TrimTone - Audio Cutter & Ringtone Maker
TrimTone cuts a short clip out of a longer piece of audio, which is exactly what you need for a custom ringtone, text tone or alarm sound. Open an audio file, or a video whose soundtrack you want, and the sound appears as a waveform. Drag the two handles to pick the part you want, listen to it, smooth the start and end with fades, and download the result as a WAV file.
It is handy for turning a favourite chorus, a recording of your child's laugh, a pet noise or a theme you composed yourself into a sound you will recognise instantly. It also works for any quick audio trim, such as cutting a clip for a presentation or a short intro for a video.
All processing happens inside your browser. The files you open and the clips you make are kept in this browser's storage and are not uploaded anywhere.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use TrimTone
- Import audio. Tap + and choose Import Audio File to open an MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A or FLAC file, or Import from Video to pull the soundtrack out of a video file.
- Choose the clip. The editor shows the waveform. Drag the start and end handles to select the part you want. A clip can be up to 30 seconds long, which suits ringtones and notification sounds.
- Preview. Use the play button to hear the selected range and adjust the handles until the clip starts and ends cleanly.
- Add fades. Set Fade In and Fade Out with the sliders, from 0 to 5 seconds in tenth-of-a-second steps, so the sound doesn't start or stop abruptly.
- Even out the volume. Turn on Normalize Audio to raise the clip to a consistent level, which helps quiet recordings ring loudly enough.
- Save and download. Tap Save as Ringtone, give it a name, then tap Save on the Export screen to download the clip as a WAV file named after it.
- Return to a project. Your projects stay on the home screen with their trim and fade settings, so you can reopen one and make a different version. Swipe a project to the left to delete it.
Features
- Opens MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A and FLAC files
- Extracts the soundtrack from a video file
- Waveform editor with draggable trim handles
- Clips of up to 30 seconds
- Fade in and fade out from 0 to 5 seconds
- Volume normalization
- Download the finished clip as a WAV file
- Saved projects you can reopen and re-edit
- Default fade and normalize settings in Settings
- Processing in the browser, nothing uploaded
Making a ringtone that sounds good
Pick a recognisable moment
The best ringtones are identifiable within the first second. Start the clip right on a strong beat, the first word of a vocal line or a distinctive riff rather than in the quiet build-up before it. Long intros are wasted, because many calls are answered or silenced within a few rings.
Keep it short and loopable
Phones repeat a ringtone for as long as the call rings, so a clip of 15 to 30 seconds is plenty, and iPhone ringtones in particular have a length limit of around 30 to 40 seconds. Text and notification tones work best at just a few seconds. If you can, end the clip at a point where repeating from the start sounds natural, such as the end of a musical phrase.
Use fades to avoid clicks
Cutting audio in the middle of a sound wave can produce an audible click or pop. A very short fade of 0.1 to 0.3 seconds at each end removes this without being noticeable. A longer fade-in of one or two seconds gives a gentler start, which some people prefer for an alarm, while a ringtone usually works better starting at full volume.
Loudness matters
Phone speakers are small, and they reproduce mid-range frequencies such as vocals, guitars and bells much better than deep bass. A track that sounds great on headphones may be faint through a phone speaker. Normalizing raises the clip to a consistent level; choosing a section with clear mid-range sound helps even more.
Getting the file onto your phone
On Android, you can usually copy an audio file into the Ringtones folder (or open it from your files) and then choose it under Settings, Sound and vibration. On iPhone, custom ringtones must be added through Apple's own tools, such as GarageBand or a computer, so the process is more involved. The TrimTone apps for iPhone and Android can set or share the ringtone directly.
Respect copyright
Using a clip of music you own for your own phone is generally treated very differently from sharing or selling it. Don't distribute ringtones made from other people's music or videos unless you have permission, and be careful with content from streaming services, which often forbids copying.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded?
No. Decoding, trimming, fading and normalizing all run inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
Where are my projects stored?
Only in this browser on this device, in its built-in storage. There is no account. Clearing browser data or using a private window deletes your projects and imported audio, so keep the downloaded WAV files you want.
Why is the result a WAV file?
WAV is uncompressed, so it can be created directly in the browser without extra software and plays almost anywhere. The files are larger than MP3; convert them with another tool if you need a smaller or different format.
Why can't I select more than 30 seconds?
TrimTone is designed for ringtones and alert sounds, which work best when short. The trim range is limited to 30 seconds.
Some video or audio files won't open. Why?
The web version relies on your browser to decode audio. A browser can only read the formats and codecs it supports, so a file that opens in one browser may fail in another, and damaged files can't be read.
How is the web version different from the phone app?
Editing works the same way. On the web you download the clip; the Android app can set it as your ringtone directly and the iPhone app opens the share sheet so you can save it as a ringtone.
Limitations of the web version
- Output is WAV only
- Clips are limited to 30 seconds
- Cannot set a ringtone on your phone directly from the web
- Very long or large files may be slow or fail to open in some browsers
- Projects and audio stay in one browser and are not backed up
Phone app
TrimTone is also available as an app for phones and tablets: