.2 version was crashing on my Windows Vista frequently.)
  4. Make sure you install and configure the LAME mp3 encoder as well, read the website instructions.

So go ahead watch the video on how to turn an mp3 file into an mp3 ringtone, this will work for any mobile phone that accepts mp3 file format for ringtones, in my case I use it with Verizon Blackberries, but it shouldn’t matter whatever service you have.

Here are step by step instructions for those too lazy to watch the video or wanting to read it quickly:

  1. Open Audacity
  2. Load your MP3 file you wish to edit
  3. Find the section of mp3 file you want to turn into a ringtone (choose 20 seconds as a good length, some can take up to 40 seconds, but 20 seconds is best)
  4. Trim out all of the mp3 section you don’t want (Delete the before and after the places you have marked)
  5. Apply Fade In and Fade Out (optional) if you want your ringtone to fade in slowly and fade out volume wise so it isn’t so abrupt
  6. Export file as MP3 (you must have installed the Audacity LAME MP3 Encoder)
  7. Email the mp3 file as an attachment to the email address that your mobile device checks.
  8. Open the attachment and save it in your ringtones folder
  9. Set it as your ring tone
  10. Test it.

Thats it, it is very simple and you can create any number of ringtones for free. You aren’t limited to songs, you can create people’s voices, sayings, quotes, readings…etc.  Virtually any audio file can become a personal ringtone now.

Here is the Iron Man mp3 Ringtone if you want to use it:  ironman-ringtone

Let me know if this post was helpful to you by leaving me a comment.

-Dragon Blogger

Famous for his professional expertise in the area of executive recruitment, recruiter Dennis C Carey is the name to call when it comes to finding the best managers for your company. Know more about the profile of Dennis Carey here

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Written by dragonblogger (880 Articles Published)

Working in the IT Industry for over 10 years and specializing in web based technologies. Dragon Blogger has unique insights and opinions to how the internet and web technology works. An Avid movie fan, video game fan and fan of trying anything and everything new.

Follow dragonblogger on Twitter @dragonblogger

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17 Responses to “How To Make Your Own Custom Mp3 Ringtone With Audacity”

  1. Damien Says:

    That is too cool, especially since audacity is free!

    Damiens last blog post..Bloggers, Pat Yourselves on the Back

    [Reply]

  2. Laura-Whateverebay Says:

    That is a great tool! Thanks for the info. I had wondered how to but never thought it would be that easy. :)

    Laura-Whateverebays last blog post..Welcome to FeedBurner

    [Reply]

  3. Romy Says:

    Thanks for being in my top EC droppers in February 09. God bless you!

    [Reply]

  4. Mumber Says:

    I use online tool http://makeownringtone.com
    it’s a way easier than Audacity for me.

    [Reply]

  5. ibr4him Says:

    That is too cool, thanks. mp3 dinle
    ibr4him´s last blog ..Sıla – SeviÅŸmeden Uyumayalım My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]

  6. Linda Smith from Ringtones Says:

    Thanks for this tutorial. I hate it when free ringtones are never the good songs or the good parts of the songs we like. it’s all well and good to be free but if the tones aren’t good ones it doesn’t matter if they are free or not no one will want them. Now we can create our own it’s awesome and not so hard if you have all the things you need. This can be creative and fun and even better you can make something that no one else has on their phone because you have made it just the way you want it. This is going to be the most popular way to get ringtones soon so those selling them will need to really pick up their game to compete.

    [Reply]

  7. Tim from The Best Says:

    I love Audacity but never thought of it as a way to make ringtones. Cool suggestions and necessary tutorial…Audacity took me awhile to get used to…
    Tim@The Best´s last blog ..Best Laptop Computer My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]

  8. Nigerian Movies Says:

    I just bought my blackberry and would definitely follow your instructions on uploading my fave songs thru Audacity.

    [Reply]

  9. Property Development Finance Says:

    That is a relevation! It will save me a load of money, as I usually have to pay for any ringtones that I wish to download!

    [Reply]

  10. Si from Leadership Styles Says:

    I absolutely love Audacity! I love any free, or free-to-trial software. It just opens up the doors to small beginners or developers to really help develop the leadership and grassroots of any hobby, be it sound recordings or in this case, ringtone making!
    Si@Leadership Styles´s last blog ..7 Tips To Transform Leadership My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]

  11. Ryan Says:

    Awesome guide and the video was really helpful as well! Many thanks.

    [Reply]

  12. karla from recycle old phones Says:

    I love your post so much! Since I am fond in downloading videos and musics and put it in my phone. This is a very good guide for me.

    [Reply]

  13. Diane from ironing board holder Says:

    Very clear. Thanks for these instructions. Will try it.

    [Reply]

  14. Max from Walnut Flooring Says:

    Cool man! I just got a new blackberry, so that’s great. I am gonna definitely check out and download Audacity. Thanks.

    [Reply]

  15. Leon Huang from Singapore Event Photographer Says:

    Wow excellent guide! Especially Audacity is free and works on various OS.

    [Reply]

  16. Tone Says:

    Everyone here of course knows, that it is possible to record their own woices or instruments with Audacity? Connect eg. a microphone to your computer and record your own personal message while running Audacity.

    [Reply]

  17. Vertu Replica Says:

    Thanks for guide for lazy ones because I am one of them and I didnt need to watch that long video.

    [Reply]

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