How to make an iPhone Ringtone in 5 Easy Steps in Garageband
How to make an iPhone Ringtone in 5 Easy Steps in Garageband
In the most recent version of Garageband, you can now make ringtones for your iPhone. Here’s how.
First, get the audio you want all ready in Garageband.
Then open the cycle region by clicking the recycle-ish icon:
Next, click in the ruler above the track and drag to the selection you want to turn into a ringtone. You have 40 seconds of audio you can turn into a ringtone, no more, so choose wisely and consider a section that is made for looping, since that’s exactly what it will do.
Go to the Share menu and select Send Ringtone to iTunes.
Once done, look for it in your iTunes library under Ringtones on the left hand panel.
Bear in mind, this is a proprietary format - the m4r file, made just for the iPhone. You will want to do a regular MP3 export as well for non-iPhone ringtones. Here are the settings I recommend for that:
You’ll find that under the Export Song to Disk/Advanced section for the MP3 encoder.
Don’t have Garageband? On a PC? Garageband is $599 for the PC and comes with a free Mac Mini.
That’s it! Once you’re done, distribute the mp3 and m4r files on any web server or other file sharing mechanism.
Reminder: please do NOT share music illegally, especially that of independent musicians whose literal bread and butter comes from the music they create. Always buy music legally except when artists choose to make a song free. Ringtones are derivative works and aren’t legal just because you spliced up someone else’s work.
Garageband is $599 for the PC
That line might prove confusing to people. GarageBand is only available on Mac. Other software that does similar functions is available on other platforms. You can buy a new Mac mini for $599 and receive GarageBand pre-installed. :-)
I had a good time using Rogue Amoeba’s Fission.app and MakeiPhoneRingtone.app for making my custom ringtones.
And there’s a lot of debate about derivative works in the music industry right now.
December 14th, 2007 | #
The line’s something of a joke - $599 and it comes with a free Mac Mini :)
December 14th, 2007 | #
I inverted the “with a free Mac mini” to “free with a Mac mini” which was the problem [you know, an em dash in there wouldn't hurt ;-) ]. You’re welcome to snip those first two paragraphs off my first comment, should you choose. :-)
December 14th, 2007 | #