How to Slow Down a Song in GarageBand (Mac/iPad/iPhone)🎸

How to slow down a song in GarageBand on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad? You can change the tempo in GarageBand to do that. But how exactly?

Content

Dawn Tang

Updated On 08/16/2024

0 Views | 0 min read

Slow Down a Song in GarageBand

👨‍💻Mac: Open GarageBand and load your project. Go to the "Track" menu, select "Show Tempo Track," or use ⇧ + ⌘ + T. Click on the tempo line to create a point and drag it down to reduce the tempo. Play and export the slowed-down song.

📱iPad/iPhone: Open GarageBand and load your project. Tap the wrench icon for song settings, then tap Tempo. Adjust the "Tempo" slider to a lower value to slow down the playback speed.

There are times when you want to slow down MP3 to learn complex musical passages better, practice playing along with instruments, or enjoy a relaxed, slow-down version of a song. This is where DAW, like GarageBand, comes into play. You can slow down a song in GarageBand by changing the tempo in GarageBand, time stretching the recording, or enabling flex time.

Method Applied to Effectiveness Suitable for
Using the Tempo Track Mac Slow down songs without affecting tracks manually. Entire audio clip.
Time Stretching Mac Stretching songs manually. Part of the audio track.
Flex Time Mac Slow down songs automatically Specific parts of a track.
Playback Speed iPad/iPhone/Mac Slow down the whole project. Entire project.
Loop Manipulation iPad/iPhone Adjust loops manually. Specific parts.

How to Change Tempo in GarageBand Mac in 3 Ways

Each song has a tempo measured as the number of beats per minute, which can also be defined as the speed of a track. So, when someone changes the tempo, the speed of a song will be modified as well.

Generally, GarageBand provides three internal ways to slow down the tempo:

1. Using the Tempo Track

This method involves adjusting the overall tempo if the project. It changes the tempo uniformly and changes the pitch of a song as well. But the tempo track isn't precise for specific sections, and can affect the entire song if multiple tracks are present.

Here's how to use the Tempo Track:

Step 1. Open GarageBand and load your project.

Step 2. Go to the "Track" menu and select "Show Tempo Track." Or click ⇧ + ⌘ + T.

show-tempo-track-garageband-step2-way2.jpg

Step 3. Click on the tempo line to create a point, and drag it down to reduce the tempo. Adjust the tempo points to control where the tempo changes.

create-tempo-points-garageband-step3-way2.jpg

Step 4. Play and export the slow-down song.

related articles

How to Speed up a Track in GarageBand [iPhone/iPad/Mac]

How to speed up a track in GarageBand on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac? This article will walk you through the detailed step-by-step guide.

how-to-speed-up-a-track-in-garageband.jpeg

2. Time Stretching an Audio Region

By stretching or shrinking an audio region, you can slow down specific sections of a song, so it is ideal for individual adjustments. Although, note that it can degrade audio quality if stretched too much and the only audio region GarageBand stretches without altering its pitch is with Apple loops.

Step 1. Select the flex marker at your edit point.

Step 2. Drag the flex marker to the left, stopping before the previous transient.

This action will compress the audio between your flex marker and the preceding transient while expanding the audio from your flex marker to the following transient.

time-stretch-how-to-slow-down-a-song-in-garageband.jpg

3. Flex Time

Unlike time stretching, enabling flex time allows for more sophisticated time stretching and compressing of audio, especially for specific parts of a track. However, you need to experiment with the adjustment and fine-tune the result.

Step 1. Launch GarageBand on your Mac and import the song. Double-click the track.

show-editor-on-garageband-step1-way1.jpg

Step 2. Click the Flex icon, select "Track," and check "Enable Flex." This will allow you to edit the audio tracks.

enable-flex-on-garageband-step2-way1.jpg

Step 3. Go to the tempo settings and enter a higher value than the current one to increase the speed of the entire track.

adjust-tempo-value-garageband-step3-way1.jpg

Step 4. Enable "Follow Tempo & Pitch."

enable-follow-tempo-pitch-how-to-slow-down-a-song-in-garageband.jpg

Slow Down Songs in GarageBand iPad/iPhone

GarageBand also allows users to change the playback speed of a track to slow down the song. This is simple and quick for practice purposes, but it affects the pitch.

Step 1. Open GarageBand and load your project.

Step 2. Open the song settings and tap on Tempo to display the tempo controls.

open-tempo-step1-way4.jpg

Step 3. Adjust the "Tempo" slider to a lower value to slow down the playback speed.

set-tempo-step2-way4.jpg

Slow Down Individual Tracks in GarageBand iPad/iPhone/Mac

The last method is manually adjusting the loop to slow down specific parts. This is good for precise adjustments in specific areas but is also time-consuming for larger projects.

Step 1. Open GarageBand, create a project, record audio, enable Flex and "Follow Tempo and Pitch," and trim the audio to full measure.

Step 2. Save the audio region as a loop.

Save the region to the Loop Library by tapping the region to select it, tapping the share icon (box with an arrow pointing up), and selecting "Add Region to Loop Library." Name your loop and confirm that it's saved.

add-to-loop-library-how-to-slow-down-a-song-in-garageband.jpg

Step 3. Change the tempo in a new project and use the loop.

Create a new project or open an existing one with a different tempo. Set the new tempo by opening the song settings (wrench icon), tapping "Tempo," and adjusting the tempo to the desired value. Open the Loop Browser by tapping the loop icon (looping arrow) and find and add your saved loop by searching for it by name, then dragging it into your project.

The loop will automatically conform to the new project's tempo, stretching or shrinking to match the project's current tempo.

Share these methods with GarageBand users!

 

Slow Down a Song/Video Online for Free

Another easier choice is to use an online speed changer like EaseUS. This tool speeds up a song or video clip to slow it down without changing its pitch. One can change the speed from 0.5 to 1.5 without installing any software.

EaseUS

Upload unlimited files of MP3, WAV, MP4, FLAC, and more to EaseUS online audio editor to remove vocals from a song, find the key of a song, change the pitch and volume, and extract noise from media.

Key Features

  • Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 1.5x.
  • Boost the MP3 volume and find the key.
  • Supports various audio formats.
  • Remove vocals, unwanted noise, and instrument tracks.

Powered by advanced AI, the process is quick and easy. Access it safely here.

Slow down a song online for free:

Step 1. Enter the main interface of EaseUS Online Speed Changer. The left sidebar shows new functions of this online tool. Find "Pitch changer" and click it. 

change speed step 1

Step 2. Then, drop the audio/video file in the blank. It supports multiple file formats, including MP3, MP4, WAV, M4A, and FLAC. 

Step 3. The website will analyze your file with AI. You can drag the little dot in the "Speed" section to slow down or speed up with a range of 0.5X to 1.5X. 

change speed step 2

Step 4. Click "Save and Export" to download the processed file to your local file location. 

Summary

Each method has its specific use cases and limitations, so the best approach depends on your specific needs and the complexity of the project.

  • Tempo Track: Best for whole project tempo adjustments. Simple but affects all tracks.
  • Time Stretching: Good for specific sections but can degrade quality.
  • Flex Time: High-quality and precise but complex.
  • Playback Speed: Easy for quick practice, affects pitch.
  • Loop Manipulation: Precise for loops but time-consuming.

For users looking for a simple alternative, try EaseUS online speed changer to slow down a song in few clicks without additional setup.

How to Slow Down a Track in GarageBand FAQs

1. Where is the speed slider in GarageBand?

GarageBand does not have a simple speed slider for changing the overall tempo of a project. However, you can change the tempo of a project by adjusting the BPM (beats per minute). Open GarageBand and your project, and find the tempo display at the top center of the screen, which usually shows the current BPM.

2. How to I slow songs down?

You can slow songs down using desktop software or online tools, like Audacity, EaseUS online speed changer, or Logic Pro. Import your songs and change its speed by changing the tempo, time-stretching, or adjusting the speed directly.

3. How to pitch down a track in GarageBand?

To change the pitch in GarageBand, follow these steps:

  • Open GarageBand and select the track.
  • Click the "Edit" tab in the toolbar.
  • Choose "Time and Pitch" from the menu.
  • Adjust the "Pitch" slider to the desired pitch.
  • Use the "Fine Tune" slider for precise adjustments.
  • Adjust the "Time" slider to change track speed.
  • Click "Done" to save changes.

EaseUS Online Vocal Remover

AI-Powered Online Audio Editor

Remove Vocal Online

Our Team

  • Jane Zhou

    Jane is an experienced editor for EaseUS focused on tech blog writing. Familiar with all kinds of video editing and screen recording software on the market, she specializes in composing posts about recording and editing videos. All the topics she chooses are aimed at providing more instructive information to users.…
    Read full bio
  • Melissa Lee

    Melissa Lee is a sophisticated editor for EaseUS in tech blog writing. She is proficient in writing articles related to screen recording, voice changing, and PDF file editing. She also wrote blogs about data recovery, disk partitioning, data backup, etc.…
    Read full bio
  • Jean

    Jean has been working as a professional website editor for quite a long time. Her articles focus on topics of computer backup, data security tips, data recovery, and disk partitioning. Also, she writes many guides and tutorials on PC hardware & software troubleshooting. She keeps two lovely parrots and likes making vlogs of pets. With experience in video recording and video editing, she starts writing blogs on multimedia topics now.…
    Read full bio
  • Gloria

    Gloria joined EaseUS in 2022. As a smartphone lover, she stays on top of Android unlocking skills and iOS troubleshooting tips. In addition, she also devotes herself to data recovery and transfer issues.…
    Read full bio
  • Jerry

    "Hi readers, I hope you can read my articles with happiness and enjoy your multimedia world!"…
    Read full bio
  • Larissa

    Larissa has rich experience in writing technical articles and is now a professional editor at EaseUS. She is good at writing articles about multimedia, data recovery, disk cloning, disk partitioning, data backup, and other related knowledge. Her detailed and ultimate guides help users find effective solutions to their problems. She is fond of traveling, reading, and riding in her spare time.…
    Read full bio
  • Rel

    Rel has always maintained a strong curiosity about the computer field and is committed to the research of the most efficient and practical computer problem solutions.…
    Read full bio
  • Dawn Tang

    Dawn Tang is a seasoned professional with a year-long record of crafting informative Backup & Recovery articles. Currently, she's channeling her expertise into the world of video editing software, embodying adaptability and a passion for mastering new digital domains.…
    Read full bio
  • Sasha

    Sasha is a girl who enjoys researching various electronic products and is dedicated to helping readers solve a wide range of technology-related issues. On EaseUS, she excels at providing readers with concise solutions in audio and video editing.…
    Read full bio