Ringtones
YouTube to ringtone
Two free steps turn a song from a YouTube video you have rights to into a ringtone: convert the video to MP3 with AudioFetcher, then pick the part you want in the Ringtone Maker, which exports an iPhone .m4r or an Android MP3 right in your browser.
How to make the ringtone
AudioFetcher's server fetches the audio; the ringtone itself is cut on your own device, so you can preview and adjust it as often as you like.
- 1Convert the video
Paste the YouTube link in AudioFetcher, choose MP3 (M4A works too) and save the file. Free conversions cover single videos up to 60 minutes.
- 2Open the Ringtone Maker
Choose the file you just saved. The tool runs in your browser and does not upload it.
- 3Pick the part
Choose iPhone or Android, set the start time and length (up to 40 seconds for iPhone, 60 for Android), add a short fade in or out, and preview it.
- 4Export and install
iPhone: you get a .m4r file. Drag it onto your iPhone in Finder on a Mac or iTunes on Windows, or use GarageBand on the phone (Share > Ringtone), which needs a clip of 30 seconds or less. Android: you get an MP3; copy it to the phone and pick it in Settings > Sound.
Apple rejects custom ringtones longer than 40 seconds, which is why the iPhone export stops there. Android has no strict limit, but a call rarely rings longer than 30 seconds. Ringtones from songs are for your own phone; use only videos you own or have permission to download.
Tips for a ringtone that works
- Start on the hook. Most calls are answered within 10 to 20 seconds, so begin at the chorus or the most recognisable bar, not the intro.
- Add a short fade. Half a second in and one to two seconds out avoids a click at the start and an abrupt cut at the end.
- Check the loudness. Quiet acoustic songs can be hard to hear in a pocket. Normalize the song before cutting if needed.
- Want just a sound effect or a voice clip? The same steps work with any part of a video you have rights to; use Trim Audio for clips that are not ringtones.
Questions
Why .m4r for iPhone?
It is an AAC audio file with the extension iPhones use for ringtones. The Ringtone Maker writes it directly, so there is no renaming trick to do.
Can I use it as a text tone or alarm?
Yes. On iPhone the same .m4r appears under text tones once installed. On Android you can pick the MP3 as a notification or alarm sound.
Is my file uploaded when I make the ringtone?
No. Only the YouTube conversion uses AudioFetcher's server. Cutting and exporting the ringtone happens in your browser.
The chorus is too quiet compared with other ringtones. What can I do?
Run the clip through the local Normalize Audio tool first, then make the ringtone. That evens out the level without clipping.