how to slow down audio in audacity

To slow down audio in Audacity, you can use the "Change Tempo" effect, which adjusts the speed without altering the pitch, or the "Change Speed" effect, which changes both speed and pitch. Here are the steps for each method:

Using Change Tempo (Recommended for slowing down without pitch change):

1. Import your audio file into Audacity.
2. Select the entire track or the portion you want to slow down.
3. Go to Effect > Change Tempo.
4. Drag the slider to the left or enter a negative percentage (e.g., -20 for 20% slower).
5. Click Preview to listen to the effect.
6. When satisfied, click OK.
7. Export the audio via File > Export and save in your preferred format.

Using Change Speed (Alters pitch along with speed):

1. Import your audio file.
2. Highlight the track or section.
3. Go to Effect > Change Speed.
4. Drag the slider to the left or enter a negative value to slow down the speed.
5. Click Preview and confirm.
6. Click OK and save the result.

Additional Tips:

• For more precise speed control, you can double-click the Play-at-Speed Toolbar (if active) to manually set the playback rate or use the keyboard shortcuts for finer adjustments.
• Always preview before applying the effect fully to ensure the desired outcome.

Would you like step-by-step instructions for a specific version of Audacity or additional tips on maintaining audio quality?