QuickTime: How to Slow Down Audio

The QuickTime video player is provided free of charge for both PC and Mac users. Audio can be slowed down to make it easier to analyze symphonic passages or to more clearly understand a speaker who is talking too fast. The procedure requires adjusting the speed of the audio’s playback in a control panel built into the QuickTime video player and does not physically alter the audio file.

Instructions

1. Double-click the icon of the main hard drive to open its window if on a Mac. Double-click on the “Applications” folder inside of the window. Scroll down the list of programs inside of the Applications folder until you come to the QuickTime video player. Double-click on the QuickTime video player to launch the program.

   Click the “Start” button at the bottom of the screen if on a PC. Click on the “All Applications” icon in the pop-up window. Select the QuickTime video player program from the pop-up menu that appears.

2. Drag the audio file onto the icon of the QuickTime video player--the icon is in the Dock to the left or at the bottom of the screen (Mac) or in the Toolbar at the bottom right of the screen (PC).

3. Click the “Windows” menu at the top of the screen. Select “A/V Controls” from the drop-down menu to bring up the A/V control panel.

4. Click on the slider bar beneath the “Playback” tab in the A/V control panel’s window. Move the mouse left while holding down on the mouse button to move the slider toward the left. Release the mouse button. Click the “X” in the upper left corner to close the A/V control panel.

5. Click the “Play” button on the bottom of the QuickTime video player’s window. Quit the QuickTime video player when done.

References

• Reinspire: Slowing Music Down with QuickTime

Resources

• Apple: Download QuickTime 7