What software to slow music down when learning by playalong

[Joe Nerve]

I used to use Windows Media Player, and then they stopped updating it.

Went through lots of others and found Transcribe to be the most user friendly and simple.

Transcribe! - software to help transcribe recorded music

I don't remember the difference between the free and paid versions, but it was worth dropping the extra money for me to get everything it has to offer. I've been using it pretty much every day for 6 years now.

 

[RichardW]

YouTube allows you to slow down playback. Go to Settings and pick Playback Speed.

 

[rtslinger]

I've used You Tube as well

 

[basslifter]

I us Audipo for Android on my phone. Just need the mp3 of the song and can slow down, change pitch/key, add breakpoints for repeating certain sections. Really good stuff

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Seeking the advice of TBers as I have run out of ideas.
I used to slow songs down in QuickTime Player but they removed that feature. iTunes never had the ability and whenever I try using a DAW like Cubase it mangles the sound badly. Same happens if I try and change the pitch to get a different key.

So what can I use either to slow down playback on the fly or to process & save a track at say 80% and 50% speed? I'm on a Mac. Oh and I mean the original song recording, not a MIDI file.
TIA

 

[bfields]

Sounds weird but sometimes SPEEDING UP a song with a complicated bass line can work better than slowing it down. Seeing the forest for the trees type of thing.

Great for getting the overall structure, too (8 bars verse 1, 8 bars verse 2, 4 bar prechorus,...). At normal speed sometimes my mind wanders and I lose count, but speed it up and the structure pops right out.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

I use the Moises app on mobile. It also does track separation so you can mix everything else down and bring the bass up to hear it better. Conversely you can pull the bass out of tracks to practice the line without hearing the original bass.

 

[Bassngtr]

I hadn't known about that YouTube feature to slow it down - thanks.

Can YouTube change the pitch on the fly too? At band practice we often kick around song ideas, but we struggle to choose a good key until I can get home, DL a copy and play with the pitch.

I also use VLC and Audacity - both great programs.

 

[BOOG]

Amazing Slow Downer app user, also. Was using AnyTune but it would not integrate my Spotify and fortunately I found ASD.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Check out Transcribe! by Seventh String. It performs speed changes but does a LOT more. Designed specifically for learning songs.

I've been using this for years. Change speed, change key, all intuitive enough for non-tech guys like me.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

+1 re Audacity, VLC Player and Transcribe! I also use Goldwave for many years.
There's this application called deCoda which is in some ways more convenient than Transcribe! while serving similar purposes.

 

[getBAK]

I've been playing around with Moises latley - it's pretty impressve. Can slow down, can also change keys and isolate instruments.
Haven't tried the 'paid' version yet, but the free one is pretty sweet
Moises App: The Musician's App | Vocal Remover & much more

 

[Runnerman]

I've used the Amplitube App for years but you have to have the music on your device. Otherwise it works well. I think I will be looking into some of the above recommendations for future.

 

[bigjames]

I have never thought of doing this. I listen to the tune at speed, consult a chart if I can find one (or tab if I cannot find a chart), play through it to learn the notes and determine best fingering, then play it as slowly as I need to with a metronome, and then slowly bring up the bpm until I am at speed. Then play along with album.

Oh, I usually practice to the point I can play the tune 5-10 bpms FASTER than the recording...that allows me to play at proper BPM with some room to spare.

 

[tb-player]

+1 for Audacity. Speed adjustment plus full editing functionality. Been using it on Mac for years totally free.

 

[jvanoort]

Here another long time and happy user of the Amazing Slow Downer. I use the app on both my iphone and ipad.

One thing I like is that it interfaces with both spotify and Apple music, so no need to import mp3’s (though you can do that too of course)

 

[smogg]

Audacity and Best Practice have treated me well.

 

[MCF]

Amazing Slow Downer app. It is ridiculously good. I use it on my phone. Couldn't be happier.

This. If you use Spotify, it will access your downloaded songs in it as well as what you have in other locations.

 

[lermgalieu]

Amazing Slow Downer app. It is ridiculously good. I use it on my phone. Couldn't be happier.

Ditto

EDIT: I noticed for a while there it wouldn't slow down Apple Music DRM songs. But now it seems to work again.

 

[Low Commotion]

Another vote for Amazing Slow Downer. I’ve used it for years on a Windows machine and now I use it on my Mac. You can load up a lot of tunes at a time. I play in a group and we don’t rehearse, so I’ll load up the complete song list and review the tunes before a gig.

Some of the features include:
- slow down a tune easily without changing the pitch
- raise or lower the pitch up an octave without changing the speed (this is good if you’re learning a tune and you want to learn it in a different key)
- loop a section of the song to learn a passage of the song

It’s easy to use and well worth it.