HOWTO: Convert CD Audio to AMR for Ringing and Messaging Tones

Requirements: Windows PC (XP Recomm.) / CD DAE (Windows) / R8brain  / Miksoft AMR Converter

Usage: Any mobile that can play AMR as ringtones (e.g. Nokia mobiles etc.)

This guide will tell you how to convert CD Audio into an AMR audio file which many Nokia’s (those with Voice Recorder) can use as ringing and messaging tones. The quality isn’t great, but it does mean you can put a near radio quality tone on your Nokia. All software used is freely available.

NOTE: I’ve written this guide using all free software but you could use any program to create a 10 second 8kHz, 16 bit, mono wav file which can then be converted using Miksoft AMR converter. Personally I use Nero Wave Edit. Also I’m using R8brain to change the sample rate to 8kHz because Windows Sound Recorder’s 8kHz files were being rejected by Miksoft AMR converter.

You will need the following software from these locations:

CD DAE (Windows) -  http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=download.html
Windows Sound Recorder -  (Should be installed as part of Windows)
R8brain - http://www.voxengo.com/downloads/#r8brain
Miksoft AMR Converter -  http://miksoft.evzonastravel.com/mobileAMRconverter.htm


Installing CD DAE:

1. Download the CD DAE (Windows) zip file from the link above and extract it to a directory on your PC

Installing Miksoft AMR Converter:

1. Download the AMRConverter zip file from the link above.
2. Double click the AMRConverter.zip file and then double click the AMRCon-setup.exe file


3. Click Next >



4. Click Next >



5. Click Install





6. Un-tick ‘Launch MIKSOFT Mobile AMR converter’ and click Finish.

Installing R8brain:

1. Download R8brain from the link given above and then double click r8brain_setup.exe



2. Click Next>



3. Click ‘I Agree’



4. Click Next >



5. Click Install



6. Click Close


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Doing The Conversion:

1. Start CD DAE and un-tick the Verify, CD Text and freedb boxes.



2. Insert the CD with the track you wish to use and CD DAE will display a list of tracks



3. Click to highlight the track you wish to extract.



4. Click the Folder icon in the bottom right beside ‘Path’ in ‘File Options’ and browse to select a directory where the file will be saved.

5. Click Start. CD DAE will now extract the CD Audio as a .wav file to the directory you selected.



6. Once the track has been extracted click Close and then click Exit. Now you have saved the whole song as a .wav file you need to cut out the 10-15 second section you wish to use as your ringtone.

7. Start Windows Sound Recorder (it’s normally under Accessories somewhere in Windows Start Menu but is in different places in depending on which version of Windows you use) If you have trouble finding it click Start -> Run and type SNDREC32.EXE and click OK.



8. Click File -> Open and browse to the directory you chose in step 4. Click the .wav file and click Open



9. Move the slider to the beginning of the section you want to use.



10. Click Edit -> Delete Before Current Position and click OK to confirm

11. Move the slider to the end of the section you wish to use (note this should be a maximum of 10 to 15 seconds long)



12. Click Edit -> Delete After Current Position and click OK to confirm

13. Click File -> Save As

14. Click the ‘Change’ button at the bottom beside format.



15. Change the format to PCM, 41.100 kHz, 16 Bit, Mono as shown above

16. Click OK

17. Give the file a name and click Save

18. Close Sound Recorder

19. Start R8brain

20. Click the top Browse button for the Input WAV

21. Select the file you saved in step 17. It will automatically give it the same output name with ‘r8b’ added to it. You can change this if you wish by clicking the bottom browse button.



22. Click the ‘Resample to r8’ drop-down and change it to 8000



23. Click the Quality drop-down and change it to ‘Very High’



24. Click ‘Perform r8brain’ and the file will be converted. You can now close R8brain.

25. Start MIKSOFT AMR Converter



26. Click on the “WAVE to AMR” text (clicking the graphic doesn’t work – it has to be the text)



27. Click the top “Browse” button and select the ‘r8b.wav’ file you saved in the output of R8brain.

28. Click the bottom “Browse” button and choose a directory and filename where you will save your .amr file

29. Click the “Select MR” drop down and choose 795 (ie best quality)



30. Click “Convert Now”. A DOS screen will now appear to do the conversion.



31. The DOS box will close by itself and return to the Windows GUI as below



32. Click ‘Finish’ and close Miksoft AMR Converter.

33. You can now transfer the .amr file to your phone for use as a ringing or messaging tone.