Comments on: How to shorten an MP3 without clipping the ends?

Question: How to shorten an MP3 without clipping the ends?

howling fantods — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:30:48 -0800

I have an mp3 I'd like to use as a ring tone, but it's 2 seconds too long. I don't want to cut off the beginning or end, but is there some other way to shorten it to 30 seconds? What software (OS X please) can do this? I realize some options might make it sound slightly off, but it's a ring tone so I shouldn't be too bothered by it.

By: unexpected

unexpected — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:35:07 -0800

I'm going to assume you meant 2 minutes long.

You need an audio editor. You can use Audacity. It's free, works on OS X, and it's pretty self-explanatory.

By: cmiller

cmiller — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:40:00 -0800

Chop it off. When do you expect to get to the end of 30 seconds anyway?

By: Gungho

Gungho — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:43:49 -0800

mp3trimmer. Go to versiontracker.com and do a search.

By: jmd82

jmd82 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:46:54 -0800

Seconding Audacity. I use it for all my ringtone needs.

By: mds35

mds35 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:53:06 -0800

The Amazing Slow Downer will do this, too, without changing pitch.

By: sprocket87

sprocket87 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 07:53:22 -0800

In Audacity:

1. Open file to shorten
2. Select the portion you want to shorten (select all, presumably)
3. Click Effect > Change Tempo. Drag the slider to the right or put some percentage greater than zero. This will speed up the song without changing the pitch. If it's only two seconds you won't have to increase it much.

By: matteo

matteo — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:24:30 -0800

what's wrong with iTunes?

By: howling fantods

howling fantods — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:23:52 -0800

Thanks all, I'll give Audacity a try.

@unexpected No, I meant 2 seconds too long.

@cmiller I'm sure you're right, but it would still bug me. I'm weird that way.

@matteo I didn't think iTunes lets you change the tempo of a song like the other suggested software does.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:35:41 -0800

Amadeus can do this too.

By: wemayfreeze

wemayfreeze — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:40:04 -0800

it's 2 seconds too long .... is there some other way to shorten it to 30 seconds.

No, I meant 2 seconds too long.

d035 n0t c0mpu73!

By: utsutsu

utsutsu — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:55:01 -0800

wemayfreeze: howling's phone probably limits ringtones to 30 seconds. Mine does (Samsung m500)

By: wemayfreeze

wemayfreeze — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:05:29 -0800

um, I re-read the thing. I get it. erp.