How to Gradually Slow a Song Down

Using a digital audio editor such as Audacity, Sonar or Peak Pro, you can edit a song so that it gradually slows down at a constant rate. This is a useful audio editing technique that will make it possible for you to edit songs expertly and improve sections that are too fast rather than having to record an entire section again. Recording engineers often edit audio in this manner to improve the texture of a song. A song with a slower tempo makes it possible to hear the chords and chord changes more clearly and, in some cases, this is an ideal effect.

Drag the audio file into the audio editing program. This imports the audio file and prepares it for editing.

Place your cursor on the approximate moment in the audio file you would like to begin the slowdown. Click on the waveform in the audio file and drag to the point where you would like to stop the slowdown. You will select the exact seconds later.

Select the "Effect" menu or equivalent option in your audio editing program. In the drop-down menu, select "Change Tempo." A dialog box will appear asking you to enter in the exact time you want to begin the slowdown and where the slowdown should end. Enter in the exact time in seconds.

Enter in the percentage that you would like the audio file to slow down in the "Percent Change" option of the "Change Tempo" dialog box. A negative number will slow the song down, while a positive number will speed it up.

References


Audacity: Effect Meny [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/onlinehelp-1.2/menu_effect.htm]
Resources (Further Reading)

Audacity: Free Audio Editor [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/]

Cakewalk: Sonar [http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sonar/]
Bias: Peak Pro 6 [http://www.bias-inc.com/products/peakPro6/]

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