How to have customized ringtone?

[bufffilm]

10 years on we still have to use a proprietary app running on a computer to transfer tones to an iDevice.

I would amend the statement to say "You need a computer to assist in creating the ringtone and to transfer it to an iDevice".

I'm still waiting for an accessible file system so I can freely transfer movies, books, etc to the iPad. Without the necessity of iTunes.

 

[lugworm]

I think the point is Apple has had 10 years to make the process more user friendly (think android), and haven't bothered. You have to wonder why not.

 

[eyoungren]

I think the point is Apple has had 10 years to make the process more user friendly (think android), and haven't bothered. You have to wonder why not.

Keeping the average Apple user tied to a proprietary program in order to get any content back and forth between the device keeps that user as a customer.

In other words, the Apple ecosystem.

 

[Shirasaki]

You sure you didn't mix up your threads?

How to do a custom ringtone is not prohibited...

You know, when I see two members just saying “Google yourself”, I guess there should be a reason they don’t really want to discuss how to create custom ringtone publicly.

 

[Mlrollin91]

You sure you didn't mix up your threads?

How to do a custom ringtone is not prohibited...

Actually, there very well could be copyright protection for using songs purchased through iTunes for custom ringtones. I have not taken any copyright classes in law school yet, so I don't know the entire legal standing, but I can see where @Shirasaki is coming from.

Upon research and consulting those that have taken copyright, you are essentially taking a song and editing it without permission. Its called "unauthorized derivative work" which indeed does violate copyright law. So, it is an illegal act.

Now is someone going to come after you? No, of course not, unless you started selling it, but thats a different story. But as far as copyright law is concerned, it is technically illegal to make a custom ringtone from a song without permission from the artist.

 

[bufffilm]

Actually, there very well could be copyright protection for using songs purchased through iTunes for custom ringtones. I have not taken any copyright classes in law school yet, so I don't know the entire legal standing, but I can see where @Shirasaki is coming from.

Upon research and consulting those that have taken copyright, you are essentially taking a song and editing it without permission. Its called "unauthorized derivative work" which indeed does violate copyright law. So, it is an illegal act.

Now is someone going to come after you? No, of course not, unless you started selling it, but thats a different story. But as far as copyright law is concerned, it is technically illegal to make a custom ringtone from a song without permission from the artist.

Hmmm...hadn't considered that. But still...

 

[Mlrollin91]

Hmmm...hadn't considered that. But still...

I never considered it either until she mentioned it, even being a law student. Like I said, they aren't going to come after you unless you start to sell it, hence the reason why there are so many apps on the App Store that allow custom ringtones from music. But thinking about it, it might be the reason why it took Apple so long to implement songs for alarms. Its very possible that it may have needed overall approval from legal and artists. Its definitely interesting though, IMO at least.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Depending on the file used (*legally obtained etc.) creating a ringtone for personal use ( * not for public broadcast listening and performance) is not illegal in the U.S.

 

[eyoungren]

I never considered it either until she mentioned it, even being a law student. Like I said, they aren't going to come after you unless you start to sell it, hence the reason why there are so many apps on the App Store that allow custom ringtones from music. But thinking about it, it might be the reason why it took Apple so long to implement songs for alarms. Its very possible that it may have needed overall approval from legal and artists. Its definitely interesting though, IMO at least.

Ringtones are generally 30 seconds or less, max. I may even be overly generous on that.

Anyway, in the past US courts have decreed that sampling does not violate copyright law. Sampling can be up to a minute long and is used quite a lot by artists performing on stage or in music albums.

I'm just bringing it up. I'm not a legal expert but it would seem to me that something like this falls under that sort of category.

 

[joeblow7777]

It's pretty ridiculous that after 10 years of iPhones that people can't be bothered to look up an extremely simple process only involving iTunes themselves.

https://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-create-ringtones-in-itunes-for-free--mac-46032

The OP has already said its too complicated to do that.

I love my iPhone as much as the next guy, but you guys seem to be missing the point. You shouldn't need to do research and follow a multi-step process involving desktop software just to customize your ring tone. How would one even manage content through iTunes if an iPad is your only computer?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Ringtones are generally 30 seconds or less, max. I may even be overly generous on that.

Anyway, in the past US courts have decreed that sampling does not violate copyright law. Sampling can be up to a minute long and is used quite a lot by artists performing on stage or in music albums.

I'm just bringing it up. I'm not a legal expert but it would seem to me that something like this falls under that sort of category.

Yes, sampling does not violate copyright law if authorized by the original artist. I outlined above, its called "unauthorized derivative work", which means you are doing it without permission. Sampling requires permission.

"Sampling has become an integral part of many genres of music today. When you sample someone's song without permission, it is an instant copyright violation. It is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material owned by another. Sampling without permission violates two copyrights-the sound recording copyright (usually owned by the record company) and the copyright in the song itself (usually owned by the songwriter or the publishing company)."

http://www.copynot.org/Pages/Music sampling.htm
[doublepost=1497571672][/doublepost]

I love my iPhone as much as the next guy, but you guys seem to be missing the point. You shouldn't need to do research and follow a multi-step process involving desktop software just to customize your ring tone. How would one even manage content through iTunes if an iPad is your only computer?

There are apps that combine almost all those steps into like three steps.

As we are now discussing, there maybe be a legal aspect to why Apple has not introduced an easy way to create ringtones on the go. Because its technically illegal to create a custom ringtone from a song without permission.

 

[joeblow7777]

In OP's defense, it's only a simple process to regular iDevice users because we have learned the process and how to do it quickly enough.

Yes, it's simple, but there are a few steps. And the last one involves syncing with iTunes.

And that's really the sticking point for me, actually. 10 years on we still have to use a proprietary app running on a computer to transfer tones to an iDevice.

I don't usually mess with this process anyway, even if I have to use iTunes to sync to a stock iDevice. Finding an actual .m4r is easy enough and there are other apps that will convert mp3 as well.

As I mentioned above, it's somewhat hypocritical that Apple insists that an iPad Pro (an iOS device) can be your only computer, and yet iOS still seems to be built around the idea of using a computer with iTunes to manage your content. I'm not saying that there aren't workarounds, but iOS still feels tied to its iPod roots.

 

[j2ee]

As I mentioned above, it's somewhat hypocritical that Apple insists that an iPad Pro (an iOS device) can be your only computer, and yet iOS still seems to be built around the idea of using a computer with iTunes to manage your content. I'm not saying that there aren't workarounds, but iOS still feels tied to its iPod roots.

There is no way calling ipad pro a pc when doing some very simple stuff needs to go through itune with crazy many steps.

 

[Shirasaki]

There is no way calling ipad pro a pc when doing some very simple stuff needs to go through itune with crazy many steps.

iOS will have a VERY long way to truly replace the PC. It is just barely enough to replace PC for users using common applications, including popular games.

 

[asleep]

You can use iTunes to create your own ringtone for free. Very easy.

Import the song you want to use into iTunes.
Highlight the song
Right click on the song and go to "Options"
Check the start box and input the minutes and or seconds of the song, as to where you want the ringtone to start
Check the stop box and input the minutes and or seconds off the song, as to where you want the ringtone to end.
Click "ok" once the aforementioned steps are completed.
Click on the File menu option in iTunes and the song highlighted, and click one "create AAC version."
Once iTunes has created the AAC version of your ringtone, highlight the newly created AAC version and right click to "show in finder." Once the file is located, highlight the file and click on "rename file." Rename the file using an .m4r extension.
Once you have created the .m4r ringtone and you like what you hear, move said file to another safe directory and delete the AAC version.
Click on the File menu option in iTunes, click on "add to library option, and then point to the newly created ringtone that you moved to a safe place. If you followed the steps correctly, iTunes should add your ringtone to the "Tones" directory, where you can proceed to sync with your phone.

You should be able to do this in less than 5 minutes for free.

As others said, a Google search would have provided the answer for you.

This, along with this: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/viphone/7Jzius1Q08M

Helped me get an old favorite ringtone back on my iPhone.

Thank you.

 

[Tsuchiya]

After the first season of House of Cards, I somehow managed to set Francis Underwoods ringtone on my iPhone. I really wish it transferred over to my 7 with the rest of my backup. Or rather, I wish it wasn't such a faff to get personalised ringtones in 2017.

 

[Newtons Apple]

How would one even manage content through iTunes if an iPad is your only computer?

How would one even do a DFU restore without a computer?

 

[joeblow7777]

How would one even do a DFU restore without a computer?

I don't know. But to be fair, I've never had to do one at all.

 

[bufffilm]

I don't know. But to be fair, I've never had to do one at all.

Take it to an Apple Store.

 

[Zaft]

Apple does not allow downloading of ringtones from apps for some reason. Im guessing because they want you to buy them.

 

[thekb]

There is an app called ringtone maker,should work.

Ringtone Maker doesn't seem to work anymore and I can't find anything in iTunes that shows tones that aren't already on your phone. And that's what I'm trying to do is get them onto my phone.

With every iteration, it seems like Apple takes features away that should be freely available to use your phone, just because they have alternate methods of doing it that will make them money. I am not at all computer illiterate and it seems like every tutorial requires features that have been eliminated from iTunes. You can't save to AAC anymore, you can't see tones installed on your computer and you can't add them to itunes. And don't get me started on the abortion that is iTunes. I really love my iphone but there no reason on God's green earth why custom ringtones should require more than a few steps on your phone without your computer.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Ringtone Maker doesn't seem to work anymore and I can't find anything in iTunes that shows tones that aren't already on your phone. And that's what I'm trying to do is get them onto my phone.

With every iteration, it seems like Apple takes features away that should be freely available to use your phone, just because they have alternate methods of doing it that will make them money. I am not at all computer illiterate and it seems like every tutorial requires features that have been eliminated from iTunes. You can't save to AAC anymore, you can't see tones installed on your computer and you can't add them to itunes. And don't get me started on the abortion that is iTunes. I really love my iphone but there no reason on God's green earth why custom ringtones should require more than a few steps on your phone without your computer.

Adding custom ringtones is as easy as drag and drop with the new iTunes.

 

[thekb]

I figured out how to add my old custom ringtones but having trouble creating new ones. In Garage Band I click "Share Ringtone to iTunes", then I can't find the m4a or m4r file to drag into Tones. Since tones no longer show up in iTunes for tones that are on your computer, where does Garage Band export the file to?

Thanks

 

[KOTULCN]

Adding custom ringtones is as easy as drag and drop with the new iTunes.

Yeah, just drag your .aiff tone files into “Tones” on left side in iTunes.

 

[thekb]

OK I think I've got it now. Please tell me if there is an easier way.

In OSX Garage Band choose "iPhone Ringtone" and "Example Ringtone"
Save the project with desired name
Click button in far bottom right corner which will allow you to select an existing song in iTunes
Drag the song to the timeline in the middle of Garage Band
Drag the song to the far left on the timeline and adjust the yellow bar at the top to desired location up to 40 seconds long
Click "Share / Send Ringtone to iTunes"
The m4r file is saved in the "<username>/music/iTunes/import" folder
Drag that file into iTunes onto "On my device/Tones" on the left menu
Let it sync the file

Thanks!