Adobe Audition Change Playback Speed Without Changing the Pitch

How can audio speed up or slow down in Adobe Audition without changing its pitch? Look through the article for a step-by-step guide.

Quick Tips

Speeding up audio in Adobe Audition is possible through the Playback Speed control. You can adjust the playback speed to your preference while editing or listening to audio files without affecting the original file. Additionally, Audition offers keyboard shortcuts for quickly changing the playback speed.

For high-quality adjustment without changing the pitch, consider using the Stretch and Pitch option. For what it's worth 3 ways are listed below:

Use JKL Key

The first method is an easy shortcut that allows you to both speed up MP3 or slow down the playback of audio in the waveform editor and multitrack. This feature comes with Adobe Audition CC 2014 and later, and the keyboard shortcuts are JKL. By default, the increment value is 0.1x. But you can customize the value.

Step 1. Find the JKL Shuttle Speed.

On Mac, go up to the top menu, click Adobe Audition > "Settings" > "Playback and Recording," and you can see "JKL Shuttle Speed" here.

On Windows, go to the "Edit" > "Preferences" > "Playback and Recording."

Step 2. Customize the JKL speed.

Select the desired speed from the JKL Shuttle Speed dropdown list.

Step 3. Play the audio.

Place your audio and press the buttons to control.

• J plays back the audio in reverse (slow down MP3).
• K stops or pauses the audio playback.
• L plays back the audio in the forward direction (speed up).

Use Built-in Stretch

Adobe Audition speeds up a song using a built-in stretch effect, which works for solo or multiple instruments or complex sounds. It is used under a multitrack view. This feature doesn't provide pitch preservation while stretching.

Step 1. Turn into a multitrack view.

Right-click on the track and choose "Insert into Multitrack."

Step 2. Find Stretch.

Find "Properties" > "Stretch" on the left panel.

Step 3. Customize Stretch.

Change the "Mode" to "Realtime" to hear the result as you set values, or use "Rendered" for better results but longer processing. Select the "Type" you need. Then set the stretch percentage.

Type:

• For solo instruments or dialogue, use Monophonic.
• For music with many instruments or complex sounds, choose Polyphonic.
• Varispeed adjusts both pitch and duration, mimicking analog tape machines.

Use Stretch and Pitch Effect

The Stretch and Pitch effect allows you to change the playback speed of audio and keep the pitch. You can use the effect to make a song higher without making it faster, or you can use it to make someone's voice slower without making it sound lower.

However, note that the effect requires offline and longer processing, and it may distort the audio if done wrong.

Step 1. Find the Stretch and Pitch effect.

Go up to "Effects" > "Time and Pitch" > "Stretch and Pitch."

Step 2. Adjust the stretch value.

Set stretch percentage, 100% means it will be normal speed, and if you set it any lower than 100%, the audio will play back faster and vice versa, for example, 50% speeds up the audio twice.

Optionally, check "Lock Stretch and Pitch Shift (Resample)" to reflect pitch changes.

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Change the Playback Speed of Any Audio/Video Online

For an easier, more intuitive, and quicker playback speed change without any software, try EaseUS Online Speed Changer, supporting MP3, MP4, WAV, FLAC, M4A, and more formats without limitations for file duration or size.

Change the volume, speed, and pitch of any audio/video in a few clicks and discard audio artifacts. Flexibly adjust speed from 0.5x to 1.5x without changing the pitch. The MP3 volume booster can also remove background noise, separate vocals from a song, and find the key of a song.

Key Features

• Change the playback speed from 0.5 to 1.5.
• Increase or decrease speed without changing the pitch.
• Support multiple audio and video formats.
• Multipurpose audio tool for vocal removal and key finding.

Visit the tool now:

Change the playback speed online:

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. 

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. 

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

Wrapping up

In conclusion, Adobe Audition offers three versatile methods to adjust playback speed, allowing for precise control over audio playback. Whether you're editing music, dialogue, or sound effects, Audition provides intuitive tools to modify playback speed to your preference.

For convenient speed-changing, consider exploring the EaseUS Online Speed Changer. Elevate your audio editing experience with this free online tool.

Adobe Audition Play Speed FAQs

1. How do you increase the speed of sound in Audition?

To increase the speed of sound in Audition:

• Double-click on the audio track.
• Go up to "Effects" > "Time and Stretch" > "Stretch and Pitch (process)."
• Adjust the stretch under 100%.

2. How do I change the frame rate in Adobe Audition?

• Load the video to Audition.
• Press the command key on your Mac to open Preferences.
• Select "Time Display" > "Time Format" > "Custom" and change the frame rate value next to the "Custom Frame Rate."

3. Adobe Audition levels not showing?

Go to "Settings" > "Audio Hardware…" to check the default input. Make sure your microphone or audio interface is selected.

If you still don't see any levels, go up to "View" > "Metering" > "Meter Input Signal" (shortcut: Option or Alt + I).

4. How to fix Adobe Audition recording too low?

To fix low recording levels in Adobe Audition on a Mac, adjust your computer's audio input settings by selecting your microphone as the input device and tweaking the recording levels until they're satisfactory. You might need to record sample voice tracks in Audition to find the right settings. Remember, the adjustments are made in your system settings, not directly within Audition.