An M4R audio file is the default format for the Apple iPhone. Audio purchased from the iTunes store can be converted into an M4R file free of charge using iTunes. For those music files not purchased from iTunes, users must work in and out of iTunes to rename and convert their audio. Note that the Apple iPhone supports M4R ringtones between 15 and 40 seconds long, so you may also need to edit down your audio to the proper length.
Instructions
Converting and Editing Your Audio
1. Visit the main download page for Apple iTunes (see "Resources"). Click the "Download" link to download and install the latest version of iTunes. Agree to the terms of use and open iTunes.
2. Click "Edit > Add to Library" to enter an "Open" dialogue box in Windows Explorer. Highlight the audio you want converted and click "Open."
3. Click "Edit > Preferences" to enter the the "General Preference" window. Press the "Import Settings" button on the right side of the screen.
4. Click the "Import Using" drop-down menu. Choose the "AAC Encoder" option. Press "OK" twice to return to the iTunes library.
5. Right-click the audio in iTunes you want to convert. Select "Create AAC Version." Wait for your song to convert--it will appear beneath your old audio in the iTunes library.
6. Right-click your new AAC song. Select "Get Info." Click the "Options" tab to reveal the program's editing options.
7. Click the "Start" and "Stop" time boxes. Enter the desired "Start" and "Stop" times for your 15-to-40-second ringtone. Click "OK."
Converting to M4R
8. Locate your newly edited AAC on your computer's hard drive. (It will be in the same location as your original song. You can access it by opening a new Explorer window).
9. Highlight your edited song in Windows Explorer and click the "Copy Files" button on the left side of the screen. Paste a copy of the song in the same folder, so you have two AAC files.
10. Click the copied AAC file. Rename the file extension from ".m4a" to ".m4r."
11. Navigate back to iTunes. Delete the edited AAC from your library. Right-click it and select "Delete."
12. Transfer your new ".m4r" from Windows Explorer directly into the iTunes library.
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