Katana Eclipse Ringtones and microSD card

Hello,
I recently purchased my 2nd Katana phone (had the original, and just upgraded to the Eclipse). I love all the new features. However I have a few questions that I cannot seem to find the answers to anywhere.

1. MP3 files - I have placed MP3 audio files on my microsd card, but the phone will not recognize these as valid ringtone formatted files - what format does this need to be in? (I have used a workaround by uploading my files to websites like myxer and resending those mp3's to my phone through the site and that works, but this seems like an unneccessary step). Is there a utility I could use to convert these mp3 files to the right format? Or does anyone have any suggestions on how this all works?

2. Downloading new content/ringtones to my sdcard - OK, so I am downloading ringtones, but they keep downloading to the built in memory location, andI want to download them to my 8GB microSD card instead and access the ringtones from the SDcard instead of the internal memory. I cannot seem to find out a way to download directly to the SD card, nor can I move the files once the are downloaded. Suggestions?

Other than these two strange issues I've run across so far, I really like this phone...

thanks in advance to those who may be able to help

hmm, not many people must have this phone or know how to deal with MP3 ringtones, since my message and the other Katana Eclipse posts have gone unanswered for several days (and over a few weeks for the other post) now.

With 120+ views, no one knows anything about the ringtones and SD cards? hmmm.....

I agree. I just got the phone and have no clue how to get my MP3 files on the micro SD card to be used as ringtones. My guess would be that Sprint would want us to pay $2.50 for ringtones on their website...damn Capitalists!

I found a website that is free that has MP3 ringtones and lets you upload your own ringtones to be sent to your phone. It is free and it has an easy editor to pull only the part of the MP3 song you want to hear as your ring tone. I'll dig up the link and post it back here.

I bought a 8GB SD card for the phone and it has been working great. I also found out that the power charge port on the phone is also a non-standard sized USB port so I just ordered a USB cable for it as well (all of the various USB cords I have at home, mini/standard/etc. did not fit - so I guess there is yet another size of USB port - go figure).

anyway, i'll post the link, respond back to this thread if I do not to nudge me so I get a notice in my email in case I forget to get back here soon.

I found this at another sprint websight. (Per another user on a Sprint Forum)Creating your own free Ringtones: This is the method I use to create my own ring tones.

1) Create an audio clip from a song/sound you want to use as a ring tone using whatever audio editing/capturing software familiar to you.

2) Open Windows Movie Maker program.

3) Capture a blank video with the length slightly longer than the audio clip using the setting "video for dial-up access (38 kbps)"

4) Import your sound clip, and edit the blank video to match the same length as your sound clip.

5) Save your finished video with imported audio.

6) Convert your saved video into .3g2 using the program and settings from this post:
Quote:
Originally Posted by LouS
It's really quite easy. free program called "Super" to convert files to 3g2 format.

In super, I set my video scale to 320x240 since the M1 can playback this resolution. I set the bitrate at 144kbps to get good quality video. Leave the other video settings at default. Make sure you set the output to 3g2 (Sony Ericsson is ok) and leave the codecs at default settings. For audio I use 22050 Hz sampling, 2 channels (stereo), and 48 kbps. Then basically hit the encode button.

** The sound quality can most likely be improved by changing the settings because there is no real video to worry about. DO NOT DISABLE VIDEO**

7) Transfer the .3g2 converted file into the 100SANYO folder on your M1.

8) On the M1, go to Tools -->Filemanager -->DCIM --> 100SANYO to access your file and set it as a ringtone.


****I believe the final .3g2 file has to be under 500kb in order to set it as a ringtone.***

After more experimenting, it is possible to use still pictures instead of blank video.

1) Import a picture into Windows Movie Maker.

2) In Windows Movie Maker, go to Tools --> Options --> Advanced Tab and increase the "Picture duration" seconds to longer than your audio clip.

3) Match the length of the picture with the audio.

4) go to "Step 5" in previous post.

I have tried this and it worked but I am still trying to find a way to do it without the video. Hope this is of some help.

Also: I used Ventones once to upload to my Katana Eclipse and was charged $65.00. (Yes you read that right!) Sprint charged me $55.00 and Ventone got $10.00 (it was a 3rd party charge on my Sprint Bill!) Be VERY careful if you don't have a data plan (which I don't).

thats a good idea

The above does not work tried for near an hour and nothing. So here is the real deal.............Iphones take the same 3G as the Eclipse this format is considered an M4R format. Do a google search for 3G converter and you will find "Ringer" it is absolutely stupid easy. If your lazy and do not want to crop a song to 30 seconds of play then download any premade ringtone in MP3-MP4 or WAV and load it to the Ringer software. It will convert the segment to M4R then you can upload it to your Eclipse. As for the writer of the above advise dude I do not know where you got that info but its garbage. Anyway for those who like to convert a full song and pick where you want the ringtone song to end and start use Motorola Phone Tools. It has a very easy song clipper built in.

M4R
Use dBpoweramp Music Converter to convert it to AAC and change the filename to m4r.

I don't know why you couldn't get it to work as was stated. I have been doing it ever since I got my Katana and it has worked just fine. I am open to other suggestions so I will also try your way. I like anything that is easier than what I have been doing. Also some of us don't have the data/internet service on our phones so we can't "upload" without it costing an arm and both legs. That is why we have to find an alternative to the upload feature. I needed a way to make the ringtone and then put it on my phone via the computer...ie:by getting the ringtone made and then copying it to the Katana micro disk from my computer Instead of from the internet to my phone.

Well I could never get a blank video file and there was no direction how to make a blank one. Tried all the other steps couldnt say how many times with no luck. The "ringer" software was much easier to convert the MP3 to M4R/G3 though that may cut some time off your way.

In Windows Movie Maker I just imported the family picture I wanted to assign the ringtone to. You can use any picture or just record a blank picture. Hope this is of help.

The above mentioned free program called "Super" does a great job coverting the files to .3g2 format. After the files have been converted I right clicked on the converted file, went to properties, then removed the .mp3 extension or any other extension, then copied the files to the 100SANYO folder and went to file manager and the rest went smoothly. I used the USB port on the phone and selected mass storage. After that went to windows explorer and selected the new removable drive. This was not as easy as it sounds. It took some trial and error, but the results were good. Hope this was helpful. It would be nice if they would distribute software for the Katana Eclipse that would eliminate all of this trial and error, but I do like a good challenge.

sloridde I did everything you said, got the file onto my phone, it will play the preview when I go to change<my albums<in phone butwhen I try to assign it as a ringer it says WARNING this file can not be set!

What am I doing wrong?

From all of the research and things I have tried to get custom ringtones on this phone sloriddes advice has been the most succesful but I'm just that close but not quite there....

Can I use the memory card that is to be used in Sony Ericsson in Sanyo mobile?