How to Change Pitch and Speed of Audio in Audacity

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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In this detailed guide, we will explore the process of changing the pitch and speed of audio files using Audacity, one of the most popular open-source audio editing software available. Changing the pitch and speed of audio can be incredibly useful for a variety of purposes, whether you are a music producer, a podcaster, or someone who just loves tinkering with audio files. Let’s find out how you can achieve this using Audacity.

Introduction to Audacity

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing software used by millions of people around the world. It provides a wide range of tools for recording, editing, and mixing audio files. Audacity is suitable for both beginners and experienced audiophiles due to its user-friendly interface and extensive features.

Understanding pitch and speed

Before we get into the technical steps, let's first understand what pitch and speed mean with respect to audio files:

• Pitch: The pitch of an audio file refers to how high or low a sound is. Increasing the pitch means making it higher, as when you inhale helium from a balloon, while lowering the pitch makes it sound deeper.
• Speed: Speed refers to the playback rate of the audio. Increasing the speed makes the audio play faster, while decreasing the speed makes it play slower.

In Audacity, you can change these elements independently or together, depending on the needs of your project. Let's find out how you can achieve these modifications.

Steps to change pitch and speed

1. Download and install Audacity

If you haven't done so yet, you'll need to download and install Audacity. You can find the latest version on the Audacity website and install it according to your operating system, whether it’s Windows, macOS, or Linux.

2. Open Audacity and import your audio file

Open Audacity on your computer. Once open, import the audio file you want to edit. You can do this by clicking File > Open or by dragging your file directly into the Audacity window.

3. Changing the pitch

To change the pitch of your audio without affecting its speed, follow these steps:

1. Select the part of the audio track whose pitch you want to change. If necessary, you can select the entire track by clicking on the Tracks panel on the left.
2. Go to the Effects menu at the top of the screen.
3. From the dropdown list, select Change Pitch… A dialog box will appear.
4. In the dialog box, you can change the pitch by semitones by entering a value in the Semitones (half-steps) box. A positive value will increase the pitch, while a negative value will decrease it.
5. Optionally, you can change the pitch by percentage in the Percentage Change box.
6. There is also an option to change the pitch according to the musical note. You can choose the original musical key and the new musical key you want to change to.
7. Once you've adjusted the settings the way you want, click the Preview button to hear a preview of your changes.
8. If you are satisfied with the preview, click OK to apply the changes.

4. Changing the speed

To change the speed of your audio without changing the pitch, do the following:

1. Select the part of the audio track you want to change the speed of.
2. Go back to the Effects menu.
3. Click Change Tempo... from the dropdown list.
4. In the dialog box you will see options to change the speed.
5. You can enter the desired change in the Percentage change box. A positive value will increase the speed, making the audio play faster, while a negative value will slow it down.
6. You can also set the new tempo in beats per minute (BPM) if you know the original tempo.
7. As before, use the Preview button to hear the changes.
8. Click OK if the changes are as you wish.

5. Changing both pitch and speed together

If you want to change both pitch and speed simultaneously, you need to use the Change Speed... effect. This method changes both parameters naturally because changing the speed of an audio file typically affects its pitch as well. Here's how you do it:

1. Select the audio track (or part) you want to modify.
2. Go back to the Effects menu.
3. Select Change Speed...
4. In the dialog box, adjust the percentage change to the desired value.
5. Preview the changes using the Preview button.
6. When satisfied, click OK to apply these changes.

Saving your edited audio

Once you've made the desired adjustments to your audio, save your changes:

1. Go to File > Export and choose the appropriate file format for your needs.
2. Name your file and choose the location where you want to save it.
3. Click Save to complete the export and follow any additional prompts.

Tips for effective editing

Here are some practical tips to keep in mind when changing pitch and speed:

• Always keep a copy of the original audio file as a backup, so you can use it if you need to make any changes.
• All changes in Audacity are non-destructive, but become permanent once exported, so it's important to preview your work during the editing stage.
• If you're working on a music track, make sure that changing the pitch doesn't cause any noticeable distortion in the harmonics, unless that is your intention.
• Keep in mind that changing the speed may change the length of the audio file, which can affect timing in projects that require precise durations.

Conclusion

Changing the pitch and speed of audio in Audacity is a straightforward process, offering plenty of potential for creativity in audio projects. By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively alter these aspects of your audio to suit your project needs or just satisfy your curiosity about audio engineering. Whether you're improving podcasts, creating music mixes, or experimenting with sounds, mastering these techniques will undoubtedly broaden your audio editing capabilities.

Audacity is a powerful tool, and with practice and exploration, you'll discover its full range of features, allowing you to perform complex audio edits with confidence.

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