Any suggestions of free software that will slow sound files down without loss of pitch?
Cheers
Dan
edited for stupidity
I recommend transcribe!
i have used it for years now with no problems.
kynch will recommend another, called the amazing slowdowner or something like that.
You can download the “Amazing Slow Downer” from this website:
http://www.ronimusic.com/
The free demo version is restricted in it’s features but it’s a great product.
Thanks tony.
I need to slow it down so i can first learn it by ear cos ill remember it better then and if i need to transcribe it. Cant learn and write at 180 bpm!!!
Cheers
Dan
For a Windows OS?
How about Winamp with the PaceMaker plugin. Also, get the Loop Master Musicians Tool. No cost.
I second the vote for “Transcribe!”, available for both Mac and PC.
http://www.seventhstring.demon.co.uk/xscribe/index.html
I believe you can download a free 30-day trial version on the site, and its about $49 to register a copy.
I’ve never used the other apps being discussed, but I use Transcribe! nearly daily. It is an amazing piece of software does realtime independent pitch (in units of semitones and cents) and speed shifting (in 1% increments) with extremely high quality results and it is extremely simple to use.
The program is able to do all its work in real time or if you want, export slowed down files to a .WAV file. This is very useful when you want to take that slightly out of tune Seamus Ennis recording in C#, shift it to an in-tune D, and slow it down 50% to make a CD you can listen to in the car on the way to work. That would take all of about a minute plus the CD write time to do with “Transcribe!”.
You’re able to read any .wav or .mp3 file, set markers and selections in the waveform, loop playback on selections. You can save all the settings for a particular file so you don’t have to redo all the settings each time. It has other more transcription-oriented features (pitch identification within a selection) that I don’t use very much.
I’m sure the other packages have similar functionality, but I can absolutely vouch for this one.
Cheers,
Michael
I use Winamp with the free Pacemaker plugin. It will handle MP3 files (which I use to conserve hard drive space). You can adjust Tempo and/or Speed from -50% up to + 100% (if you’re feeling cocky or have had a few expressos 
); you can adjust pitch from -1.00 oct up to + 1.00 oct. I also use Transcriber, but tend to use Pacemaker more frequently. Both are good.
Rick
I use transcribe, but just a FYI windows media player will do it also.
Any ideas for the Linux OS ?!? 
Sorry … self-answered. “Transcribe” is also available for Linux … 
The Penguin Rules!
I run Fedora Core 1 and Gentoo. What’s your flavors?
I have finally quit using a slow downer, but I do wish I could find a loop tool in Linux.
I’m a SuSE monster, myself. I have a thing for lizards.
Also worth trying out is Audacity - audacity.sf.net
It is designed to be a simple multitrack editor, but it can easily import sound and do indepent speed and pitch shifting.
Audacity is written in wxWhateveritscallednow, so it should also work on Mac/Doze/whatever else wx is ported to.
Cheers,
Calum
I keep forgetting about Audacity and it is ported to Windows as well.
Audacity looks very promising too … let’s see if my penguin will sing. 
(It’s still a bird - isn’t it?)
P.S.: My penguin is also a lizard. 
Does this still make sense?!?