Tutorial: Make LOUD ringers for your N1 that will not distort or blow your speakers!

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This tutorial will teach you how to make LOUD ringers for your Nexus One (or any phone) that will not distort or blow out your speakers.*

Things you will need:
- A computer running Windows, OSX or Linux
- Audacity [Freeware] Download HERE
- Lame Encoder [Freeware] Download HERE - I suggest unzipping to c:\LAME
- Time and attention to detail

1. Launch Audacity and select "File" and "Open" and browse to where ever you keep your MP3's on your computer. Select the MP3 you want to turn into a ringer.

2. Select 20-30 seconds of the the song... the portion you want to use as a ringer. You do this by clicking and dragging the mouse across the spectrogram. You can be more precise by clicking to a start point and then holding "Shift" and using the left or right arrow keys. Note the bottom of the program. It shows you how many seconds of audio that you have selected.
See pic:

3. After you have your chosen selection highlighted, click "Edit" and then "Trim." You will be left with only your selected audio. Leave it highlighted (This is important).

4. With your clip still highlighted, click on "Effect" and "Equalization".
Pic:

5. Now you need to set your clip's equalizer level's as show in the pic below:

6. Now with your clip STILL highlighted, click "Effects" again and choose "Amplify." See pic below:

7. Now set the amplification to 5.0 and check the "Allow clipping" box. Pic:

8. Now ... with the selection STILL highlighted... click on "File" and "Export selection as MP3." NOTE: If this is your first time using Audacity and LAME, Audacity is going to ask you for an MP3 encoder. It will allow you to find lame_enc.dll ... just point it to where ever you unzipped LAME. (Remember earlier, I suggested "c:\LAME" ) After you point Audacity to LAME, you won't have to ever do it again.

So... back to the main point... "Export selection as MP3" and save your new MP3 ringer where ever you want. Pic:

That's it. Just put your new ringers onto where ever you store them on your microSD card. They will be louder with reduced bass. I have done this with a few G1's, a few iPhones and now my N1... and have never blown out my speakers.

Enjoy!

*Disclaimer. I am very confident that this method will not blow your speakers. However, that being said, use this info at your own risk. I am not responsible for any damage that may happen to your phone.

 

[konman795]

It works! Many thanks!!

 

[ManMythLegend]

Good post.

I will say there is a louder volume hack (requires root) that solved this issue on G1.
Perhaps the author will make a new version.

 

[choffy21]

Or, you know, you could keep it in your pocket/hands at all times and have it to ring and vibrate. A lot easier.

 

[ManMythLegend]

Or, you know, you could keep it in your pocket/hands at all times and have it to ring and vibrate. A lot easier.

Or just ductape it to your chest.

 

[nyfinest32]

Or just ductape it to your chest.

Haha great idea

 

[smitty24]

Or just ductape it to your chest.

haha

 

[mikegaudiello]

This isn't really a great way to do it. Use the compressor tool instead. When you use amplification, you're still going out of spectrum and clipping the file. The clipping is what causes distortion. EQing it is a good start, but that only means you're clipping less of the sound because you've filtered the lows out. Compressors take the lower decibel sounds and bring them up, as opposed to just cranking the whole thing. Using a compressor can give you pretty LOUD results without ever clipping.

Not sure how the compressor works in Audacity specifically (I use Sound Forge), but I'd try -15db with 4:1 compression to start, after you EQ. My truest advice is to play with the compressor tool until you find results that don't go off the meters, and something that sounds good. Trial and error will get the best results.