Frequently Asked Questions
for the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab
and "Powered by DJ Nitrogen" products
See the Illustrated Guide to the Ringtone Lab
See the Ringtone Lab for iPhone FAQ
Common Questions
How do I know the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab will work with my phone?
What is the fastest way to make a ringtone?
I am receiving text messages from DJ Nitrogen, but my phone can't seem to download the ringtone.
I downloaded the ringtone, how do I set it as my main ringtone for voice calls?
Before you begin
What are the system requirements for the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab?
How do I know the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab will work with my phone?
Can I test my phone before installing the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab?
Do I need text messaging and mobile web services enabled?
Is this legal?
Creating ringtones
What is the fastest way to make a ringtone?
If I don't own the song, can I get the ringtone?
Can I send my ringtone to more than one phone?
How does the Ringtone Lab work?
How do I add songs to the library window?
What audio formats do you support?
Will this work with my CDs and iTunes files?
I loaded a song into the library window and I don't see any ringtones--why?
How do I update my ringtone library?
Troubleshooting
The artist name, song name, or album name in the library window is incorrect or blank.
I sent the ringtone to my phone and nothing happened.
My ringtone is silent or too soft.
I received a "System Unavailable" error.
I am receiving text messages from DJ Nitrogen, but my phone can't seem to download the ringtone.
I downloaded the ringtone, how do I set it as my main ringtone for voice calls?
Some of my songs appear red in the library window.
Service plans and technical support
What does it cost?
What mobile providers do you support?
What phones do you support?
How can I cancel my DJ Nitrogen service?
I have a prepaid mobile phone service. Can I use the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab?
Does my mobile service provider charge any additional fees?
Do you offer any partnerships where I can offer your service to my customers?
What does it cost?
DJ Nitrogen software is free. You are only charged when you download ringtones to your phone. It is always a good idea to check the
DJ Nitrogen homepage to see if there are current promotions offering free ringtones. Charges for the ringtones will appear on your mobile phone bill. The cost to download ringtones varies between $0.59 and $1.49 depending on your service plan. Please see the
service plan details for further information.
What is the fastest way to make a ringtone?
1. Download the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab installer program
here.
2. Run the installer program to load the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab onto your computer. Make sure you remain connected to the internet.
3. Launch the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab. Add your songs into the library window by choosing "Add Mp3 Folder" or "Add Mp3 Files."
4. When your MP3 files have loaded in the library window, choose a song to listen to by double clicking on it. Songs that appear blue in the library window already have ringtones available made by others in the DJ Nitrogen community. Double-click on the blue ringtone to listen to it, or choose a song without a ringtone to make your own.
5. When the song has loaded into the editor window, use the red arrows to select a snippet of the song that you like to have as your ringtone.
6. When you are happy with your selection, press the "Send ringtone to phone" button. Enter your phone information, and your ringtone will be on its way!
Do you need instruction on how to load your ringtone onto your phone?
If I don't own the song, can I get the ringtone?
No. You must have a copy of the song in MP3 or AAC format on your computer in order to derive a ringtone from it. The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab does not support MP3s with digital rights management (DRM) or copyright protection.
Is this legal?
Yes. U.S. copyright law allows you to create ringtones from songs you already own. The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab lets you share information on how to make ringtones from files you already own with other users who own the same songs. We call this information "ringtone recipes.” The patent pending DJ Nitrogen process does not allow you to share actual music files, which would be a violation of U.S. copyright law.
Can I send my ringtone to more than one phone?
Yes. The software allows you to send ringtones to more than one phone, but you will have to pay each time it is sent to a different phone. For example, if you have signed up for a $3.99 per month plan, you will have to pay for a second plan to send ringtones to a second phone number.
What mobile phone providers do you support?
We support all major U.S. Carriers. To see our current list of supported mobile service providers, click
here.
What phones do you support?
We support virtually any phone that can play mp3 ringtones and has data services enabled. To see our currently list of supported mobile phones, click
here. If your phone is not in the list, we may still support it. Use our free
Test your Phone service to see if your phone is compatible.
What audio formats do you support?
We support MP3 and AAC audio files on the computer and MP3 ringtones on the phone. Your song must be in a supported format, and your phone must support MP3 ringtones to use the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab. The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab does not support music files encoded with digital rights management (DRM) or copyright protection.
What are the system requirements to run your software?
You must be connected to the internet to run the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab. For further system requirements, please see our
software download page.
Will this work with my CDs and iTunes files?
The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab supports unprotected MP3 and AAC files including iTunes Plus songs. It is possible to convert songs from CDs into ringtones. Here are the steps for CDs in iTunes and Windows Media Player. Other music players have similar steps:
Converting CD audio to MP3 using iTunes
1. Open iTunes and go to the Edit menu.
2. Click on Preferences and choose Advanced from the choices at the top of the window.
3. Click the Importing button and then choose:
"Import using: MP3 encoder"
"Setting: Good Quality"
4. Click OK
5. Go to the main iTunes window and highlight the songs you want to convert into MP3.
6. Go to the Advanced menu at the top of the program and choose "Convert Selection to MP3." iTunes will make copies of your songs in MP3 format and keep them in the same folder as your original songs. The original songs are not changed.
Once the CD is done ripping, open the Ringtone Lab and use the Import Music Files or Import Music Folder buttons to find your new MP3s and start making ringtones.
Converting CD Audio into MP3s using Windows Media Player
1) Open Windows Media Player before you put the CD into your computer
2) Go to the Tools Menu, choose Options, click on the 'Rip Music' tab
3) Pick the location for your new MP3s. We recommend \my Documents\My Music, but you should keep these files in a convienient, easy-to-remember place on your computer.
4) Under 'Rip settings', make sure the format is set to MP3
5) Select the Audio Quality. Smaller sizes are better for the Ringtone Lab, but if you plan on using these MP3s for listening through your computer or an MP3 player, 256Kbps or higher will give you better sound.
6) Hit Apply, then OK
7) Insert the CD and press the Start Rip button in the lower right hand corner. The MP3s will automatically appear in the folder you selected.
Once the CD is done ripping, open the Ringtone Lab and use the Import Music Files or Import Music Folder buttons to find your new MP3s and start making ringtones.
I loaded my songs into the Ringtone Lab and I don't see any ringtones--why?
There are two possibilities:
1. No other DJ Nitrogen users have made ringtones from your songs yet. Congratulations on your eclectic musical tastes! Now go make some ringtones.
2. Your MP3s are incorrectly labeled in the Artist, Album, or Title fields. Your MP3s must be correctly labeled to be recognized by the Ringtone Lab. You can edit the information (known as ID3 tags) by right clicking on the file in Windows Explorer. Choose Properties and then go to the Summary tab. Click on the Advanced button, and then input the correct information.
Alternatively, many mp3 players (including iTunes and Winamp) allow you to edit the ID3 tags. If you have lots of incorrectly labeled MP3s, you may want to download a specialized ID3 tagging program. There are many free and commercial programs available from your favorite search engine. Two of our favorite programs are MusicBrainz and TuneUp Media.
How does the Ringtone Lab work?
Click here for instructions on making your first ringtone. The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab stores "ringtone recipes" on how to create ringtones from the songs you already own. When you make a ringtone, we store the recipe and share it with the other DJs in the DJ Nitrogen Community who own the same song. Ringtone Recipes that you make will show up in your library window as green. Ringtone Recipes made by other DJs will appear blue. You can use these blue recipes to make your own ringtones, or even edit the recipe to make your own personalized ringtone.
How can I cancel my DJ Nitrogen service?
If you no longer want the DJ Nitrogen service you can opt-out or cancel it using your mobile phone. Simply text the message "CANCEL" to 85728 on your phone and we will terminate your DJ Nitrogen service. Once your service has been canceled, you will receive a text message confirming the cancellation. If you have already paid for a monthly plan you will be able to continue to use the service under the terms of your plan until the last day of your monthly term.
I have a prepaid mobile phone service. Can I use the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab?
Unfortunately, the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone lab does not support prepaid mobile services at this time.
How do I know the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab will work with my phone?
We support virtually any phone that can play mp3 ringtones and has data services enabled. To see our currently list of supported mobile phones, click
here. If your phone is not in the list, we may still support it. Use our free
Test your Phone service to see if your phone is compatible.
Can I test my phone before installing the DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab?
Use our free
Test your Phone service to see if your phone is compatible. When you use the
Test your Phone service, we'll send you a free ringtone. If you can download the ringtone and load it onto your phone successfully, you are read to start using the Ringtone Lab.
Will I need text messaging and mobile web services enabled?
The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab sends messages via SMS and MMS messaging. You must have SMS, MMS, and WAP (wireless access protocol) enabled and available to use the DJ Ringtone Lab. If you are not sure you have messaging and web access on your phone, you can use our free
Test your Phone service to see if your phone is compatible. Please check with your mobile service provider for any rates or charges you may incur.
Does my mobile service provider charge any additional fees?
Please check with your mobile service provider for any rates or charges you may incur. You must have SMS and MMS messaging, as well as WAP (wireless access protocol) enabled and available to use the DJ Ringtone Lab. You will have to check with your provider to see if messaging is included with your plan or if there is an extra charge for it.
Do you offer any partnerships where I can offer your service to my customers?
Yes, please visit our
corporate site for further information.
How do I update my ringtone library?
The DJ Nitrogen Ringtone Lab automatically updates every time you start it, so you'll always have the latest ringtone recipes available. Remember, to add new songs to your library window, use the Import Music buttons on the Ringtone Lab dashboard.
How do I add songs to the library window?
Click the "Import Music folder" or "Import Music files" buttons on the Ringtone Lab dashboard. Find the music you want to add and click OK.
The artist name, song name, or album name in the library window is incorrect or blank.
Your MP3s are incorrectly labeled in the Artist, Album, or Title fields. Your MP3s must be correctly labeled to be recognized by the Ringtone Lab. You can edit the information (known as ID3 tags) by right clicking on the file in Windows Explorer. Choose Properties and then go to the Summary tab. Click on the Advanced button, and then input the correct information. Alternatively, many mp3 players (including iTunes and Winamp) allow you to edit the ID3 tags. If you have lots of incorrectly labeled MP3s, you may want to download a specialized ID3 tagging program. There are many free and commercial programs available from your favorite search engine.
I sent the ringtone to my phone and nothing happened.
Before you panic, make sure you have followed these steps:
1. Made sure your phone is compatible. (you can test your phone too).
2. Made sure you have text and data services enabled and available in your area.
3. Made sure you have followed the registration procedure.
4. Made sure you have replied "Y" to the confirmation text message we sent you.
5. Be patient! Sometimes it can take over 30 minutes for the message to arrive, depending on your mobile phone network.
If you've followed all these steps and the ringtone still hasn't arrived, try sending it again. You will only be charged when you actually download the ringtone, and remember your first ringtone is free.
My ringtone is silent or too soft.
First make sure you have the volume on your phone at an appropriate level. If the ringtone is still too soft, you may want to make a new version of the Ringtone using the Normalize and Amplify effects in the Effects menu. Preview your new ringtone before you send it to your phone, if the ringtone is too loud it could distort.
I received a "System Unavailable" error.
Make sure you are connected to the internet and try restarting the Ringtone Lab program again. If you still get the message on your second try, we may be doing some work on the Lab. Please check back in 30 minutes.
I am receiving text messages from DJ Nitrogen, but my phone can't seem to download the ringtone.
Please make sure that your phone is
compatible with the Ringtone Lab, and that you have
WAP enabled and available in your area.
I downloaded the ringtone, how do I set it as my main ringtone for voice calls?
Instructions for many phones are available on our
Supported Phones page. If you phone is not listed, you should try looking in the DJ Nitrogen Forum. If you have a new phone without instructions listed on the website, and you know how to load DJ Nitrogen ringtones onto your phone, please email us the instructions. We'll add them to the instructions database to help other DJs.
Some of my songs appear red in the library window.
Songs that appear red in your library window have been moved or deleted since you added them to the Ringtone Lab. If you want to access these songs, you'll need to add them again using the Import Music buttons in the Ringtone Lab. If you deleted the songs from your computer and never want to see them again in the Ringtone Lab, highlight the red titles and press remove.
Copyright ©2008 DJ Nitrogen Inc. All rights reserved.