It is off topic nearly entirely, but still music related so I’m going to toe that line and go right on the edge of it.
I have already made this post twice on the forum in this section so more people get the chance to see it, as well in uncategorized.
Have you ever experimented with playing music slower? Sometimes slightly speeding it can be interesting or fun for especially slow songs like rhythm n blues or soulful music. But usually I try playing music slower.
You owe it to yourself to just try it with a mixture of music, whether downloaded, or streamed in a website and I’d like to describe both methods.
Slowing down music locally with VLC media player.
I recommend it four important reasons:
- 100% open-source
- Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Apple iOS, Android
- Time-stretch (normal voice sound when using faster speed but robotic / strobed when slower) can be turned off on any five systems
- https://nightlies.videolan.org The team recently added one of my feature requests for Android to change speed by 1% vs 5.
So, if you have never tried playing songs slower, please do yourself an incredible favor and give it a go.
For speeds between 100% to about 90% the default time-stretch is much less noticable, with 94 being about the point that it starts becomibg audible strobed / repeated sound / robotic and I just can’t stand it. Try it both with it on and off for your own taste.
How to change the setting in VLC:
Desktop version 3 (VLC nightlies have version 4 with an much different design, so give that a look)
Tools pref audio tab. It is in the effects category. Click save after removing the checkmark, and play a song.
Here is how to more granularly adjust the speed as the menu is very old and has not gotten an update, probably since it was released:
Tools custom interface. Scroll down to speed selector and drag to to a place that makes sense for you in the dark preview area on the side.
The spacer option can help spread out the controls to make it easier to located.
1.0x
will be omewhere at the bottom. After clicking the number for the speed, a very short bar will appear. Dragging the slider will adjust speed in 3 and 4% increments, but it’s better than the menu which only allows either 10% or 33% and 16% changes. For example, slower will go to 66% speed. Pressing slower again goes to 50%, then 33%
Mobile VLC iOS
To adjust playback speed, load a song (a bit tricky on apple, not easy or maybe even not accessible at all to load your music library)
Press bar at the bottom of the playing song.
Use the menu button (three small dots) at the top right when you see the song name in the middle of the screen.
Select playback speed.
To disable time-stretch in VLC for iOS
VLC settings, audio, uncheck the box.
VLC Android
Same process to access playback speed, but a nearly guarentee that you can easily add your music library and load it.
Time-stretch is not in the audio section like it is in all four other platforms.
Go to the advanced section and uncheck it under performance section.
VLC nightly for android has a speed adjustment of 1% vs the default 5% in the regular version, please give it a try
Changing playback speed for streaming music (web browser only as of yet)
Maybe apps will be open-minded and cool enough to incorporate this feature for music, and not just podcasts. Why is it considered OK to change the playback speed of a podcast, but that might seem stupid or ridiculous for music? Does it have something to do with record corporations, the music “industry” or digital rights management?
Or maybe not enough people are interested, or not enough people have tried it, to be interested, or maybe people don’t even realize it is possible, or have never considered the idea at all before?
global speed browser extention
Whatever the reason is, global speed fills the need. Not a need but it rhymes, more like a want, or curiosity or customization.
This works on Pandora, Spotify, Youtube, and every single website I have tried it on, including one with nature / real rainforest recordings.
Allow pitch shift in the settings will turn off the special effect just like in VLC. It is one of the few, or even two, extensions that allow turning off this effect.
Honorable mention to ScrewMyCode.in which is in reference to DJ Screw. I am grateful that he pursued his passion and put in the work to share his efforts with the world, and helped inspire others to continue the legacy, and show that this is a style that many may enjoy niche or not doesn’t make a difference, we all like different musical styles, so it helps to share our interests and allow others to enjoy the production, and spur further creations.
