Windows Media player also has an inbuilt slow downer of some limited use. Look around the menus, I'm on my Mac so can't give you the exact location (you can also do a search on this subject, as we've discussed slow downer and slow-downer like programs before).
Are they (Amazing SD) still charging $50? I think it was $50 anyway.
I use an old version of Pacemaker with Winamp. Pitch and tempo, or both. Free. So's WMP. I also have Abode Audtion which retails for $300 or so and it has pitch/tempo controls, when you get extreme on either the sound suffers quite badly - it doesn't perform any better than Pacemaker.
These are wonderful tools for learning music, when a bit of a tune eludes you. It's also just
I've made a lot of use of 'Best Practice' which will slow CDs in real time straight from the CD player. You can change pitch or speed easily, mark sections to repeat etc. And best of all it's entirely free!
I've got a device that allows me to slow down a live session in realtime so I can learn a tune. It's called polite intrigue. You just ask someone to show you that bit that you don't quite have. And it's shareware
Ah, michael, but where's the technological solution for us shy folks who hide in the corner and hope that we don't make a fool of ourselves? Talk to someone? Admit we don't know, and then put someone else out into the bargain? That's not shareware, it's scareware!
No amount of technological solutions will cure you of being a hider in the corner type. Risking making a fool of yourself is called life. Live a little
Michael's suggestion is good but it only works for one or two tunes in one night. Also, the situation has to right before you ask. It all depends on the the type of session, of course. There ought to be "natural gaps" during even the fastest sessions where you can approach fellow musicians with such a request.
However, there are some sessions where no-one ever stops--just in case someone else gets in with a tune!!! or there are people who are itching to fire in with a set as soon as one finishes. Sometimes, this can be fun. Other times, it's just plain tiresome.
Anyway, don't be shy. If in doubt, an offer of a pint of Guinness(or similar) is always a good start.
Thanks NeilC. This is kinda what I had in mind when I asked about "Slow Gold" in an earlier post. I just downloaded the trial version of Slow Gold - and - the full version of Best Practice, and have played around a bit with both. BP is 1/10 the file size of SG, is at least as easy to use, and instead of fifty-bucks (SG), BP is completely free. Sound quality suffers at both ends of the speed spectrum with both. I think I'll go with "free". Great way to learn tunes for those of us who aren't blessed with amazing photographic memories, as some appear to be.
I use ASD on my Mac as well, although, it has a memory leak, and likes to crash after a while.
Another free option is the Quicktime player (version 7 and above). It slows stuff down moderately well. Choose Window->Show A/V Controls, and there's a Playback Speed slider there. (Or hit Apple-K on Mac. And probably Ctrl-K on PC)
It doesn't sound quite as good as ASD, but it does the trick.
And of course people have mentioned Audacity, which is a good freeware sound editor that works for both Mac and PC (and Linux, I believe). I use Audacity for things like permanently changing the pitch of a tune, etc. For instance stuff that was recorded in Eb can be easily tuned down to D and saved for learning purposes.
I also have a (now broken) Sony ICD-ST10 digital voice recorder, which is good for recording tunes at a session, and it has built in slow-down capabilities for learning stuff on the go...
I am starting to come around to Will's point of view, and that is that it's a pretty good thing to learn tunes at full speed. You can use the slow downers to get the niggly bits, but it's helpful to learn the whole shape of the tune instead of just learning the individual notes. (I'm not particularly good at that yet, mind you).
One or two tunes per night Michael?! If I manage one or two a week I'm lucky. OK, that decides it - after Jan 1st I'm starting the 'how may tunes did you manage to learn over the festive season' thread. (Can feel the shy scales falling from my eyes already...)
Learning at full speed, the only tune shape I manage to get is that of a gloomy pear.
It's Audacity for me, slowed down usually by 25%, and cut to loop seamlessly. Three days of a half hour to forty five minutes per tune, and only then is it ready to come out of the oven.
Heh, well Pete can attest to how long it took me to learn Sargeant Early's Dream....
Some tunes come easier phrase by phrase, some whole. It depends in part on how many other similar tunes you know and whether that's a help (because certain phrases are already part of your vocabulary) or a hinderance (because certain phrases keep leading you astray into that other tune).
My preferred way to learn a tune is to listen to it repeatedly until it's in my head. Then I can use my own brain's slow-downer capabilities to plant the tune on fiddle or flute or whatever.
I kept stumbling on the turn in the middle of the B part, I guess because I had a different version in my head ( a potential downside to listening to so much music, which quickly becomes a plus when you finally get the tune and instantly have variations at the ready). And certain phrases kept leading me down the path of least resistance into the Jug of Punch or Paddy Fahey's.
Anyway Pete, your patience is my reward--I hauled it out at my session and we now play Sgt. Early's nearly every week. Always nice to work an old chestnut into the local repertoire.
What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Is this really true? Is there something that will slow down CD's so I can learn a tune off a CD? Are there others? What are your favorites?
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by crystal
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Amazing Slow Downer is wonderful! I've used it for several years.
You move a slider bar to select the speed you want the tune to play it. You can stop, go, rope off sections to play repeatedly, create loops.
Hours of amusement. I got if off the Net a couple of years ago. I don't have the URL anymore. Just Google it.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by cathrynb
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Windows Media player also has an inbuilt slow downer of some limited use. Look around the menus, I'm on my Mac so can't give you the exact location (you can also do a search on this subject, as we've discussed slow downer and slow-downer like programs before).
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
amazing slow downer (MAC version) works for me!!!
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by I_Fel
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
ASD can also change the pitch of a recording, which is useful when leaning tunes by artists that plays them in a 'less helpful' key like Eb etc.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by farmer barleymow
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Are they (Amazing SD) still charging $50? I think it was $50 anyway.
I use an old version of Pacemaker with Winamp. Pitch and tempo, or both. Free. So's WMP. I also have Abode Audtion which retails for $300 or so and it has pitch/tempo controls, when you get extreme on either the sound suffers quite badly - it doesn't perform any better than Pacemaker.
These are wonderful tools for learning music, when a bit of a tune eludes you. It's also just
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by KLR
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I've made a lot of use of 'Best Practice' which will slow CDs in real time straight from the CD player. You can change pitch or speed easily, mark sections to repeat etc. And best of all it's entirely free!
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mp2004/bp/
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Jet Audio has that option too
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by padre
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I have Transcribe which just costs about 20$. It will also slow CDs down in real time straight from CD.
As Zina says, the latest Windows Media Player provides some limited facilities too and it's free.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by John J.
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Now, what I want is a tool that allows me to slow down a live session in realtime so I can learn the tunes
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a recording of a live session. This is, indeed, possible.
I realise that this isn't what you mean, though.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by John J.
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I've got a device that allows me to slow down a live session in realtime so I can learn a tune. It's called polite intrigue. You just ask someone to show you that bit that you don't quite have. And it's shareware
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Ah, michael, but where's the technological solution for us shy folks who hide in the corner and hope that we don't make a fool of ourselves? Talk to someone? Admit we don't know, and then put someone else out into the bargain? That's not shareware, it's scareware!
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
No amount of technological solutions will cure you of being a hider in the corner type. Risking making a fool of yourself is called life. Live a little
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Michael's suggestion is good but it only works for one or two tunes in one night. Also, the situation has to right before you ask. It all depends on the the type of session, of course. There ought to be "natural gaps" during even the fastest sessions where you can approach fellow musicians with such a request.
However, there are some sessions where no-one ever stops--just in case someone else gets in with a tune!!! or there are people who are itching to fire in with a set as soon as one finishes. Sometimes, this can be fun. Other times, it's just plain tiresome.
Anyway, don't be shy. If in doubt, an offer of a pint of Guinness(or similar) is always a good start.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by John J.
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
OK. I'll stop being shy.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Good man. And one or two tunes a night is plenty anyway. There is no way you'll remember more
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by llig leahcim
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Thanks NeilC. This is kinda what I had in mind when I asked about "Slow Gold" in an earlier post. I just downloaded the trial version of Slow Gold - and - the full version of Best Practice, and have played around a bit with both. BP is 1/10 the file size of SG, is at least as easy to use, and instead of fifty-bucks (SG), BP is completely free. Sound quality suffers at both ends of the speed spectrum with both. I think I'll go with "free". Great way to learn tunes for those of us who aren't blessed with amazing photographic memories, as some appear to be.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by dylandew
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Good on ya, Neil.
Shy rarely gets you anywhere. Go for it!
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I use ASD on my Mac as well, although, it has a memory leak, and likes to crash after a while.
Another free option is the Quicktime player (version 7 and above). It slows stuff down moderately well. Choose Window->Show A/V Controls, and there's a Playback Speed slider there. (Or hit Apple-K on Mac. And probably Ctrl-K on PC)
It doesn't sound quite as good as ASD, but it does the trick.
And of course people have mentioned Audacity, which is a good freeware sound editor that works for both Mac and PC (and Linux, I believe). I use Audacity for things like permanently changing the pitch of a tune, etc. For instance stuff that was recorded in Eb can be easily tuned down to D and saved for learning purposes.
I also have a (now broken) Sony ICD-ST10 digital voice recorder, which is good for recording tunes at a session, and it has built in slow-down capabilities for learning stuff on the go...
I am starting to come around to Will's point of view, and that is that it's a pretty good thing to learn tunes at full speed. You can use the slow downers to get the niggly bits, but it's helpful to learn the whole shape of the tune instead of just learning the individual notes. (I'm not particularly good at that yet, mind you).
Correct me if I misquoted you, Will...
Pete
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Reverend
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
One or two tunes per night Michael?! If I manage one or two a week I'm lucky. OK, that decides it - after Jan 1st I'm starting the 'how may tunes did you manage to learn over the festive season' thread. (Can feel the shy scales falling from my eyes already...)
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
*exasperated sigh* I've been telling him to learn the shape of the tune for HOW long now? Gaaaah.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Learning at full speed, the only tune shape I manage to get is that of a gloomy pear.
It's Audacity for me, slowed down usually by 25%, and cut to loop seamlessly. Three days of a half hour to forty five minutes per tune, and only then is it ready to come out of the oven.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Q
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Heh, well Pete can attest to how long it took me to learn Sargeant Early's Dream....
Some tunes come easier phrase by phrase, some whole. It depends in part on how many other similar tunes you know and whether that's a help (because certain phrases are already part of your vocabulary) or a hinderance (because certain phrases keep leading you astray into that other tune).
My preferred way to learn a tune is to listen to it repeatedly until it's in my head. Then I can use my own brain's slow-downer capabilities to plant the tune on fiddle or flute or whatever.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Will Harmon
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
Let's see... if I remember correctly, it was about 15 minutes one day, and a quick refresher the next day...
Which is way quicker than I learn tunes, especially wacky ones like Sgt. Early's Dream.
Pete
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Reverend
Re: What is this "Amazing Slow Downer"?
I kept stumbling on the turn in the middle of the B part, I guess because I had a different version in my head ( a potential downside to listening to so much music, which quickly becomes a plus when you finally get the tune and instantly have variations at the ready). And certain phrases kept leading me down the path of least resistance into the Jug of Punch or Paddy Fahey's.
Anyway Pete, your patience is my reward--I hauled it out at my session and we now play Sgt. Early's nearly every week. Always nice to work an old chestnut into the local repertoire.
# Posted on December 29th 2005 by Will Harmon