How to Speed Up Audio in iMovie on Mac and iPhone

Last Updated: 2024. 06. 28

Speeding up audio is a popular technique to revitalize a standard soundtrack. Some use it to adjust slow speech to a more suitable talking speed, while others apply it to add amusement to a clip. Regardless of your purpose, if you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, iMovie is the optimal tool to increase your audio playback speed. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to speed up audio in iMovie on both Mac and iPhone. Let’s dive in!

Also Interested in: iMovie Text to Speech: How to Add AI Voiceover to iMovie

Part 1. How to Speed Up Audio in iMovie

As the built-in video editor for Mac, iPad and iPhone users, iMovie offers a wide array of impressive editing features, including green screen controls, clip speed adjustment, and background noise removal. It’s totally free to use and beginner-friendly. Currently, iMovie supports four audio formats: MP3, WAV, M4A, and AIFF. Ensure your audio format is compatible before getting started. To adjust the audio playback in iMovie, follow the step-by-step guide below.

How to Speed Up Audio in iMovie on Mac

Changing audio speed on Mac is easy and straightforward. With iMovie, you can accelerate the audio speed up to 20 times in one-click operation. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it.

Step 1
Open iMovie and create a new project to import the target audio clip.
Step 2
Drag the loaded media file from the library to the timeline at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3
Select the audio in timeline and a toolbar will appear above the preview window.
Step 4
Choose the Fast option and then you can accelerate the audio 2 times, 4 times, 8 times or 20 times as you like.
Step 5
Tap on Export > Audio Only to save the accelerated soundtrack.
How to Speed up Audio in iMovie on Mac

How to Speed up Audio in iMovie on Mac

How to Speed Up Audio in iMovie on iPhone

The process of increasing audio playback speed with iMovie is extremely simple on iPhone. Here is how to make it.

Step 1
Launch the iMovie app on your iPhone and open a new movie project.
Step 2
Tap the Add Media button and then Audio to load the soundtrack you want to speed up.
Step 3
Add the audio to timeline and make basic edits like trimming if necessary.
Step 4
Select the audio and choose Speed button located at the bottom of your screen. Then a yellow bar will appear on the clip, with range handles at each end. Move the slider left and right until it reaches the fast speed you like.
Step 5
Once you’re done, play the soundtrack and export as needed.
How to Speed up Audio in iMovie on iPhone

How to Speed up Audio in iMovie on iPhone

Note: You can’t adjust the speed of a soundtrack or theme music track added from the Soundtracks menu.

While iMovie offers a free solution for Mac users to speed up audio, it lacks the flexibility to fine-tune the edited soundtrack, particularly for built-in media stock. Additionally, iMovie is exclusive to Mac users, leaving Windows users without access to its benefits. Therefore, finding an iMovie alternative to increase audio playback speed is a wiser choice. Look no further! The following section will cover an excellent iMovie alternative.

Part 2. iMovie Alternative to Speed Up Audio Online for Free

For those who like the simplicity of iMovie while prefer more flexibility for audio edits, FlexClip, a well-known video editor online, is the safe bet to get started. With a user-friendly interface, even new comers can start from scratch in seconds.

When it comes to speeding up audio, FlexClip includes an auto transcoding feature that makes all audio formats accessible. Then, it enables users to change the audio speed up to 8 times with just one tap and save the edited soundtrack in MP3 format. What sets FlexClip apart is its abundant resource library and comprehensive AI-powered tools, which maximize your creative potential after the audio edits. Can’t wait to explore it more? Let’s dive in.

Make Video Edits with AI in FlexClip

  • FlexClip utilizes AI technology to dub your soundtrack into over 140 languages, helping you reach a global audience. This feature is particularly useful for podcasts, radio ads, and other audio resources.
  • AI Audio Dubbing Feature in FlexClip

    AI Audio Dubbing Feature in FlexClip

  • Prank your friends or join the backwards trend by reversing audio and video in FlexClip. It generates a new clip in reverse sequence, adding a fun element to your audio.
  • Reverse Audio and Video in FlexClip

    Reverse Audio and Video in FlexClip

  • Automatically extract text from your audio files, such as songs, podcasts, and meeting recordings. This makes the content more accessible and time-saving for the audience, helping them understand it better.
  • Automatically Extract Text from Audio Files in FlexClip

    Automatically Extract Text from Audio Files in FlexClip

  • Enhance your soundtrack with millions of royalty-free background music tracks, sound effects, images, and videos. If you need tailored visuals, there is also an AI image generator that creates customized pictures in diverse styles.
  • AI Image Generator in FlexClip to Portray Your Audio

    Automatically Extract Text from Audio Files in FlexClip

  • You can capture voiceovers through your microphone or import audio files from your computer, mobile phone, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and more. This allows you to easily load existing audio files for speeding up.
  • Basic audio edits like trimming, splitting, fading, merging, and converting are all accessible, and every function is completely free to use.
  • How to Speed Up Audio Online Using FlexClip

    Step 1
    Enter FlexClip editor page. Under the Media section, import the audio file you want to accelerate.
    Import the Audio File You Want to Speed up to FlexClip

    Import the Audio File You Want to Speed up to FlexClip

    Step 2
    Add the audio to timeline and make any necessary edits, such as trimming.
    Drag the Audio to Timeline and Make Basic Edits

    Drag the Audio to Timeline and Make Basic Edits

    Step 3
    Select the soundtrack in the timeline and choose the Speed icon from the tool menu. A new interface will pop up, allowing you to increase the speed from 1x to 8x by moving the slider.
    Accelerate the Speed of the Audio

    Accelerate the Speed of the Audio

    Step 4
    Play the accelerated sound and make any additional edits using FlexClip’s extensive media library. When you’re satisfied, click on the Export icon to save the file in either video or audio format.
    Export the Accelerated Audio as MP3 Format

    Export the Accelerated Audio as MP3 Format

    The Bottom Line

    That’s all for how to speed up audio in iMovie on Mac and iPhone. It’s easy to make and free to use. However, if you prefer a more flexible and comprehensive solution without any cost, the best online iMovie alternative - FlexClip is the your destination to get started.

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