How to Make a Slowed + Reverb Song (Settings and Tips)

Slowed + reverb versions are everywhere on TikTok, Reels and YouTube. The good news: making one yourself is easy. The part most guides skip is how to make it sound good, and which songs you are actually allowed to slow down and post. This guide covers both.

What is slowed + reverb?

A slowed + reverb version takes a track, plays it slower and puts a big, washy reverb on top. Because the speed drops, the pitch drops with it, just like a record spinning too slow. That combination is what gives these edits their dreamy, late night feel.

The sound has roots in chopped and screwed, the style DJ Screw started in Houston in the late 1980s. The slowed + reverb wave grew on YouTube in the late 2010s and later blew up on TikTok.

Sped up is the opposite: faster, higher and more energetic. Same idea, other direction.

The fastest way: a free slowed + reverb maker

If you just want a result in a minute, use our free Slowed + Reverb Maker. It runs in your browser, so your audio is not uploaded anywhere.

1. Drop your track (WAV, MP3, M4A or FLAC) or try the demo.
2. Pick a sound: Slowed + reverb or Sped up.
3. Fine-tune with the Speed and Reverb sliders.
4. Download a WAV file that works in any app or DAW.

Good starting settings

• Classic slowed + reverb: speed around 0.80× and reverb around 40 to 50%.
• Extra slow: speed around 0.70× with a bit more reverb.
• Sped up: speed around 1.20× to 1.30× with little or no reverb.

Some quick math helps you predict the result. At 0.80× a 140 BPM beat becomes 112 BPM, and the pitch drops by almost 4 semitones (12 × log2(0.8) is about minus 3.9). At 0.70× it drops by a little over 6 semitones. That is why very slow versions start to sound muddy: everything, including the vocal, moves down into the low mids.

How to make it sound good, not muddy

Slowing a track down is the easy part. These are the things that separate a clean edit from a blurry one.

1. Do not overdo the speed

Start at 0.80× and only go lower if the song can take it. Tracks that already have a deep, heavy low end get muddy fast. Bright, airy songs usually survive a slower speed better.

2. Treat the reverb like a mix move

If you build the edit in a DAW, put the reverb on a send instead of directly on the track. Cut the low end of the reverb return so the 808 and kick do not turn into a cloud. A little pre-delay keeps the vocal readable before the tail comes in.

3. Watch your levels

A long reverb adds a lot of energy. Leave some headroom and listen at low volume on your phone, because that is where most people will hear it.

4. Pick the right part for short video

For TikTok or Reels you rarely need the full song. The hook or the most emotional line usually works best. Test a couple of sections before you post.

Doing it in a DAW or Audacity

You can also make a slowed version by hand. The key is to change speed and pitch together, not just the tempo. A normal time stretch keeps the pitch the same, which does not give you the classic slowed sound.

• Audacity: the Change Speed and Pitch effect slows the audio and lowers the pitch at the same time. Add reverb afterwards.
• Logic Pro: Varispeed can change the speed and pitch of audio together. Bounce the result and add your reverb in the mix.

Want to change only the key of a track without changing the tempo? Use the pitch shifter in our BPM and key finder. It also tells you the new BPM and key after your edit, which is handy if you want to write or record on top of it.

Can you post slowed + reverb versions of any song?

This is the part people skip. A slowed or sped up version of someone else's song is still their recording and their composition. Posting it without permission can infringe copyright and lead to claims or takedowns. Changing the speed does not make it your song.

The safe options:

• Your own music. Your tracks, your recordings, your beats.
• Beats with the right licence. If you rap or sing on a leased beat, check what your licence allows before you release extra versions. Many artists drop a slowed version next to the original as extra content for the same song.

Need a beat you can actually release, slowed version included? Have a look at the beats on NameOnTheBeat and read the licence terms on the product page before you buy.

FAQ

What speed is best for slowed + reverb?

Around 0.80× is the most common starting point. Go to around 0.70× for a heavier, sleepier version.

Does slowing a song change the key?

Yes. In a classic slowed edit the pitch drops together with the speed. At 0.80× that is almost 4 semitones lower.

Is slowed + reverb the same as chopped and screwed?

Not quite. Chopped and screwed is a DJ style from Houston that also uses techniques like chopping and repeating parts. Slowed + reverb is a simpler internet version: slower, lower and drenched in reverb.

Can I make a sped up version too?

Yes. Pick Sped up in the Slowed + Reverb Maker, or check the other free music tools for things like BPM, key and file conversion.