Adobe Audition is a powerful audio editing software that allows you to manipulate audio files in various ways. One of the essential features of Audition is its ability to adjust playback speed. This is especially useful when you need to quickly preview a section of audio or compare different versions of a file.

There are two main ways to increase playback speed in Adobe Audition: using the JKL keys or the timestretching feature.

Method 1: Using the JKL Keys

The JKL keys are a convenient way to quickly adjust playback speed in Audition. To use this method, follow these steps:

1. Open the audio file you want to playback.
2. Press the J key to move to the beginning of the file.
3. Press the K key to move to the end of the file.
4. Press the L key to increase playback speed. Each press of the L key increases the playback speed by 0.1x.
5. Press the H key to decrease playback speed. Each press of the H key decreases the playback speed by 0.1x.

Method 2: Using Timestretching

The timestretching feature allows you to change the playback speed of an audio file while maintaining its original pitch. This is a more precise method for adjusting playback speed, but it can also introduce artifacts, such as pitch shifting or audio distortion.

To use the timestretching feature, follow these steps:

1. Click on the audio file in the Project window to select it.
2. Go to the Effects menu and select Time and Pitch > Timestretch.
3. In the Timestretch dialog box, enter the desired playback speed in the Stretch Amount field.
4. Click the Apply button to apply the timestretch effect.

Changing the JKL Shuttle Speed

The JKL Shuttle Speed setting determines how much the playback speed changes with each press of the JKL keys. To change this setting, follow these steps:

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Playback and Recording.
2. In the Playback Settings section, you can change the JKL Shuttle Speed increment from the default value of 0.1x.
3. Click OK to apply the changes.

Additional Tips

• When increasing playback speed, be careful not to exceed the limits of human audibility. Excessively high playback speeds can cause audio to sound distorted or unnatural.
• If you’re using timestretching, experiment with different settings to find the best balance between playback speed and audio quality.
• If you’re using the JKL keys to increase playback speed, be aware that the audio will sound chipmunk-like as the speed increases. This is because the pitch of the audio is not being changed, so the higher playback speed causes the voices to sound higher-pitched.

By following these methods, you can easily adjust playback speed in Adobe Audition to suit your needs. This is a valuable tool for quickly reviewing audio, comparing different versions of a file, and creating special effects, such as slowing down or speeding up audio for dramatic purposes.

Try Audition with a 7-day free trial.