Change audio speed

What it does

Makes a track faster or slower, from half speed to double, in 5% steps, without changing its pitch. A slowed-down song still sounds like the same voice in the same key; it just takes longer.

• Fit a track to the length of a video or a presentation slot.
• Slow a solo or a tricky passage down to learn it by ear.
• Tighten a slow speaker, or give an audiobook a little more pace.

How to change the speed

1. Open your file.
2. Move the Speed slider: below 100% is slower, above is faster.
3. Press Play to hear it, and use Loop on a short selection to judge a passage.
4. Export the result.

Why it doesn’t sound like a chipmunk

Playing audio faster raises its pitch, which is why sped-up songs sound squeaky. This tool time-stretches instead (WSOLA): it changes how long the audio lasts and leaves the pitch alone. If you want to change the key rather than the tempo, use the pitch tool.