How to edit ringtones / system sounds

intel Mac & PPC


Update: Apple has provided a new way to create ringtones via GarageBand. Read this article: How to create custom ringtones in GarageBand 4.1.1.


Creating ringtones is a pretty easy thing to do if you have a little patience. I will show you how to do this using a free program called Audacity.





I will be using Fugu to install my ringtone that I create. These instructions can be applied to most any file(s) you want to add to your iPhone, provided you already have SSH installed. If you have not installed SSH, then you should use the AppSnapp Installer or iNdependence to do so.

Step 1.

Download Audacity here. While you are at this page, download the LAME MP3 encoder. This will allow Audacity to export to MP3 format. Once you've installed Audacity and started it, you'll see this screen.

Step 2.

Find an audio file to edit. I'm going to take a snippet from The Average White Band's classic tune "Pick up the pieces". I'll make this file available at the end of the tutorial. Next click "Project" then select "Import Audio...".




Navigate to your audio file, highlight it, and click "Open".




You will now see what your audio file's waveform looks like.




Use the magnifying tool to zoom in on the audio wave to better view it. Press play, and stop playback about where you want the in point of your ringtone to begin. This point will be marked by a green arrow above the audio wave.




Click in the audio wave where you want your in point to be. Then click and drag to the left to highlight the part of the audio file you want to delete. Make sure after you highlight this part, that you are in stop mode, and not paused. If you are paused, you won't be able to delete your selection. This screen capture is showing what pause mode looks like. To get out of pause mode, click the yellow stop button.




Click the scissors icon, and it will remove the section you highlighted. Now find your approximate out point, and then click and drag to the right to highlight all the material you want to delete. Click the scissors icon when you are ready to delete.

Step 3.

When you are done editing, click on "File" then select "Export as MP3...".




Select where you'd like to save your file. I chose the phonedmg folder to make it easier to upload the file.




This notice will appear, click "Yes".




Navigate to where the file is, and click "Open".




You can preview the audio file in the phonedmg folder. Keep in mind, ringtones on the iPhone don't loop, there is a one second gap between rings.

Step 4.

Pick a method of uploading your ringtone to your /var/root/Library/Ringtones folder. I used Fugu. You don't need to restart the iPhone, just go into your "Sounds", then "Ringtone" menu.

Here's that ringtone I made.