Before you start, you need the following:
- 1. the phone! - this tutorial is for the LG Chocolate (VX8500 model), it may work with other models of the Chocolate but I have no idea.. you can check your phone’s model # by removing the battery and reading the manufacturer sticker.
- 2. USB data cable - to connect your phone to your computer. you can buy the Music Essentials Kit from Verizon for 30 bucks, or you can do what I did and get the cable for 3 bucks on eBay :P (it came with all necessary drivers)
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3. USB drivers. - these needed drivers come with the music essentials kit, and most sellers on eBay include them with the cable.. but if you didn’t get a cd with your cable you NEED to download and install these drivers in order for your phone to communicate with your computer.
Free Chocolate USB Drivers HERE
(drivers for “MEK Music Essentials Kit”) - 4. BitPim - this is the program we’ll be using to transfer the ringtones to the phone.
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5. AudaCity - this is the audio editing software we’ll be using to create the ringtones.
Download Audacity HERE
Download the Lame encoder
(to export your ringers as mp3 files)
that’s it! now time to make the ringers..
1. open Audacity and open/import an mp3.
2. now edit, crop, fade out, ect your mp3. final audio should be no longer than 30 seconds!
3. assuming you’ve installed the lame encoder, edit the output settings by pressing Ctrl+P.
3a. on the File Formats tab
3b. go down to MP3 Export Setup, now change the bitrate to 64. (see below)
4. now export the ringtone by clicking File in the toolbar and click Export As MP3…
BAM! you’ve just made your first custom ringtone. congrats. now it’s time to put that motherfunk on your phone.
5. Install the USB drivers BEFORE connecting the phone to the computer.
6. Connect your phone to the computer via the USB cable.
7. Assuming you’ve already installed BitPim, open the program.
8. It should be set to automatically detect your phone, but if not, go to Edit in the toolbar and on the dropdown menu click Detect Phone.
9. Now open the ringers on the menu tree (see below)
10. Once inside the ringer folder, drag and drop your mp3 ringer that you exported in step 4 into the ringer folder.
11. You’ll get a popup to convert the file, use the settings shown below, then click Convert.
12. After you’ve converted the mp3, click ok. now you’ll see this screen below with your ringer in it.. we’re almost done!
13. All that’s left is to send the ringer to your phone by clicking the button (shown below)
14. check the Ringtone box & click Add. then OK.
Your phone will dial a code when you transfer your ringtone, it DOES NOT charge you!
15. enjoy your new custom made FREE ringtone! if it doesn’t show up in your ringers on the phone, you may have to powercycle the phone (remove battery & put it back in).
to import/export wallpapers & images, it’s pretty much the same steps as above only with “images” folder. same thing for full songs, just use the “music” folder.. videos (youtube, myspace, ect..) on the other hand are a bit more tricky.. i’ll write up that tutorial soon :)
For those who have “access blocked by provider” issues with bitpim, please read below.
- Newer phones have a different version of firmware (V05 & V06).
- To find out what version firmware your running on your phone, go to
Menu >> Settings & Tools >> Phone Info >> SW Version >> now right at the top of the list you should see “SW Version”, now right below that you’ll see what version your running.. T85VZ… you’ll either have an 04, 05, or 06 at the end, that’s the version number!
Solution 1: Uninstall Bitpim, then download & install the latest bitpim-test (beta). Then refer to Krans’s comment for further instructions
Solution 2: This involves flashing lower versions of firmware onto your phone (which can brick it!) so I’m kinda hesitant to post it, however, I will type it up if people are still having problems with solution 1.
myh phone has blocked access. how do i unblock?
I replaced my old P-O-S phone with an 8500. Now that I have old metroid music as my ringtone, life somehow seems more worth living. Merci :D
my BitPim can’t detect my phone… can you give me some advice on how to fix it so it does? thanks
i can not figure out how to use this at all.. after changing the bitrate to 64 i was lost.. well it wouldnt let me change it whynot???
This is one of the most informative pieces about this subject I have read yet. I have a vx8600 and the same steps worked perfectly for my phone and the vx8500. Thank you for the help man.
when i open your bitpim file it says setup is not valid with win32 application, what do i need to do?
ah nevermind, i found out what do do, i downloaded it from a different mirror, thanks a bunch man, very good.
Hello I have a LG VX8500G and for some reason BitPim can not find my phone ive tried everything i could think of to fix this but still nothing.On the protocol log its sending but not able to read any data. Thank you for your time.
I’ve followed every one of your instructions, but when I got to the end where I press the button to send the data to my phone, a message keeps popping up saying:
Access to file/directory has been blocked on this phone by the phone provider
I understand what it means, but I was wondering if I can do anything about it. Can I still send my ringtone to my phone? If so how?
ok i got the whole jist of the making ringtones down.. but like why is the bitrate so low.. does it affect the quality of the tone? mine is set at 64 like said and the ringtone volume is very low and very trebbel-ey? if i set the bitrate up will it make it louder and make the sound quality better?
hey my access to transfer my ringtone is blocked can i somehow unblock it?
I am having the same trouble as Sandy on Feb 1st 2007 Just wondering if there is something we can do? Everything else has worked great so far…thank you.
Does anyone know, can I do this “surgical ringtone procedure” using the MicroSD card instead of the USB? Thanks.
Works perfect! Thanks
does this work with the lg chocolate from telus??
I have a problem “Access to the file/directory has been blocked on this phone by the phone provider” Can someone help. Thanks
i did it all to the t and it still blockes it when i send to phone what can i do
I DID THIS AND IT WORKED, BUT WHAT WAS THE NUMBERS MY PHONE DIALED WHEN THE FIRST RINGTONE WAS TRANSFERED??? I BETTER NOT BE GETTING CHARGED FOR THIS.
hey thanks alot man. my phone is like a ringtone magnet. i hope you come up with the video version soon. really works well thanks again really!!!!!!!!
ok ya doe s any one know how to put custom ringtone on the lg vx8500 telus (chocolate)it doesent know that my phone is pluged in.when i go to phone wizzard it only say the chocolate for vrison HELP ME
Program is working til i try to get data then it gives me a message that the acess is block from the provider. how do i unlock it Please help me
i installed the software but it can’t detect my phone
which is lg chocolate vx8500
do you know what the problem could be?
how do i transfer pictures from my phone to my comp? and is there a way to delete the crappy ringtones that came with the phone?
Hi - has anyone solved the problem of unblocking their phone? If I email the mp3 to my phone will it be received as a text message? I have an LG8500 from Telus and loath the thought of paying money (to telus) to upload a ringtone I created!
Great site, by the way! Your instructions were easy to follow! I’ve been having fun croping songs. Why do the songs need to be shorter than 30s?
How do you unblock the service provider so you can put ringtones and contacts on your phone? I have bitpim.