MAC USERS support forum (making ringtones, video, etc)

[macosxsprint]

hi everyone, after happily lurking for a few years, i thought it was about time i gave back to the forums. this is my first post, so i apologize if i don't follow established protocol.

i started this thread for all my fellow mac users! it can be very frustrating trying to get mac specific advice about sprint devices, so i thought this would be a good place to share and request information.

currently i'm using a samsung m500 and lg fusic, so most of my posts will be from that frame of reference (powervision, mp3, mp4, gp2). i've successfully made my own screensavers, ringtones, and videos and uploaded them via usb. (without bitpim or the uploader)

in my next post i'll discuss how i created my ringtone on my m500. i'll go step by step, so it'll be easy to tweak the process for your own phone.

hopefully some of you mac users will find this forum useful, i remember what a pain it was for me to figure out all this stuff!

GO COLTS!

[aiwetir]

interesting, i'm a mac user and have an m500 and fusic

[Dan]

Moved to multimedia mayhem as this deals with ringers, screen savers, etc :)

[macosxsprint]

TUTORIAL #1: making a ringtone you can upload via usb (or bluetooth)

this should work for any phone that can play .3g2 video.

WHAT YOU NEED:
mp3 file
quicktime PRO, (that is, quicktime with a serial number. either buy a serial number from apple.com, or find a friend that might be willing to let you use his/hers. ;) it's a good investment if you buy a lot of ringtones, video, etc.)

MY CONFIGURATION: (for your reference)
ibook g4, 1.42 mhz, 512mb ram
quicktime pro 7.1.3

STEP #1: convert file
a) open your mp3 file with quicktime pro.
b) your ringtone should be 30 seconds or less, and 512kb or less, so we must trim your mp3 file.
c) play your mp3 file (space bar), and find a good starting point for your ringtone. press "i" on your keyboard. this marks the "in" point, don't worry you can change it later if necessary.
d) wait and find a good end point, just wait about 30 seconds and press "o" on your keyboard. this marks the "out" point. stop playback (space bar).
e) go to the VIEW menu and select "loop" and then select "play selection only" they should be checkmarked now. begin playback to check your ringtone.
f) use the mouse to drag the "in" and "out" brackets to get it nice and perfect (they are located beneath the progress bar in the player. you'll see the brackets move when you press "i" and "o").
g) when you are done, go to the EDIT menu and select "trim to selection". playback and check your ringtone. if you screwed up go to the EDIT menu and select "undo trim to selection" and go back to step f), otherwise go to the next step.
h) go to the FILE menu and select "export". at the bottom you will see "export:" and a pop up selector. select "movie to 3G".
i) click the "options..." button to the right. you should now be at a large settings box entitled "3G export settings"
j) for "file format", select "3GPP2". this is the video settings, so everything else should be greyed out. (because there is no video, only audio)
k) there are five horizontal buttons entitled "video" "audio" "text" "streaming" "advanced". click on the "audio" button. you should see a list of audio settings. any settings should work, as long as the file is less than 512 kb. here are my suggestions for a good sounding ringtone:
l) for "audio format" select "AAC-LC (music)".
m) for "data rate" select "128 kbps"
n) for "channels" select "stereo"
o) for "output sample rate" select "44.1 khz"
p) for "encoding quality" select "better"
q) look at the bottom and you'll see the estimated filesize. it should be comfortably under 512 kb. if not, try using a lower "data rate"
r) click "ok"
s) find the appropriate location to save your ringtone (the desktop is the best place to find it later), and click "save"
t) this part will be different for all phones. upload the file via usb jump drive, usb cable, or bluetooth to your ALBUM directory in your DCIM directory. it should be something like "100blahblah". (to find out which directory to use, turn on the camcorder on your phone, take a short video and save it. whatever directory that .3g2 video file is saved is where your ringtone should go. the ringtone MUST be in this directory or the phone won't be able to find it.)
u) go to your contacts, or ringer type settings on your phone.
v) go to where you select your ringtone, and select "my albums", "my videos" or something similar.
w) navigate and find your ringtone, assign it, and you're done!

i would appreciate feedback by private message instead of posts, that way people don't have to scroll through a lot of "it worked" or "it didn't work". i will post a follow-up on what phones it worked or didn't work on, or if i screwed up somewhere. good luck everyone and i hope this was helpful to some of you!

[wooddalejohnny]

How did you get your MAC to recognize the m500?

[laursifer]

This is a goooood thread. I'm going to link it in the FAQ sticky as well, while throwin' some SU$ your way for doing this.

We greatly appreciate it!

[aiwetir]

How did you get your MAC to recognize the m500?
usb or bluetooth

[johnnaryry]

usb or bluetooth

If your Mac doesn't have built-in Bluetooth, I've had real service from this USB adapter. (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200715+400859&Ne=400000&product_code=307822&Pn=DBT_120_PersonalAir_Wireless_USB_Adapter)

D-Link DBT-120

Mine's plugged into one of the ports on my keyboard.

--ryan

[wlegro]

have an iMac with Bluetooth - trying to wade thru all the info about this new Katana phone I'm getting (arriving next week) - it's a Sprint phone but my cell service is Working Assets, so it's not as simple as I'd wish - from everything I've read and from what the cell provider told me, I get the impression that I cannot upload photos from camera to iMac via Bluetooth, have to use Sprint's $15.99/mo package to upload to their server, then to my computer - even tho I can pay only when I use it, I don't think the pix will be so good as to pay for this every time I want to upload photos - and I can't find any USB cable/software to allow a direct link, in fact I think I read the Katana doesn't have a USB port? If not, it makes the camera pretty useless to me, but then it would only have been a minor attraction anyway - I'm sure there's a lot I'm missing, probably because my current phone is like 4 years old (so 2003!)

thanks for any help - my knowledge of this stuff is minor, used a phone only for talking before...

[itstheloganator]

Wow this is great for me! I really appreciate this...sometimes its a bit hard being a mac user trying to find solutions, so thank you!

[RICH920]

thank you . i hope you keep posting . this has been a very helpful thread . i have been searching all day for information regarding my sprint phone and this has been the best resource . thanks again .

[laursifer]

...I get the impression that I cannot upload photos from camera to iMac via Bluetooth...

As long as you can get your iMac to recognize the Katana, you'll be fine. My PowerBook recognized my M610 & while I've never had a Katana, I don't see why it would be a problem.

[omegastu]

I have a razr and a 20" imac. When I got the new imac I was so pumped to be able to transfer files via bluetooth but alas, it wouldn't work. After much Google search i ran across this website... http://clockskew.com/blog/ ... this guy has put together some iSync plugins that made it work like it was supposed to. I am sure there are other plugins for the isync to work with other phones so just do a little searching. I have transferred pics, ringtones, and my complete phonebooks no problem.

[LavonneJ]

You totally rock my socks! I have seriously been trying to figure out how to do this for 2 days now. With no bluetooth adapter on my PC or web access on my M500, I was beginning to think it wasn't possible, that the phone didn't allow it. And I searched and searched the web for help, there isn't much our there for this phone, being that it's rather new. I tried a million different things, downloaded tons of sync programs and the like, none of which worked. I was skeptical to try this, because I had pretty much tried everything to no avail, but I gave it one last shot.

And I'm not a MAC user, I have windows, but your instructions worked perfectly for me. I seriously can't thank you enough, I thought I was gonna be stuck with the standard ringers the phone came with, which suck. You totally made my day!

[johnnaryry]

I stumbled across this while surfing:

http://www.appleology.com/2006/07/17/bitpim-for-mac-os-x/

I thought it might be of interest to some on this thread...

:cool: --ryan

[ladyjade]

Wahoo Another Mac User Like Me!!!!!! Lol Unfortunately I
Have A Very Ancient Mac (aka G3 Running 8.1 Cant Find Free
Download Of The Next Os Higher) 8-([SIZE=5]

[johnnaryry]

Wahoo Another Mac User Like Me!!!!!! Lol Unfortunately I
Have A Very Ancient Mac (aka G3 Running 8.1 Cant Find Free
Download Of The Next Os Higher) 8-([SIZE=5]

Have you looked at AppleRescue (http://applerescue.com/) for install discs? They carry all sorts for very reasonable prices.

I have two G3 iMacs: a 'Lime flavoured' 333MHz tray-loader running Jaguar (OS 10.2.8) and an SE 'Flower Power' 600MHz slot-loader running Tiger (OS 10.4.9). I just recently got my hands on a G3 iBook 500MHz Dual USB running Panther (OS 10.3.9) and equipped with Airport.

Macs rock, even the old ones!

 --ryan

[du2vye]

:clap: Yippeee! A Mac thread! I had trouble finding this because I expected it to be with the other OS threads. I have Sanyo 8400 and IMac (not intel) Osx 10.4.9

I have lots of questions. I want to convert some files to watch on my phone. One of them is .ogm and I have spent 3 days searching and searching and searching .... I can find programs for windows to convert .ogm. I can find programs that will convert to .ogm, but nothing to convert from .ogm. Who knows, I may never run into that file type again and I asked a buddy to convert it last night.

Is there a size difference between videos (movies) for ITunes/IPods and 3gp?

I've been doing my ringtones with audacity. That's been very simple to use even without the Lame mp3 plugin (never got it installed right I guess) and I exported in .wav -> converted with Switch or ITunes.

What I liked about audacity was I can easily customize through just trial and error; fade in and out, amplify, echo, phase, cut, copy and paste, etc. I made a copy of the song first, but that doesn't even seem necessary.

Anyway, nice to see a mac thread started.

[johnnaryry]

VisualHub (http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/) is an excellent app for video conversion. It's free to try and only $24 to buy:

"VisualHub bridges the gap between numerous complicated video formatting standards, and people that just want to get the job done - just what you would expect from the Mac..."


Sorry Windows people, this one is Mac only...

 --ryan

[NMH]

The For What It's Worth Department.

I know I am responding to a four month old post. Sorry.

I was unable to get my LG 550 FUSIC (30-day Trial) to read the .3G2 files even following MACOSXSPRINT's detailed instructions. I was getting a phone error indicating that the "resolution" was not compatible. Seems it wanted to see a video in that file and none existed--only audio. Here's what I did to get around it.

I recorded a short video clip (as he suggested to discover the correct location to load your final masterpiece) then I used Quicktime Pro to open it and extracted the video. (Menu; Window; Show Movie Properties).

I then exported that "video only" file to 3G2 using the settings he described.

I opened iMovie and imported the 3G2 video file to iMovie. I then took my modified MP3 ringer file and imported it to the sound track of that file.

Then I exported (or shared) that file from iMovie using the "expert settings" selection and used the same settings MACOSXSPRINT suggested.

BINGO! The FUSIC then recognized the .3G2 file and I was able to "apply" it to my contacts of choice.

A few extra steps but...hey.

Someone may share a better faster way, but this worked for me.

Hope it helps someone out there.



--Norm in Texas

[milkman6453]

nmh is there a way to do this on a windows pc?

[NMH]

Sorry Milkman.

Although I suspect there is a way, someone with more Windows savvy then me will have to respond to you.

Maybe a bit more diggin' on the Sprint Users Forum or some Google searches.

Good luck...



--Norm in Texas








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[svtyler11]

Milkman you can download Quicktime Pro for windows from apple.com/quicktime

[milkman6453]

no no i have quicktime its just i cant do what he does i dont have that mac app

[ejnyc]

I just renewed my contract and bought a Katana DLX. I can't get it to talk to my iBook (which doesn't have Bluetooth, at least not yet).

Have discovered that Sprint doesn't make Music Manager software for Mac. They don't have USB drivers for the DLX (and BitPim doesn't support it) either.

Oy!

Can I move music from iTunes onto the MicroSD card without Music Manager software?

Anyone know of a BitPim alternative that works with the DLX?

Or do I need to get a 6.5 oz,ugly-as-hell, $300 Treo that will actually work with a Mac? (grr).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Tarhonky]

I worked with macs all my life up until I bought my 17" vaio about 2 months ago. To my knowledge and all the phones I have went through(see sig) About 15 the only one that works with a mac is the treo 750p most palms do. I have never owned a blackberry so i don't know the status of that but i think the palm is the only one. I know there are softwares out there(missingsync, pocketmac) that enable you to sync with a mac but I have never used any of them.
Hope this helps,

WOODY

[du2vye]

I am determined to watch a movie (or tv show) on my phone. I like the idea of streaming because it'd be easy to change content a lot.

I found online storage places that "should" work ... and they aren't working for me. I don't know why.

One of the main ones is www.humyo.com

It's been a real pain to upload anything, then nothing comes through on my phone when I email a link, use there messaging or when I navigate to the site.

I don't know if this is a problem with MAC or phone java support (I have sanyo 8400) ????

I am so frustrated - any ideas?
Can anyone get the site working for them the way they say it should?
Know of another site that will work with MAC's?

[du2vye]

You checked this site? http://www.appleology.com/2006/07/17/bitpim-for-mac-os-x/
because I noticed Katana was listed. That's not my phone, so I can't say from experience.

I would think the trick would be to get MAC to acknowledge your phone's USB. There is a program, a USB manager, if your MAC is fudgy about recognizing usb connections.

I'm about to try it with my phone too. I expected to grab the music from where the music is stored and not use itunes. So far, I haven't had problems moving things on to my SD card.

[du2vye]

:fingers: Wonder what it would take to get a site like www.orb.com working for macs - and stream media on to my phone?

Obviously eyeTV (eglato) would be needed, but I'm not too sure what else?

[BrettW]

I just renewed my contract and bought a Katana DLX. I can't get it to talk to my iBook (which doesn't have Bluetooth, at least not yet).

Have discovered that Sprint doesn't make Music Manager software for Mac. They don't have USB drivers for the DLX (and BitPim doesn't support it) either.

Oy!

Can I move music from iTunes onto the MicroSD card without Music Manager software?

Anyone know of a BitPim alternative that works with the DLX?

Or do I need to get a 6.5 oz,ugly-as-hell, $300 Treo that will actually work with a Mac? (grr).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

i just tested my dlx + data cable +mass storage mode (it prompts to select upon plugging in the cable) shows up on my mac, putting files in the music folder will allow you to play the songs just fine

[About SprintUsers.Com]

SprintUsers.com was created in January 2002 as a resource for users of Sprint PCS products and services to learn about and share information. We have cll phone reviews, Cellular Accessories, Downloads, PDA reviews, Ringtones, all of the latest Sprint PCS news and information, an area where you can find help in creating a ring tone or custom image for you phone, and so much more. The most popular section is the message board where visitors can read and write messages, ask questions, and get advice about their cellular phone from other users.