MP3 Ringtones on LG Fusic (LG LX 550)
I received an LG Fusic LX550 with my Sprint Plan about 6 months ago. There didn’t appear to be any simple way to put MP3 ringtones on it, unfortunately. After some research (mostly through Howard Forums), I found a way that I could get these ringtones onto the phone without a whole lot of trouble.
This tutorial requires
1) An MP3
2) An LG Fusic / LG FX550 phone.
3) Windows XP (untested otherwise)
4) USB Data Transfer Cable for the LG Fusic
First, prepare the mp3. You probably don’t want an 8 minute song as your mp3 ringtone. I’d suggest keep it at ~30 seconds maximum. If your phone rings for more than 30 seconds… you really don’t deserve a cell phone. I used WavePad trial edition, then very easily trimmed, adjusted volume levels, and resaved my mp3. You can go with low quality, since it’s on a cell phone. I encoded it at 128kbps, mono channel. Rename this saved file to “MP3.mid”.
Next, connect your phone to your Windows XP computer, and install drivers as necessary. My computer actually found the drivers on its own, here’s what I did. After it’s connected, right click on My Computer, go to Manage. Go to Device Manager and find the device that doesn’t have drivers installed (should have a yellow exclamation by it). Right click on it, select Update Driver. On the following screen, select “Yes, this time only”, for letting Windows Update search for a driver. Next check “Install the software automatically”, then click Next. When it finds it, the driver won’t be WHQL certified, so you’ll have to click “Continue” to let Windows install it. Wait a few minutes, and the driver should be installed. This might introduce a few more “Unknown” devices to the Device Manager, so repeat the same process until all relevant Devices have drivers installed.
Next, on the LG Fusic. Go to Tools => Music Composer => Compose Melody => Keyboard Mode. Play a key, then save it as MP3. We will be overwriting this and using it as the MP3 ringtone later.
Next, install BitPim for Windows XP. From their website, “BitPim allows synchronization of Phone Book, Calendar, WallPapers and RingTones and manipulating the embedded filesystem in CDMA cell phones”, but we’ll only be using it for last one, “manipulating the embedded filesystem in CDMA cell phones”. Once installed, assuming your phone is still connected via USB, setup and configure your phone. I knew mine was connected when it said “Other CDMA phone on COM6 – Detected”, with a green Circle next to it. Go to the View menu, and ensure that “View Filesystem” is checked. On the left pane you should see “Filesystem”, near the bottom. Open that, and in the next pane you should be able to navigate to “/melodyComposer”. Drag and drop “MP3.mid” from the first step into this window in BitPim, overwriting the existing file.
Finally, on the phone go to Settings => Sounds => Ringers => Caller ID => My Melodies => MP3.mid. And wha-la, presto, sha-zaam.
Worked for me as described. Let me know if your experience varies from the above.
louis Said,
April 28, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
I don’t see the melodies composer can you help me
Raybdbomb Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Hm… so you’re at Tools and you don’t see Music Composer?
Frustration Said,
May 8, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Well, my thing gets up to the Updating part, then the Wizard takes over nad blah.
Since it can’t find the server, it back to square one.
I don’t know what to do.
Raybdbomb Said,
May 9, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Hmm… I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Frustration Said,
May 9, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Well, I’m not a computer wiz,
BUt it keeps on saying that I need a cdrom or something a destination.
Everything I pug the Fusic into the computer with the USB cord,
“New Hardware Found” pops up, right?
And then the Wizard also pops up.
I’ve followed your instructions, but it always does the same thing.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting confused on the downloading the first thing part?
Should I download that first?
Because I don’t really know HOW to use the WavePad.
Or the BitPim.
Ill download them now?
And yeah, think you can help me from there?
Because really.
This is frustating
Frustration Said,
May 9, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Question.
Should the memory card be in here while doing all of this?
Raybdbomb Said,
May 9, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
@Frustration:
Cancel the “New Hardware Wizard”, instead of installing it via their guide, follow what I said in the post starting with
Does that not work for you?
And the memory card shouldn’t matter.
blahh Said,
May 10, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
my computer doenst recongnize the phone when i plug it in my pc… I try to look for it but it doenst work … ??
Raybdbomb Said,
May 10, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Try downloading the Sprint PCS Connection Manager/Driver from here.
jesse Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
where is the music composer
Raybdbomb Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 7:56 am
Tools => Music Composer
Kevin Said,
May 23, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Looks like Raybdbomb left a step out which is why Frustrated was so frustrated… in order to get the PC to recognize the phone as a mass storage device, you need to go (on the Fusic) to Tools —> USB Flash Drive and then turn that on. Then Windows XP/Vista will recognize the phone. The drivers are simply to use the phone as a modem.
Kevin Said,
May 23, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
To clarify my last post… you don’t need to do that in order to perform what is described in the blog here… but you don’t need the drivers either. These just enable you to use the phone as a modem. All you need is BitPim and WavePad.
Raybdbomb Said,
May 23, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
The drivers were a failsafe because someone said their computer couldn’t recognize the device.
just dre Said,
June 2, 2007 @ 9:46 am
how do I save the mp3 clip to .mid on wavepod?
Raybdbomb Said,
June 2, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Just rename your .mp3 to .mid. The phone’s filesystem doesn’t require a .mid file to be a midi, if that makes any sense.
Deamion Said,
June 3, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Hi all.
After finally hunting down LG CDMA USB MODEM drivers from http://www.driverguide.com (On their site they call it: LGE CDMA USB MODEM. And you will need a free login to download). After downloading the lg_usb_drivers.zip file, and unzipping it. I used the device manager in WinXP, clicked on LGE CDMA USB MODEM, pointed the wizard to my unzip folder\win2k, (You have to use the Win2k files, don’t worry they work just fine in XP). The wizard found the drivers and installed them. Fire up bitPim it should now auto detect as: OTHER CDMA PHONE ON COM xx.
Ok with that cleared up. My phone is from Bell Canada. Got in May / 07, and from what I can tell Bell Canada removed the media composer all together. Probably to stop us from using this trick to make MP3’s ringtones. That way you need to buy them from Bell.ca
I noticed the BitPim lets you “backup” your file system. My question is can anyone provided a link to their file system back up, so I can reconstruct it into my phone? I’m hoping to regain the media composer files / file system. And then I should be able to use it. If not can someone copy and paste the folder structure in this forum?
Thanks in advance
–Deamion
Raybdbomb Said,
June 4, 2007 @ 6:44 am
Weird.
Mi'ra Said,
June 4, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
I’d sure like to be able to add ringtones as well. Would love to know if anyone who got their phone from Bell Canada manages it.
Anidstylie Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
AHHHH i got all the steps up untill the bitpim it wont detest my phone!!!HELP ME PLEASE
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Anidstylie, make sure your device manager has a LGE CDMA USB Modem listed, and there is no yellow or red marks on it.
Also check under your ports, it should read LGE CDMA USB serial port (COM15) [Mine is COM15, yours could be a different number], then check under USB devices make sure you have a LGE CDMA Composite USB Device. You may also have one or two USB Composite Devices listed that don’t say LGE on them. All of these items should be working correctly. (No errors, yellow or red icons on them) The important one is the one listed under PORTS. But check the rest just in case.
OK Now run BitPim, and click EDIT, and Detect Phone if BitPim displays “Found other CDMA Phone on Com port XX” (XX) should be the same com port listed in your device manager “LGE CDMA USB serial port (COM15)” If you have all the above devices, non of them have errors in your device manager, and your phone is NOT set to MASS STORAGE, you should see a green dot with “other CDMA Phone on Com port XX” at the bottom of the BitPim screen = All is well. Go ahead and mess with your phone. I would suggest you do a file system back up, just in case. If all is not well. I don’t know what else to tell you, it worked for me. Good Luck!
–Deamion
Darren Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
I just got the new fusic from bell as well and no music composer, anyone know of a solution for this, really sucks that I cant add ringtones to my phone… Stupid Bell
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Anidstylie.
Oh one more thing, as per my first post. You will need to download the LGE USB Drivers from http://www.driverguide.com, or a different site. I couldn’t find them on http://www.LGE.com
–Deamion
Anidstylie Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
would i find the driver under usb or devices??? i think i found it its called mf-fe250_2000Xp.zip (Driver) on my device manager there is no yellow or n e thing not registering but there also is no lg modem like u said it should say
Anidstylie Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
If this helps at all before i enable the usb flash drive in tools it says lg cdma usb modem with a yellow exsclamation now when i turn on that flash drive it goes away but there is no modem noir other devices that are on there…
Raybdbomb Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Thanks for your comments Deamion.
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Anidstylie,
You can’t turn on the MASS STORAGE option under tools. (Do NOT use that) The LGE Modem is the right one, but you will need to remove that yellow exclamation point. I downloaded a file from http://www.drivergiude.com called – lg_usb_drivers.zip – I think the web site Described it as – LGE CDMA USB MODEM – when searching for it use that. Unzip the file. You will see a setup file in your unzipped folder. I didn’t use it so I can’t tell you if it works or not. All I did was opened my device manager, double click on my LG CDMA USB Modem, clicked “update Driver” and browsed to the folder I just unzipped the download file to. If found the right driver, and proceeded to install about 4 or 5 more devices. (Yes I had to point each and every device install to the same folder) After a bout 3 min of pointing the install new hardware wizard to the same folder over and over, I was done. That’s when I tried BitPim.
I hope that will clarify my other post a bit.
–Deamion
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Raybdbomb. = Thanks for your comments Deamion.
No problem, I rarely post at all. (Usually because I’m the one looking for help.) But this time I thought I could contribute some info.
Any thoughts on providing a link to your FILE SYSTEM back up? Or at leased a COPY AND PASTE of the folder structure? I would like to see the difference between your phone and mine. In hopes to regain the Music Composer software.
–Deamion.
sky Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Hey I just got my phone from bell today (june 5th) and there is no composer listed in the dir either. Does anyone know a way we can map the folder structure??? I’ve only gone so far as to get my phone to import movie files for viewing. but hey nothing like ninja turtles on your celly. Need my own mp3 ring tones, the melodys that came with the phone suck. speaking of which, is there a way just to replace the existing ones without having to create extra files??? cause i wouldn’t mind loosing the existing ones.
Anidstylie Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
U RULE DUDE i got it installed da drivers now im gonna try the bitpim!!! AND IT WORKS WE HAVE IGNITION TANKS A MILLION
Anidstylie Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
haha ur probally sick of me by now but okay first how do i do a file system back up? And also when i made my melody in my phone and saved it it saved it as a mid file is that okay? You said to save it as mp3 there is no option for that it automatically saves it as a mid. file and then the ringtone i made its just saved as a mp3 file is that okay sorry ive gone this far to turn back now..but dont want to mess up my new phone
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
I’m happy to help someone else for a change. I’m usually the one in need on information.
Let me know if I can help further.
–Deamion
Deamion Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
File system backup.
1. Make sure BitPim detects your phone. (As described in my other post.)
2. Click View. (in BitPim) select filesystem.
You should now see a filesystem icon in BitPim
3. click on the icon.
You can now see your phones filesystem.
4. RIGHT click on the folder icon with a / behind it.
5. Select Back up Directory
After it grabs all you phones files and folders. (Remember it will also grab all the files in you microSD card, so if you have a full 2GB MicroSD card, it’s gonna take a long, long time. So you might want to remove it first.) It will ask you for a name and location to put the .ZIP file when it’s done grabbing them.
As for the .MID file.
When you have your .MP3 all ready to go. Rename it to a .MID file before you put it on the phone. (I know it’s a .MP3 file, but the phone won’t care. just rename it to a .MID file)
Sorry about the point form, but I was almost done with a nicely worded post, and I some how selected all text and hit back space. That and I’m going to bed, so you get it all in point form. – Good nite
–Deamion
Raybdbomb Said,
June 5, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Did you still want a filesystem backup? I don’t know how comfortable I feel with all of my contacts, etc. exposed.
Deamion Said,
June 6, 2007 @ 7:01 am
Raybdbomb.
I understand. How about just a folder structure? That way no files will be at risk.
–Deamion
Raybdbomb Said,
June 6, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Deamion: e-mail me via http://raybdbomb.com/contact/
and I’ll put it on my todo list.
Darren Said,
June 6, 2007 @ 11:47 am
My phone does not have a music composer either, pelase if anyone knows if there is something to do, please help.
Thanks.
Deamion Said,
June 8, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Ok, all of you that want to use your own mp3’s as ring tones!
I found a way to upload any file to your phone for FREE.
Ok, ok, I know you’ll have to pay for the air time for each download. But if your like me and pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited downloads, this will work for you
The cool thing is when you put a song on to your phone via the USB cable, you can’t use it as a ring tone. But if you download it to your phone through the WEP browser you can.
(Make sure you pick files that your phone will support). You can upload any file, but we’ll focus on MP3 ring tons. Get your mp3 ring tone ready (You can find lot’s of free programs on the net, that will chop your full length song to the chunk you want as your ring tone.) try to keep it around 30sec or so. After you have the perfect ring tone in whatever format your phone supports.
Use you desktop system to go to http://rumkin.com/tools/sprint/index.php
and follow the instructions on the site to upload your file. After that the site will tell you what URL to go to with your phone’s browser. Download the file to your phone. Now the file should be in your “downloads” folder and you should be able to set it as your ring tone. (The Bell Canada version is the only one I can test this on.)
–Deamion
Raybdbomb Said,
June 8, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Can anyone confirm this works?
hobbozzrock Said,
June 8, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
THANK YOU!!!! I’ve been looking on how to get my own ringtones without using a website for a long time. This is sweet. If you can’t find the right drivers though, download the sprint music monitor (sometimes called media manager) and it will install the right driver for you. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE ONE FOR THE FUSIC THOUGH!!!!
phantom Said,
June 21, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Anyone find the answer on how to change the ringtone on lg fusic while don’t having access to music composer with bell?
Thanks
Raybdbomb Said,
June 21, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Did you try what Deamion said?
becca Said,
July 21, 2007 @ 10:24 am
I can get my phone to connect to my pc without any problems (i don’t need to install any drivers either). But Bitpim can’t detect my phone. what am i doing wrong?
Kasondra Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Dose anybody knows were i can find driver for LG CDME USB MODEM and PCI MODEM?
Kasoindra
Kasondra Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Hey Deamion I NEED HELP!!!!!! I installed that CDME usb modem and now i have 2 unkonwn device to install and a PCI MODEM I can not find that PCI MODEM anywere can someone plz help me????? you seam to know quit abit about computers so i hope you can help me!!!!
thank you so much
Kasondra Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
HEY I HAVE A NOTHER ? WHAT DOSE PCI MEAN??????? OR WHAT DO IT STAND FOR
Raybdbomb Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
I’d suggest starting out by asking questions on howardforums.com
Kasondra Said,
July 25, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
hey i still cam not fine the pci modem can someone plz help me i am not vary good with computers!!!! so someone plz help.
Jocelyn Said,
September 12, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
I’m with Bell, I have no music composer and no data plan. Is it possible to put or overwrite files on the phone to get my personal ringtone?
Thanks!
Televator Said,
October 18, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
WavePad is cool program. but there’s a free program similar to that one, called Audacity which allows you to do exactly the same and even more.
And there’s a free online service
http://www.makeownringtone.com
I’ve used it many times.
Raybdbomb Said,
October 18, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Wow, that’s actually really cool. Thanks Televator.
geman Said,
October 22, 2007 @ 10:22 am
thanks a million rd bomb for the sprint website!!!!!
Jason Said,
October 23, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
This page has been helpful to me in finding, downloading, and installing the modem drivers, and downloading bitpim. But when I open up bitpim and try to detct my phone it gives me that “other cdma phone on com 8″. But I can’t get the data from the phone so therefore I can’t send the data to the phone. I tried going in and manually finding the phone in the list but LG FX550 is not even there. What else do I need to do??? I feel like I’m so close!
Raybdbomb Said,
October 24, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Hmm, so it connects but you can’t see the filesystem…? Is it a Sprint?
Jason Said,
October 24, 2007 @ 9:35 am
Nope I’m with Aliant Mobility. And my phone is an LG Fusic 550. Just picked it up last month.
Raybdbomb Said,
October 24, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Ah. Dunno how much help I can be then. Maybe some of the previous comments can help you out?
Jason Said,
October 27, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Nope I did everything above. I guess my phone is not supported. Worth a try I guess.
Pandaman Said,
January 24, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
hey, the BitPim program isnt recognizing that any phone is connected and ive plugged my phone in. please help!!!
Meinolf Said,
April 12, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
For the part with the driver install you need to go to this link (http://www4.sprint.com/pcsbusiness/support/downloads/index.jsp)
And download the Sprint PCS Connection Manager for Phone as Modem/USB Cables install that and your phone will work with the Bitpim software after that it works great.
Next, connect your phone to your Windows XP computer, and install drivers as necessary. My computer actually found the drivers on its own, here’s what I did. After it’s connected, right click on My Computer, go to Manage. Go to Device Manager and find the device that doesn’t have drivers installed (should have a yellow exclamation by it). Right click on it, select Update Driver. On the following screen, select “Yes, this time only”, for letting Windows Update search for a driver. Next check “Install the software automatically”, then click Next. When it finds it, the driver won’t be WHQL certified, so you’ll have to click “Continue” to let Windows install it. Wait a few minutes, and the driver should be installed. This might introduce a few more “Unknown” devices to the Device Manager, so repeat the same process until all relevant Devices have drivers installed.
Raybdbomb Said,
April 12, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Thanks Meinolf.
Ronald Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 7:32 am
HEY MEN!!! it works really good… THANKS!!!
Gerardo Said,
August 6, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Thanks Raydbbomb, you rock!
DJ Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
I did exactly what was instructed and everything worked fine up till the part where I drag and drop the “mp3.mid” files into the melodyComposer file.
My mp3’s are in the file but do not play on my Fusic. I changed the name of the mp3’s to end with the file type as .mid but when I drop the ringer into the musicComposer file, the file type of the ringer changes back to .mp3. Is this suppose to happen?
Another problem I’m having is now I’m not able to access my music Composer anymore on my Fusic. When I do toggle into the music composer. The Fusic restarts itself. O.o
I’m baffled, can someone help me with this?
Raybdbomb Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
My guess is that you’re not actually changing the file to a .mid file. Your windows explorer isn’t setup to show the extension, so it looks like you’re changing it to foo.mid, but in actuality it’s foo.mid.mp3.
Lola Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Everything is perfect up to Bitpim.
I have no freaking clue how to use it.
Like, I just want to know where I drop my music file.
Which folder?
The7thcrow Said,
November 7, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
i down loaded the lge cdma installed it its not listed in ports and my fusic isnt detected in bitpim what do i do
Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: SaskTel Cell Phone Ring Tone - Create Your Own for LG Fusic 550 Said,
March 20, 2009 @ 3:25 am
[...] here is what I learned and put into place on the phone. Most examples on the web assume you have a “Melody composer”, but SaskTel phones don’t have that. You need BitPim. It works on Windows, Mac, or Linux, but [...]