How to reverse audio
- Choose an MP3, WAV or M4A file up to 10 minutes long.
- Pick The whole file, or Just one part and drag the handles to the section you want backwards.
- Press Reverse audio, then switch between Original and Reversed to compare.
- Download the reversed WAV.
What happens when you reverse audio
Digital audio is a long list of numbers, tens of thousands every second, each one the position of the speaker at that moment. Reversing simply reads that list from the end to the start. Every sound now plays backwards: a piano note swells up out of nothing and stops dead, drums suck in instead of hitting, and reverb rises before the sound it belongs to.
Nothing is lost on the way, so reversing twice gives you exactly what you started with. When you reverse only part of a file, the tool blends the first and last 5 milliseconds of the section, so you don’t get a click where the forwards and backwards parts meet.
Ways producers use reversed audio
- Reverse cymbals and risers. A reversed crash makes a swell that leads into a drop or a new section.
- Reverse reverb. Reverse a vocal, add reverb, reverse it back, and the reverb now builds up into each word.
- Transitions. Reverse the last beat of a section to suck the listener into the next one.
- New samples. Reversed chords and melodies keep their key but turn into something that sounds new, which is a quick way to flip a sample.
Flipped a sample into a beat? Tag it with a free producer tag.
FAQ
How do I reverse a song?
Choose the file, leave The whole file selected and press Reverse audio. Compare it with the original, then download the reversed WAV.
Can I reverse only part of a song?
Yes. Choose Just one part, drag the handles to the section you want backwards and press Reverse the selection. Everything outside the selection stays as it was, and the edges are blended over 5 milliseconds so the joins don’t click.
How do I make a reverse reverb or reverse cymbal?
Reverse a crash or a vocal, add reverb to the reversed version in your DAW, then reverse it back. The reverb tail now swells up into the sound instead of trailing after it. For a reverse cymbal, just reverse a crash and line its end up with the downbeat.
Are there hidden messages in songs played backwards?
People have looked for them since the 1980s, and a few artists did hide some on purpose. Most “backmasking” people hear is the brain finding words in random sounds. Try it on any song and listen for yourself.
What do I get back?
A 16-bit WAV at the same length as your original. Nothing is cut, stretched or lost, so reversing it again gives you the original back.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The audio is reversed in your browser, so your file never leaves your device. It’s free with no sign-up.