Why speeding up used to mean going higher

On a record or a tape, playing faster raises the pitch, because the sound waves are squeezed together. That is the chipmunk effect. A browser can do better: it can play the same sound faster while keeping the pitch, so a song at 125 % is quicker but not higher.

Speeding a song up in the browser

Open the popup on the tab that is playing and press + beside Speed. Each press adds 5 %, up to 150 %, and the slider takes you straight to any speed in between. The change is immediate, and the reset link returns the speed to 100 %.

Why you might want to

  • To get through a long lecture or talk in less time.
  • To push a practice piece past its real tempo, so that the real tempo feels easy.
  • To skim through a long recording of a rehearsal and find the part you want.

How far is too far

The further a recording is from its normal speed, the harder it is for the browser to keep the sound natural, and speech and singing are the first to show it. Small steps are the gentlest. If a recording starts to sound watery, step back down.

Free, and nothing to sign up for

Speed control is free, with no time limit and no account.

Speed and the key together

Speed does not touch the key. If you also want a higher or lower pitch, use the Key control as well; each does only its own job, so you can set them in either order and nothing needs redoing.

Getting back to normal

The reset link beside the slider returns to 100 % at once, which is handy when you have skimmed past something and want to hear it at the normal speed.