How to Use Songs as Ringtones on an iPhone

The ability to use songs as ringtones on an iPhone is a popular option among its users. Replacing those boring standard ringtones with favorite songs is something most iPhone users want to do. This allows the iPhone to take on the characteristics of the user. Different songs might remind the iPhone user of different people, so by creating a special song ringtone and associating it with a specific contact is a nice way to recall fond (or sad) memories.

The powerful interface of the iPhone lends itself to user creativity: ringtone options are no exception. Song ringtones are either prepared on the iPhone using its intuitive interface or on a computer with iTunes software installed. Both of these options are summarized here, so users should use try both methods and then formulate a preference.

Create an iPhone ringtone song using the iPhone and iTunes

Using Songs as Ringtons on an iPhone Many iPhone users are not aware that iTunes is accessible from within the iPhone interface. Even more iPhone users are unaware that the iTunes service on the iPhone allows them to create ringtones from the songs they purchase. The iPhone makes creation of song ringtones possible without requiring access to a computer, at any time in any place. Using the iPhone and its connection to the iTunes store, a user can create a ringtone from a song by following the steps listed below.

Using the iPhone interface, tap the “Settings” icon and then the “Store” icon. A user who does not have an iTunes account may create one at this time.
Browse the iTunes store using the navigational controls on the iPhone display. Users have the ability to search for specific titles or to look through the different sections based on genres, top ten songs, and special iTunes store featured selections.
After finding a song to buy, the purchase is billed to the account belonging to the iPhone user by tapping the price where it is displayed on the screen.
As the song downloads, a status update bar is displayed on the screen.
When the download of the song is complete, the song is available in the iPhone play list as part of the iTunes music library.
To make a ringtone from the new song, the iPhone user should select “Store” followed by the “Create Ringtone” option. The user then selects the song to use for the new ringtone, causing the display of the ringtone editor.
Using the onscreen controls, the iPhone user chooses a specific part of the song to use as a ringtone.
Optional settings are the length of the ringtone clip, whether the clip will fade in or fade out (or both), as well as the amount of time between rings. A looping menu with additional options is also available.
The user previews the song ringtone by tapping the “Preview” button. Edit the ringtone again if the ringtone is not satisfactory. The user should do this as often as necessary.
When the ringtone meets the expectations of the user, tap “Buy” to purchase the ringtone.
The ringtone as well as the new song will synchronize the next time the user synchronizes the iTunes library.
Users assign song ringtones to the alarm clock or to specific contacts the same way they select ordinary ringtones on the iPhone.

Create an iPhone ringtone song using iTunes on a computer

Another way to create an iPhone ringtone from a song uses iTunes software installed on a PC or Macintosh computer. If iTunes is not installed on the computer already, it is downloadable from the Apple web site. Once the software is installed, use it to convert a song in the iTunes library to a ringtone from inside the iTunes interface. To do this, follow the steps listed below.

In iTunes preferences, the user should make sure the AAC encoder is selected. This selection is verified by clicking “Importing’ in the “Advanced” section.
Within the iTunes interface, the user should right click the desired song. From the context menu select “Get Info” and the click “Options.”
The user selects the clip by marking the starting and stopping points on the “Options” tab to make a clip from the song that lasts thirty seconds.
With the clip selected, the user right clicks the song and then clicks the “Convert Selection to AAC” option.
After the process is complete, the user should undo the clip selection so the song returns to its original length.
Look in the iTunes folder that contains the original song to find the new clip with the .m4a file extension. Rename the file extension to .m4r and then select it. The clip is now added as a ringtone to the iTunes library and is available to the user through the iPhone when the library is synchronized.

These two methods are the best ways to create a song ringtone for iPhone. By using purchased music for ringtones from iTunes, users are confident that the ringtones they create are licensed. These simple procedures make the power of the iPhone more meaningful to every user.