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.
i’m stuck at number 3 HELP
well damit this seems to work but i mean i just cant get my phone detected and i have an LG chocolate 8500 and i dont know what to d, how can i get it detected whats the right port. plz help me
nothing for us poor mac users yet huh? my work pc works fine but all my good tunes are on my mac. if anyone can find me some drivers that will work for mac let me know. it would be much appreciated.
THIS WORKS 100 PERCENT! NOW MY COUSIN CAN STOP BITCHING FOR ME TO GET HER RINGTONES =]
thank you so so so so very much for showin us how to get passed access denied..i was soo angry for about 3 hours..and i finally got to this page..and now im so happy! i just got my new fone today bc i lost my old one..wow..was i just gunna raiiisssee hell wit verizon..i hate them as is! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
IT WORKS!!!! I have version T85VZ06.
Big props to Drew.
Audcity downloaded fine..but wouldnt let me open LAME with it it said it coudlnt find it but I extracted the file and everything.. then the BITPIM wouldnt download it says set up files are corrupt please obtain new copy of program..i dont know wat to do
in regard to the mac comment:
i’ve been using a macbook to put mp3 ringtones on my LG VX8500 and haven’t had a problem with it at all. the only software i’m using is bitpim, which is available in .dmg format. audacity is also available for mac use, so you really shouldn’t be having any trouble getting this to work.
I’ve also got bitpim to work flawlessly on ubuntu :) thanks for confirming it on a mac.
Thx a ton it works great!
i have a ringtone showing up on my phone that doesn’t play & can’t be erased. i’ve tryed erasing it then turning off the phone & takin out the battery but i cant remove it. can you tell me how to get it off?
omg!! thanks sooo much kran you are a life saver…. i was soo desperate i was gonna have to buy ring tones sine the verizon ringtones hella sucked!!! thanks so much!!!
It is easy to get around that, click on file system, then on the right side click on the + symbol the click on brew then on 16452 then click LK… in LK you will MR right click on choose file new or new file, find your new ring tone, select it and choose OK. You will see the transfer. Now remember after you transfer a new ringtone you must power your phone off then back on for it to show up in your ringtones so you can select it. :) Enjoy
hey does anyone know if verizon will charge for this in any way?
Need help badly. I have a lg-vx8600 with verizon service. I downloaded the bitpim test, ran the program and I’m getting the following message “LG-VX8600 on com 7, the phone is not responding while manipulating the filesystem”. Can anyone help me with this?? Thanks.
like for accessing the internet or whatever?
No, trying to add ringtones using bitpim
Trying to put ringtones on my phone
How do I put videos on my phone?
hey well, i got the program, i just dont how to make the ringtone, is their a tutorial one how to crop, fade in, etc?
Do you need the verizon drivers to use a Mac. Drew said he has it working but without the drivers (which I can’t find) I didn’t think it would work. Anyone want to give me a run down on this so I can get some cool music on my phone. My PC doesn’t have any music on it so I am stuck and still have the lame default ringtone :( sad panda.
my computer wont detect my phone, it used to ding when it connected, but now nothing happens.
help?
You forgot to mention to normalize the ringtone otherwise it probably will not loud enough.
One can also use the following site, it’s much easier.
http://www.makeownringtone.com
Go into device manager and detect hardware changes. It should show up then.
I have LGVX8550 and unable to download ringtones; get across this site and download latest version of Bimpim and drivers.. now it works fine… no need to buy for download.. This is really a cool site …Thanks to my friend ….