In this article, we discuss polyphonic ringtones, and other standard ringtone formats, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Cell phones are getting more and more advanced every day

The old ringtones have now been almost completely replaced with polyphonic ringtones. In this article we will discuss the differences between the three dominant types of ringtones available from most cell phones.

Monophonic  Ringtones

The first ringtones were monophonic, which means that they were only capable of playing one note at any given time. Monophonic ringtones were easy to find and inexpensive, but frankly, didn’t sound all that great. Beginning in the later 1990s, polyphonic ringtones became popular, and many cell phone manufacturers began adopting polyphonic ringtone capability into their existing cell phone lines.

Polyphonic Ringtones

Unlike monophonic ringtones, polyphonic ringtones can play many notes at once, creating more complex and accurate reproductions of songs. The earliest polyphonic ringtones could only play four notes at any one given time, but before long this figure had doubled to eight notes. Today’s polyphonic ringtones can usually handle 32 or even, in some cases, 64
notes at once, to produce very high-quality reproductions of music, as well as a wide variety of other unusual sounds.

With the introduction of polyphonic ringtones, the old monophonic ringtones began to be phased out. However, they are still used by some manufacturers, and even modern cell phones still support the monophonic ringtone format, for users who would like a simpler, retro sound on their phones.

True Tone Ringtones

In recent years, a third type of ringtone has become popular, competing with modern polyphonic ringtones for market share. This new type of ringtone is called “true tone.” The true tone format is a digital audio recording similar to an MP3 that can perfectly reproduce a piece of music or other audio event. True tone ringtones have been gaining popularity over the last several years, and now most modern cell phones have the ability to use both polyphonic and true tone ringtones.

The advantage of true tone ringtones over polyphonic is that you can create a ringtone from any audio event that can be digitized. For example, you could record you and your friends telling jokes, create an MP3 of the recording, and then upload this as a ringtone on your phone.

There are several different types of software on the market that will convert standard MP3’s to cell phone ringtones, and most are quite easy to use. Additionally, there are ringtone upload sites online that will allow you to upload your newly created true tone ringtones on the Internet, and then download them directly to your cell phone ready for use.

Although true tone technology is gaining ground, the majority of cell phone ringtones in the United States are still of the polyphonic variety. They few companies are even attempting to merge polyphonic and true tone technologies to create a fourth category of ringtone that would have all the advantages of both types.

Snippets Ringtones

Although this fourth type of ringtone has not caught on yet with either consumers or phone manufacturers, the idea of combining polyphonic ringtones with digital audio “snippets” is currently being explored, and may provide the most versatile polyphonic ringtones yet.

The cell phone and their various ringtones have become status symbols. Ringtones show that you’re up to date and happening. You can even take a test that defines which ringtone best suits your personality. You can truly display your lifestyle and certainly your musical taste on your sleeve.

This article will describe briefly what ring tones are, what’s currently available and what the future holds. It will also suggest a caveat to consider prior to downloading the multitude of formats of available on the market. Prices are low and the sky’s the limit, so read on.

•  Just What Are Downloadable Ringtones?
•  A Caveat Before You Buy!
•  What’s Available?
• A Brief Glimpse At Ancient History.
• Ringtones – Where Do We Go From Here?

Just What Are Downloadable Ringtones?

Ringtones are the sound that a regular or cell phone makes when it’s rings. Early ring tones were simple chimes and on later models, a combination of chimes. Limited numbers of ringtones were available and mostly consisted of different patterns of tones or chirps. An example of one of the most infamous ringtones was the ominous” ring ring…ring ring” that is reminiscent of Todd Beamer’s last telephone call on 9/11. You can hear that ringtone featured as an intro to Neil Young’s famous song “Let’s Roll.”

Ringtone technology developed quickly and has progressed a lot since that song was recorded. Originally, you purchased a cell phone and had a choice of monophonic ring tones that produced a one note song. The number of songs was extremely limited and downloadable ring tones were simply an Engineering student’s good idea.

Because of lightning speed technology and numerous service providers, one of the latest and greatest features available today is downloadable ringtones. When you’re surfing the ‘Net you’ll find plenty of sites offering tones by today’s hottest musicians; you can pick monophonic, polyphonic or true tone formats. More on that later.

A Caveat Before You Buy!

The first thing you need to know before you select, buy and download a suitable ring tone is if your cell phone is up to date enough to utilize this feature. Like everything else in technology, cell phones have evolved very quickly. As a result the cell phone that you purchased just a year ago may not have the ability to fully access the type of ring tone currently available. So make sure you check. Re-read your manual or call your service provider to find out. It’s possible that you can upgrade your phone for a reasonably low fee.

What’s Available?

Ringtones are divided into three formats.
1. Monophonic
2. Polyphonic
3. True Tone or Real Tone

To understand this type of technology, a person needs to have a physics/mathematics background and understand musical composition. Luckily, all that is needed to know is what types of ringtones are available and what they sound like. The following is a description of three types of ringtones, monophonic, polyphonic and true tone. Most websites offer samples of each and once you hear an example, you’ll know what type you’ll want to use on your cell phone.

1) Monophonic Ringtones

Some of the first cell phones came equipped with the capability of having a one tone ringer. “Monophonic” is the simplest of ring tone technology that uses a midi format. This “one note wonder” changed ringtones. Gone were the chirps and chimes; now you could play a song. A monophonic ringtone is single notes playing a song. You can recognize your favorite song but it sounds a little lame. Most monophonic tones are offered free of charge because of more full bodied tones now available, but if you’re trying to make a statement, however, read on.

2) Polyphonic Ringtones

Polyphonic ring tones also use midi technology but the tonal quality is richer and has more depth. This is because polyphonic ringtones can play up to 40 notes or more. A quick example is the sound produced when Windows XP® starts up. It reproduces the sound of an orchestra playing a note rather than one instrument playing the same note.
Polyphonic with its richer tonal quality sounds better than monophonic but when compared to MP3 quality it sounds pretty weak. Midi format may be adequate for basic ringers and great for greeting cards but if it’s real sound that you want for your cell phone, keep reading.

3) Truetone And Mp3’s

The future of sound for ringtones seems to be hifi quality. The real tone or true tone ringtones that can be downloaded onto your cell phone are equivalent to an MP3 player quality and sounds a little like an iPod.

True tone technology will allow the user to hear recorded voices such as Austin Powers announcing “You’re phone is ringing, baby, yeah”. This recording is so convincing that people will be looking for Mike Myers. Songs like Outkast’s “Hey Ya” and the Starsky and Hutch theme song are downloadable as well. With a built in microphone you can record your own or someone else’s voice. True tone ringtones will even mimic a real old fashioned telephone ring. How’s that for retro?

A Brief Glimpse At Ancient History

In the almost ancient past, cell phones came with one ringer and no features at all. Wall paper was something that decorated your home and SMS was unheard of. Cell phones were big and cumbersome and used only by the elite or as marketing gurus put it, “Early Adopters.” Very few people owned cell phones because of the size and expense.
Digital technology changed all. All of a sudden a lot of people were buying and using cell phones. This was confusing because every time a phone rang, everyone in the room started to rummage through their bags and pockets to answer it. A unique sound was the answer and that is how ring tones of every description came into being.

Ringtones – Where Do We Go From Here?

Some technical websites declare that the cell phone of tomorrow will replace the MP3 player of today. This will be possible once a dual use battery is invented that can hold a sufficiently long enough charge. The power would last more than a few hours and be easily recharged. The “techies” declare that memory capabilities must be enhanced so that the user can download and store hundreds of thousands of songs. This isn’t that far off, in fact an MP3 player being replaced by a cell phone is considered possible within 5 years according to most technical websites.