How to Create Ringtones with Garageband for Mac

Modern smart phones and cell phones have allowed for an unprecedented level of customization for mobile devices. Everything from color scheme, to wallpaper, to screensaver can be customized to the user's liking. The customization of ringtones is one of the more entertaining aspects of mobile phone use. Unfortunately many of the U.S. mobile carriers cripple the ability of phones to use personal ringtones in order that they might pigeonhole customers into purchasing ringtones through the carriers' own channels. And of course the cost of these paid ringtones can be up to $3, an exorbitant price for such a simple feature.

Thankfully there is an alternative. With software such as Garageband (or even Audacity) and the use of email and text messaging, it is possible for users to create their own ringtones from any mp3 file from their music library or from any mp3 downloaded from the internet. Your favorite, song, theme, or sound effect can now be used for caller ID's, default ringtone, or even alerts and alarms. Here is how this can be accomplished using Apple's Garageband on a Mac. However it is possible that a similar thing can be done using Audacity on Windows (or a Mac).

Grab The Song or Sound You Want

Any mp3 or AAC formatted file can be imported into Garageband for editing and exporting. You can choose a file from iTunes or even download a file from the internet.

From iTunes

If you wish to use a file that already exists in your iTunes library, simply open iTunes and find the song. Next right-click (ctrl+click) the file and select Show In Finder. This must be done because a file cannot be dragged from the iTunes window to Garageband. It must be done from the file's physical location on the hard drive (which is done via the Finder).

From the Internet

Once you have found the link to the file you want to download, simply download the file to your computer. You can download the file to any folder or other location as long as you can find it.

Bring Into Garageband

After you have located the file you want with Finder, launch Garageband. From the Garageband screen select "New" from the File menu. Give the new project a name and click OK. By default GB will create a piano track. Simply select and delete this track. Next drag and drop the file you are going to be editing from the Finder window (in which you located it earlier) into the Garageband window. Once you drop it GB will import it and create a new track for it. Hit the play button and GB will play the file.

Cut, Crop, Rearrange

At this point decide the part of the song that you wish to have as your ringtone. With Garageband you can get as creative as you want. You can even add some loops from Garageband or rearrange the song to be whatever you want it to be. This is accomplished by cutting the track and removing or moving the parts you want. To cut, or split, the track select it and then move the playhead to the point at which you would like to cut. Then select "Split" from the Edit drop-down menu. After the track splits select the portion you wish to move or delete and proceed. Press the "Delete" key to delete the part and drag and drop the part to rearrange it.

Take It to iTunes

After you have the ringtone sounding just like you want it. You will need to set the appropriate volume levels and then export the file to iTunes. To set the volume level, play the file from beginning to end and watch the green, yellow, and red level indicators next to the track. Adjust the volume level of the track so that no part of the song produces an excessive level of red. Too much output volume can cause the sound to overload the speaker of your phone and produce static. After you have set the track volume (if you end up with multiple tracks, set the level for each track), set the overall volume levels using the level indicators and volume slider in the lower right corner of Garageband.

After the levels are to your liking export the file to iTunes by selecting "Send Song to iTunes" from the Share drop-down movie. Do not select "Send Ringtone..." this could export the file in a file your phone can not recognize. Change the file type to mp3 in the "Compress Using" field of the window that appears then click the Share button.

From iTunes to Phone

After exporting is complete locate the new ringtone in iTunes. Right click (ctrl+click) the file in the iTunes list and select Show In Finder. If you have Apple Mail configured as your email client you can now drag and drop the file from Finder to the Mail app icon in the Dock. If not, open your email of choice and start a new email and attach the file to the email.

The following steps only work for Verizon Wireless customers. Check with your carrier to determine how to send an email message to your mobile phone. In the "To" field type your 10-digit mobile telephone number followed by "@vzwpix.com." Verify that the file is attached and press Send. Within a few minutes your phone should receive a text message with the ringtone attached. Open the message and the ringtone will play. From your phone's message's options select "Save as Rington" (or the like). The ringtone will now be saved to your phone and can be used for any ring, alert, or alarm you wish.

Good luck and please pass the word so that more and more people can know the freedom of creating and using their own personal ringtones!