I can't add m4r files to itunes.

Question

I tried adding several ways - drag and drop; import; copying file to itunes folders, including auto add folder; etc.  Nothing works.  It shows a plus sign and acts like it's about to add it, but it doesn't show up.  I can play the file, just can't add it.  I shortened it to 29 seconds.  I tried editing the info to fill in the artist etc, but I am unable to access those fields.  I can see them, just can't type in them.  I tried adding someone elses m4r file and it did the same thing.  How do I get this to work?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Oops sorry! It's actually rather complicated... got the steps above from number 3 wrong.
Restart >>
Full correct steps should be like this :
1) Select a favourite song in iTunes to be made into Ringtone.
2) Get Info on that song and make any 0:30 seconds portion of that song.
(specify Start & Stop time to 30-seconds long and click OK)
3) Right-click or Ctrl-Click again on same song and select "Create AAC Version"
(when done iTunes will create a Chime)
4) to locate the created m4a file easily, Ctrl-Click again on same song and select "Show in Finder"
(iTunes will automatically point the location of the original mp3 & the newly created m4a files)
5) change the m4a file to m4r as suggested...
(rename to whatever you like but must change the extension to .m4r)
6) At this point, the m4r(original) file isn't a "Ringtone" file yet... which we'll need to change now)
(check under "Get Info" – "Kind" :  it's still "Apple MPEG-4 Audio")
1st by dragging that newly changed m4r(original) file to somewhere out of that same default folder it was created by iTunes...
{ this is where most confusions occur, take note here, it gets rather complicated }
7) Once it's outside of that folder, Double Click the m4r(original) file and iTunes will play
(u can stop it immediately...) this is just to let iTunes automatically convert that m4r(ori) file into a new duplicate and places it inside the initial default folder where the original mp3 file is kept.
8) Locate that duplicate m4r(new & true) file, in the same mp3 folder and now DUPLICATE-Drag (press Option while dragging to get the "+" sign) it to the "TONES" folder in your default apple folder structure. (check that under Get Info, your new m4r File's "Kind" should be "Ringtone")
//to get to that "TONES" Folder : First Locate your iTunes default music folder --> usually in your Default "MUSIC" folder --> Navigate to "iTunes Media"  --> Navigate to "Tones".
Keep this window open to make the transfer manually.
9) Once your duplicate is inside the "Tones" folder, double-click on that duplicate m4r(true) file and let iTunes play, it should automatically place that bloodycomplicated file into the "Ringtone" sidebar List in iTunes program (check program to see)
10) There you go. Now you can Sync / Delete / Add the whole Ringtone contents to your iPhone as you wish. //Don't forget to set SYNC on the iphone to iTunes under "Tones" tab in your iTunes - iPhone screen... and click SYNC button & wait for the magic.
( Finally you can check inside your iPhone "Sounds" settings and hopefully if all steps done correctly, the bloodycomplicatedringtone selection will be there. Enjoy!