Converting steel songs into ringtones

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 27 Jul 2007 8:36 am

Can some one tell me how to convert steel guitar clips or songs from my computer into ring tones for my cell phone, & how to install them on the phone..
thanks..

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 27 Jul 2007 1:31 pm

here is a ring tone to get you started, one I made all by myself

although it may not be what you want. Yep, you can download for free and then simply transfer to your cell.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/m ... sicid=4219

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 27 Jul 2007 6:13 pm

Hi thanks, but how do I download it to my computer.. I tried right clicking to save it, but I didn't get the option..
John

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 27 Jul 2007 6:14 pm

Gary Lee, can you 'splain how to download this to one's phone and get it to play as the new ringtone? And does it depend on what type of phone, or what service you have for your cell? I have Verizon...

I once met a guy whose ringtone was the actual recording of Bob Dylan singing The Times They Are A'Changin'. How did he get that on his phone as the ring???

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 27 Jul 2007 7:56 pm

Yeh, Yeh, that's what I want to know also.. My phone is a Virgin, err that is the supplier is Virgin, but I'm afraid the phones been around the block a few times.. hee hee

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 28 Jul 2007 3:03 am

Heir Cohen, the dilly-o with homemade ring tones is a simple task depending on your tele's features and has nothing to do with your provider. Did your phone come with a software program? If not, locate your cell phone's web site, get their support # and call them to see if your phone is capable of interfacing with your computer. Tell them the specific tasks you are seeking. If your tele is computer friendly, most likely there would be a download area to set things up. Find out what cable is needed, maybe Radio SLaCk has cheapy that is configured with your phone. If my memory is correct, the conception of ring tones required the consumer to select, pay, and then download the ring tone through a phone call. How old is your tele Jim? If you like, I can send you some signature tones I've made, one in particular which comes to mind. Its the tone of what happens after gorging on kasha and tzimmes. BTW, you want your ring tone to sound off between 6 to 8 seconds, that's all you need. If you upload a whole tune/ring tone, the ring tone will play the duration of whatever you uploaded until you answer your phone. In reference to the Bob Dylan ring tone, if your pal didn't purchase it, he probably has the hardware?

jolynik, next to the title "ring tone," you should see a download button. If that doesn't work, please email me and I'll send you the ring tone I posted above.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/music.asp?id=226
gL

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 28 Jul 2007 3:07 am

Not nearly enough information to answer the question.

Some phones connect to a PC via USB using Microsoft Activesync. Some can connect to a PC using Bluetooth. Some can do it with an infrared adapter. Some don't do it at all. Some cellphones can use polyphonic ringtones, others cannot. The file format of the ringtone can be important; some phones can use .wav files, some .mp3 files, some both, etc, etc. Finally, another way cellphones sometimes get new ringtones is over-the-air.

All cellphones come with documentation that describes what it can and cannot do, and how to do it. The same information is normally also available online from the supplier of the phone. But the answer is specific to the equipment.

Once connected to a PC, assuming the phone is capable of doing that, it's a simple matter to copy/paste the sound file to the phone in the same file location as the other ringtones on the phone, then, using whatever ringtone assignment utility provided, assign the ringtone to a call event. But making all this happen depends on the particular phone - they don't all work the same.

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 30 Jul 2007 5:16 am

...the dilly-o with homemade ring tones is a simple task depending on your tele's features and has nothing to do with your provider.

Actually, it has everything to do with your provider. Verizon installs a proprietary version of the OS for each brand phone they sell. This customized OS replaces the original's user interface with the Verizon version and disables many features. Prime among them is the ability to transfer files and ringtones using either Bluetooth or a USB cable.

This is all done in a move to get you to buy ringtones through an over-the-air service from which, of course, Verizon receives income.

It is possible to hack a Verizon phone so it enables all the restricted features, or even restores the phone's original user interface. However, it involves bit-level editing and is not for the faint of heart. Some brands are easier to work with than others. Jim didn't say which one he has, or whether it's still under contract. If I knew that info I could point him to some tools that, uh, might restore ownership of his phone's capabilities to him. But I doubt he wants to go to all that trouble for a ringtone.

Speaking of which, Dave is correct that different brands can be picky about ringtone file formats, including the sampling rate. Some Verizon customers have had luck attaching ringtones to an e-mail (but not using an .mp3 or .wav type extension), then sending it to themselves from another account. Next, detach and save it on the phone, restoring the original extension. Of course, their phone must be capable of accepting the attachment and it must be in the correct file format.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Jul 2007 5:27 am

Thanks for that info Jeff. You're right; I'm not gonna go to all that trouble for a ringtone. I did look online at Verizon's website to see how they want you to do it and, as far as I can tell, there is NO WAY to see/hear what tones/songs are available until AFTER you purchase a package! AND, the packages appear to be MONTHLY CHARGES!! If I used it at all, I'd just want to get a song, download it, and be done. I don't want to pay Verizon every MONTH! Sheesh! Todays headline, btw, was "Verizon Profits Up on Wireless Sales". No kidding...

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 30 Jul 2007 9:33 am

Jeff Agnew wrote:Actually, it has everything to do with your provider. Verizon installs a proprietary version of the OS for each brand phone they sell. This customized OS replaces the original's user interface with the Verizon version and disables many features. Prime among them is the ability to transfer files and ringtones using either Bluetooth or a USB cable.

This is all done in a move to get you to buy ringtones through an over-the-air service from which, of course, Verizon receives income.

Wow. I had no idea VZW resorted to those tactics on the phones they sell, though I'm certainly aware ringtones are for sale everywhere I look. I've never paid for any.

My service happens to be with VZW, but I've only had experience with Windows-based phones, and I've always been able to do all that stuff easily. As you may know, Windows phones sync with a PC through MS Activesync via a serial or USB cable, or by Bluetooth. I normally use USB. The process syncronizes all MS Outlook contacts, tasks, appointments, etc between the two. When the phone is synced to the PC, it shows up on the PC in Explorer as another drive, and it's a simple matter to delete, copy, and paste files to/from the phone, same as anywhere else on the PC.

On my Treo 700w, ringtones are all in the \Windows directory, and can be in MP3, MIDI, QCELP, WAV, or WMA formats. If I want to add a ringtone I've made or acquired from somewhere, I simply sync the phone to the PC and copy it into that directory. If I want, I can also download ringtones from a web page (the phone can browse the web), or receive one via email. Then, on the phone, I can assign it to a ring event. For example, if I miss a call, I hear this...obviously not a VZW ringtone.

sonbone · Post by **sonbone** » 30 Jul 2007 2:07 pm

I have a Moto e815 phone with Verizon service. I was able to edit my own ringtone .mp3 and email it to myself through my Verizon account. I did have to use the file extension trick. Change file extension to .zip, email attachment, save attachment and then change file extension to .mid. The phone I have will only play a ringtone with a midi extension even if the file is a .wav or an .mp3. (Thanks Google for that bit of info.) Anyway, it still wasn't free because it cost me 50 cents to email the file to myself, but that was cheap enough that I did it.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 30 Jul 2007 2:13 pm

If you are on Verizon and have a phone made by LG, then you can make and upload your own ringtones using Bitpim. The Bitpim software is free and USB->phone cables can be found on Ebay for about $5.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 30 Jul 2007 4:20 pm

Actually, it has everything to do with your provider.

Well Jeff, not with my provider or shall I say, doesn't pertain to my 3 year old plan.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Jul 2007 7:09 pm

Thanks Will. I'll check that out.

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 31 Jul 2007 4:15 am

Will Holtz wrote:USB->phone cables can be found on Ebay for about $5.

Any USB cable that has a USB mini-connector at one end will probably work - they're generic.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 31 Jul 2007 7:39 am

Dave Potter wrote:
Will Holtz wrote:USB->phone cables can be found on Ebay for about $5.
Any USB cable that has a USB mini-connector at one end will probably work - they're generic.

Many phones, including the LG line, have a proprietary connector, not a standard USB mini jack.

jolynyk · Post by **jolynyk** » 31 Jul 2007 7:59 am

I ordered a USB cable for my Audiovox, then I should be able to upload ringtones from my computer.. (Ihope)

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 31 Jul 2007 2:34 pm

Will Holtz wrote:Many phones, including the LG line, have a proprietary connector, not a standard USB mini jack.

Noted. That's all the motivation I need to stay with devices that adhere to the USB specification. I have a couple of USB hubs on my system, and many USB devices connected to them, but one is a USB cable which terminates in a standard USB mini-connector, which I use to connect my multimedia player, my digital camera, my Treo cellphone ...whatever comes along that connects via mini-USB. I hate proprietary connectors, and avoid them if possible. It's definitely not necessary to have a separate cable for each USB device, if the termination is the same for multiple devices; that's my point.

Tommy Mc · Post by **Tommy Mc** » 4 Aug 2007 5:34 pm

I was also frustrated by Verizons corporate greed. Not only do the charge for ringtones, but the ones that came pre-programmed into my Moto V325i are pretty lame. The way I have gotten around it is to make analog recordings using the phone's memo feature. Then assign the audio files as ringtones. It's fussy work getting the level so it is clear, but with patience it makes a respectable mp3 ringtone and isn't limited to music.