Video audio editing

How to speed up and slow down audio

Posted January 25, 2024

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An image of the speed controller in Clipchamp.

Looking to slow down background music or increase MP3 speed without changing the pitch of your video sound? With the online speed selector, you can adjust audio speed in seconds.

Finding the right audio speed can help you fine-tune videos for social media, trim lengthy voice recordings, and express emotion. Just speed up or slow down any media from 0.1x to 16x speed without leaving your web browser. You can even detach audio from video, so you can edit audio without changing the video.

Read on to learn how to increase and decrease audio speed for free with Clipchamp video editor.

How to increase the speed of video audio

Step 1. Import your video with sound 

To import your own videos and audio, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive. 

A user importing media in Clipchamp.

Drag and drop your video onto the timeline. 

An image of a user adding video to the timeline.

Step 2. Detach audio from video

To speed up audio and not video, you’ll need to detach your audio from your video. Click on the audio tab on the property panel, then click on the detach audio button.

Note: If you would like to speed up your video and audio, skip to step 3. Do not detach audio from video.

An image of a user adjusting the speed using the speed controller.

Your audio will automatically download to your device and appear on the timeline as an audio file.

An image of audio being downloaded to the device.

Step 3. Speed up or slow down your audio

Click on the speed tab on the toolbar, then customize your speed from 0.1x to 16x the speed. Drag the speed slider to the left to slow down the speed or drag to the right to speed up the audio speed. You can also type in a specific numeric value.

Note: speeding up your audio file will make the media shorter on the timeline. Slowing down your audio file will make your media longer on the timeline.

An image of a user editing the speed using the speed controller.

For more help, check out our speed up or slow down audio help article.

How to speed up or slow down music

If you would like to adjust the speed of personal audio or stock music and sound effects, drag and drop your audio file onto the timeline. Next, click on your audio file on the timeline, then click on the speed tab on the property panel. Drag the speed slider to the left to slow down the speed or drag to the right to speed up the audio speed. You can also type in a specific numeric value.

Note: Your music or sound effect will appear shorter on the timeline if you’re speeding up, or longer on the timeline if you’re slowing down. If your music is attached to a video, your video footage will also change speed.

An image of a user using the speed controller.

How to change the speed of your voice recording

Step 1. Import your video with voice, create a voice recording, or AI voiceover 

To import your own videos, audio, or voice recording, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive. Drag and drop your video or MP3 file onto the timeline.

A user importing media in Clipchamp.

To create a voice recording, click on the record & create tab then click on the audio option. Follow the on-screen prompts to create a voiceover

An image of a user clicking on the audio recorder.

To create an AI voiceover, click on the record & create tab then click on the text to speech generator. Follow the on-screen prompts to create an AI voiceover

An image of a user clicking on the text to speech button.

Step 2. Speed up or slow down your AI voiceover or voice recording

Click on the MP3 file on the timeline, then click on the speed tab on the property panel. Drag the speed slider to the left to slow down the speed of your voice or drag to the right to speed up your voice. You can also type in a specific numeric value.

Note: Increasing or decreasing the speed of your audio will make the file shorter or longer on the timeline.

An image of a user editing the speed with the speed controller.

Take a look at our YouTube tutorial for more help speeding up and slowing down audio.

How to speed up or slow down part of an audio file

To increase or decrease the speed a specific part of your audio file, use the split tool and speed tool combined.

  1. Click on the audio file or video on the timeline. 

  2. Move your seeker to the timestamp where you would like to edit the speed. 

  3. Click on the split tool (scissors icon) on the timeline.

  4. Move your seeker to the timestamp where you would like to end the speed edit. 

  5. Click on the split tool (scissors icon) again on the timeline.

  6. Click on the cut audio, then click on the speed tab then adjust the speed faster or slower.

Frequently asked questions

How can I speed up my sound without changing pitch?

Editing the speed of your audio will not alter your audio’s pitch. The speed selector will only alter the speed of your video or audio file.

Can I speed up audio without editing my video?

Yes! Easily speed up your audio without editing your video by detaching audio and video first.

Is the audio speed changer free?

Our speed tool is free for all Clipchamp users.

What audio files can I increase or decrease the playback speed?

Speed up or slow down any video with audio, or audio files like AI voiceovers, voice recordings, music, or sound effects using the audio speed changer.

Keep editing your audio with beginner-friendly features like increasing audio volume and how to trim audio.

Change the speed of your audio online today with Clipchamp or download the Clipchamp Windows app

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