You can create ringtones for free with iTunes using the steps outlined below, and can upload them to your cell phone with a USB data cable or a Bluetooth connection.

I'm assuming you already have your song loaded in iTunes, and you can refer to other articles in the iPods and MP3 Players forum if you need instructions for loading songs into iTunes from your iPod or a music CD.

Set the song length to about 30 seconds

Right-click on the song in iTunes and select "Get Info" from the pop-up menu. Choose the Options tab and change the Stop Time to 0:30 for 30 seconds of play time.

This won't change or damage the actual file; it just tells iTunes to only play the first 30 seconds of the song (plenty of time for you to answer your phone). You can change this setting back to full length after you create your ring tone.

Configure the iTunes MP3 Encoder

Configure the MP3 Encoder built into iTunes to use 22khz and mono encoding (the format used by cell phone ring tones).

Click the Preferences menu and then choose the Advanced tab. Click "Importing" and then choose "MP3 Encoder" from the Import Using drop down. Choose "Custom..." from the Settings dropdown, which will display an "MP3 Encoder" dialog like the one shown below.

Convert the song to a ringtone

Convert the song to ringtone MP3 format by right-clicking it in iTunes and selecting "Convert Selection to MP3" from the popup menu.

iTunes will make a copy of the song and you'll see that the time will change to 30 seconds. Send the ringtone to your phone using a usb data cable or Bluetooth.

NOTE: Do not select "Create Ringtone", as this option will charge your account, and also only works with songs you have purchased through the iTunes store.

Here's the finished ring tone I created: ACDC-ringtone-you-shook-me-all-night-long.mp3

Transfer the ringtone to your phone

You'll need to download software to transfer your new ringtone to your phone via Bluetooth or a USB data cable, something phone manufactures don't include with their phones. They'd rather you use email to transfer files because then they can charge you for the bandwidth - as much as 10 cents a kilobyte in the case of AT&T. This can cost a couple dollars per ringtone depending on the file size.

Instead, I think it's better to invest a little money up front in a software program that will let you freely transfer as many files as you like, without having to pay any wireless service fees. You'll also be able to use the software to transfer pictures and videos, so it will quickly pay for itself after just a few free transfers.

I recommend a program called DataPilot that works with a USB data cable to transfer ringtones to your phone - it works with all major phone types and lets you transfer multiple ring tones, photos, videos, contacts, etc at a time.

When you run DataPilot, it will open a file explorer window and you'll be able to copy any music files from your hard drive to your phone.

iTunes stores it's music files in your "My Music" folder in Windows XP (under "My Documents"), and in your user folder in Windows Vista (e.g. C:\Users\rickysays\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music).

You'll use DataPilot's file explorer to open this folder and from there you'll be able to select music files and transfer them to your phone.

Here's a coupon code for DataPilot. Just enter code S0707CJ at checkout for 20% off your purchase.

Another way to transfer your ringtones to your computer is by using a Bluetooth connection, which doesn't require any data cables and works within about a 30 foot distance between your computer and your phone.

Ringtone Media Studio 2 lets you transfer ring tones to your cell phone using a bluetooth connection AND automatically creates ring tones from your favorite CDs and MP3s, without all the manual steps required by iTunes.

RMS will figure out the right place to put your ring tone, depending on the make and model. Just find the ring tone on your computer using RMS' built-in file explorer, and then click the transfer button to copy it over to your phone via the Bluetooth connection.

You can also use RMS to transfer photos and videos to your phone over a Bluetooth connection.

Here's a coupon code for 30% off Ringtone Media Studio: Enter code RMS30 at checkout.

Set your new ringtone as your default ringtone

Now that the ringtone is on your phone, you can set it as your default ringtone.

For the Motorola Razr, this involves entering Settings and selecting Ring Styles. Choose the second option, which ends with "Detail", and scroll to find your ringtone (hint, scroll up instead of down, since the newly added ringtone will be at the end of the list, and scrolling up will pick up the last item on the list).

Other phones will have slightly different menu selections, but the concept will be the same - find the audio file on your phone and then set it as your default ringtone.

With the tricks described in this article you can make iTunes create free ringtones for you, or you can use Ringtone Media Studio to make it even easier to create free ringtones out of your favorite music.

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