Instead of paying unreasonable sums for mobile phone ringtones, why not make your own? That's the thinking behind Ringtone Maker, which helps you create your own melodies.

You will need a phone that is compatible with either MP3, WAV, AMR or SMAF format ringtones. Supported models are listed on the Magix site.

If your phone plays MP3 or WAV files, you could copy a piece of music to the phone and use that. Ringtone Maker allows you to edit the tunes beforehand and you can use it to add effects or fit tunes to a certain length.

To record to MP3 you need to register with the Magix website and get a code to activate the MP3 encoder. To record SMAF files you need to download the decoder from the internet - a button appears when you first try to record, and it's all done automatically.

If your phone is compatible, Ringtone Maker will pay for itself, especially when compared to most paid-for ringtone download services.