The iPhone is incredibly popular, no question.  Users however want a simple method to make ringtones and make sure that they stick.  The excellent iToner application can make ringtones but they don’t stick with the V2.x firmware so you have to reload them after firmware updates.  Ideally the ringtone would sit in iTunes.

Mac users in recent years have gotten Garageband as included software with their Macs.  The current version of Garageband includes a new feature called Share Ringtone to iTunes.  This tip explains its use.

Open a new Garageband music project

Add a real instrument track; Track | New Track | Real Instrument

You can delete the default track set up for “Grand Piano”;  Click the track | Track | Delete Track

Now open a Finder window and navigate to the folder where the song you want to use for your ringtone lies.  MP3 files work well.

Drag the song file to the track in the Garageband track region.  iTunes will import the file.

Now you have two choices.  You can use Garageband’s simple editor to select the area you want for your ringtone (8 seconds max) and cut out the other areas, or you can play dumb and do;

Share | Send Ringtone to iTunes  You will get an error dialog offering you the option to do the clip and delete step or to “Adjust”  Selecting Adjust will create a new section containing an 8 second loop area.  Now just drag the loop area to the portion of the song you want as the ringtone.

You can check your selection by clicking the play button in the control section.  You’ll hear your ringtone loop repeat.  

For fine adjustment do; Control | Snap to Grid so it is unchecked.  This allows for very fine control on the placement of the loop selector.

Once you are happy do; Share | Send Ringtone to iTunes.  Your selected loop will be packaged up in the iTunes ringtone format and be added to your iTunes library and the next time you sync be copied to your iPhone.

Go to the Preferences window, choose Sounds and then pick the new ringtone.  Simple.  Finished.  Done.