Slow down a song without changing pitch
You can slow a song down to half speed while it stays in its original key, so a fast lick or run becomes something you can actually hear and copy. StemConsole does it in the browser with no install: upload the song, split it into stems, and slow the whole band or one soloed instrument.
The first split needs no account. Slowing down with the pitch locked is a Pro tool, and the demo song lets you try it before paying anything.
How to slow a song down
- 1
Upload a song
Drop an MP3, WAV, FLAC or M4A (up to 200MB) at stemconsole.ai. The first split needs no account.
- 2
Split it
Quick Split (free) gives vocals, drums, bass and other. Full Separation (Pro) adds guitar and piano.
- 3
Open the practice controls
Under the mixer you will find Speed, Pitch and the loop. Solo the stem you are learning, or leave the band playing.
- 4
Set the speed
Drag Speed below 100%. With Pro the pitch stays locked from 50% to 150%. Start around three-quarter speed; go to half speed only for the bar that is beating you.
- 5
Loop and climb
Loop the passage, play it cleanly three times in a row, then raise the speed a few percent. Repeat until you are at 100%.
- 6
Export
Bounce mix renders your balance to MP3 free; a bounce at the slowed speed, or in WAV, is Pro. Sessions are kept in My songs.
How to practise with slowed-down playback
Slow playback only helps if you use it to play correctly. Pick a speed at which you can play the phrase right the first time, even if that feels absurdly slow. Every clean repetition teaches the right movement; every sloppy one at full speed teaches the mistake.
Work in small chunks: two bars is a good loop, one beat is fine for a fast run. Get the rhythm first by clapping or singing the phrase at half speed, because most "fast" problems are timing problems, not finger problems.
Climb in small steps. Five percent at a time feels slow but it sticks. When you reach 100%, try a few passes at 110%; coming back to the real tempo feels easy afterwards. Solo the instrument to hear articulation, then unmute the band and play along.
What to expect
Stretching below about 60% smears transients, so cymbals and reverb tails sound a little washy at half speed. Song BPM is not detected automatically; use Tap tempo so count-in and loops line up. Free accounts play at the original speed and key only.
What is free and what is Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Slow down | No | 50% to 150%, pitch locked |
| Change key | No | Yes, 12 semitones either way |
| Looping | One A/B loop (free account) | Named loops, count-in, tap tempo |
| Stems | Vocal Remover and 4-stem Quick Split | 6-stem Full Separation (adds guitar and piano) |
| Downloads | MP3 stems and MP3 mix bounces | WAV stems and bounces, including at a changed speed or key |
| Splits | 5 a month (2 multi-stem); first needs no account | 100 a month, then 15 a day |
Pro is US$6.99 a month or US$49 a year. A US$1.99 credit buys one Full Separation, no practice tools, never expires. See plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does slowing the song down change the pitch?
Not with Pro. Speed and Pitch are separate controls, so 60% still plays in the original key. Free accounts play at the original speed and key.
Does it work on MP3 files?
Yes. MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG and AAC up to 200MB. Higher bitrates separate more cleanly.
How slow can it go?
From 50% to 150%. Below half speed the audio is too smeared to be useful; if you need slower, loop one beat instead.
Can I save the slowed-down version?
Yes. Bounce mix exports your current mix to MP3 free; a bounce at a changed speed or key, or in WAV, is Pro. Saved sessions remember your settings on any device.
Is it free?
Splitting is free (5 a month, first one without an account). Pitch-locked slow-down is Pro at US$6.99 a month or US$49 a year.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes, in the mobile browser with nothing to install. Use headphones so you can hear the detail.
Compared with YouTube playback speed and Transcribe!
| YouTube playback speed | Transcribe! | StemConsole | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slows without changing pitch | Yes, 0.25x to 2x | Yes, fine control | Yes, 50% to 150% (Pro) |
| Isolate one instrument | No | EQ filters only | Yes, solo or mute any stem |
| Loop a section | No native loop | Yes, precise | Yes; named loops with Pro |
| Runs in the browser | Yes | No, desktop app | Yes, no install |
| Cost | Free | One-off licence | Free split; Pro US$6.99 a month |
Related guides and tools
Loop a section of a song
Repeat a phrase until it sits under your fingers. Basic looping is free; named loops need Pro.
Change the key of a song
Move the backing track into your range without changing the speed (Pro).
Create a backing track from any song
Set each stem’s level, then bounce the mix: MP3 free, WAV with Pro.
Learn a song by ear
Solo the part, slow it down, loop the phrase.
Isolate guitar
Hear the guitar part alone, or mute it and play along.
How to learn any bassline by ear
From the blog. Solo the bass, learn it phrase by phrase, then play with the band.
Written by Dan Murtagh, mixing engineer and audio educator. Updated 13 September 2026.