How to make mp3 ringtones.

- Or go to our HOMEPAGE with free mp3 ringtones!

On a CD each track is a digital file. In music playback, the bit stream is converted to an analog wave. The more bits available, the more accurate the conversion will be. An mp3 file doesn't carry all the necessary bits to make a wave sound 'lossles', but the format does reduce the file size.

MP3 is called a 'lossy' format. You loose some quality, but the file can be made very small. Because of the relatively small internal memory of cell phones, mp3 has become the most popular format for real tones.

Some cell phones refuse to play mp3 ringtones with a duration that exceeds 30 seconds!

Let's make an mp3 ringtone, or realtone (same thing) from a CD track. You must first install a sound editor on your pc. Wavepad is a nice editor and the basic version is free. Use Wavepad to open a CD track. Then select a part - a clip no longer than 30 seconds - of the track. Save the selection as an mp3.

- In Wavepad: choose 'Save file as'. Select the format mp3. Save it and you will get a window with encoder settings. Choose 'Bitrate' and 'Channels'. Select 'Constant Bitrate'.

Convert to MP3 with a rate of 48 kbps to 128 kbps. A higher quality then 128kbps is useless. The quality of the cell phone's speaker is quite low. Save the mp3 as mono. Most mobiles have only one speaker.

Making an ringtone from an existing mp3 is much easier. Use the free and nifty tool MP3 Knife to extract a clip. You don't need a sound editor, if you use MP3 Knife. The conversion has already been done.

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How to transfer mp3 ringtones.

If you have access to the internet by mobile gadget, then visit our mobile site www.ctunes4.mobi or ctunes4.mobi (without the www). Download free ringtones straight to your phone, PDA or Pocket PC!

First check if your mobile can play the mp3 format. Check the available memory as well. Then send the mp3 file to your mobile via

Read the information that came with your cell phone. Most manufacturers have websites where you can get help, in case you lost the information.

You can also download mp3 ringtones from the internet with a mobile browser. Try the free web browser Opera Mobile.

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Links on how to make/convert/transfer realtones

All links point to websites with free services and free software!

Audiko - Make, share and download free ringtones, even in iPhone format!
BitPim - Open source software that allows you to view and manipulate data on many CDMA phones from LG, Samsung, Sanyo and other manufacturers.
Tone This - Lets you edit and upload your file to your cell phone, even worldwide. The software is a desktop utility that can be used to buy media files, but you're free to use your own (and free) personal files.
Simple Ringtone - Upload an MP3 or a Wave, clip it and send it to your cell phone.
Make own ringtone - Make your own ringtones by clipping your MP3's online.
Phonezoo - Upload a sound file, clip it and send it to your phone.