How do I play an audio recording backwards?

Playing audio backwards involves reversing the normal forward playback of an audio recording and listening to it in reverse. This technique became popular starting in the 1960s and 1970s as some listeners claimed they could hear hidden or sinister messages when popular songs were played backwards.

Backmasking, as this technique is called, involves intentionally recording a backwards message onto a track that is meant to be played forwards. Some bands engaged in backmasking as a way to include hidden messages, while listeners interpreted backwards sections of songs as containing subliminal or occult messages.

While backmasking was predominantly associated with rock bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Eagles, the technique can be applied to any audio recording. Some listeners believe playing songs backwards can reveal secret messages from the artist, while others simply find the distorted sounds interesting to listen to.

Reasons people seek to play audio backwards include finding supposed hidden meanings, unlocking subliminal messages, enjoying the unique sound, or analyzing songs for production techniques. Backmasking peaked as a phenomenon in the 80s and is less common today, but audio reversal remains popular for entertainment, analysis and creative purposes.

Software Options

There are several software options available to reverse audio recordings on your computer. Some of the most popular options include:

Audacity

Audacity is a free, open source digital audio editor and recording application. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. To reverse audio in Audacity:

1. Open the audio file in Audacity
2. Select the section of audio you want to reverse
3. Go to Effect > Reverse to reverse the selected audio

Audacity makes it easy to reverse any part of an audio file with just a few clicks.

Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a professional audio editing software by Adobe. To reverse audio:

1. Import the audio clip into Adobe Audition
2. Select the section of audio to reverse
3. Go to Effects > Time and Pitch > Reverse to reverse the selection

While not free, Adobe Audition provides advanced audio editing capabilities for professionals.

Reaper

Reaper is a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software for Windows, Mac and Linux. To reverse audio in Reaper:

1. Add your audio clip to Reaper
2. Select the section to reverse
3. Right click and select Reverse to reverse the selection

Reaper provides a full-featured environment for audio production on a budget.

Using Audacity

Audacity is a popular free and open source audio editing software. Here is a step-by-step process for reversing audio in Audacity:

1. Download and install Audacity from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
2. Open Audacity and import the audio track you want to reverse.
3. Select the entire track or just a portion you want to reverse.
4. Go to Effect > Reverse to open the Reverse window.
5. Make sure “Reverse” is checked and click OK. This will reverse the selected audio.
6. You can click Preview to listen to a portion of the reversed audio.
7. Export the reversed audio track by going to File > Export Audio.

With just a few clicks, Audacity makes it easy to reverse audio tracks or selections. You can precisely control which parts get reversed. Audacity is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux so you can reverse audio on any desktop platform.

Using Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition provides a simple way to reverse audio clips with just a few clicks. According to Adobe, here is a step-by-step process for reversing audio in Adobe Audition:

1. Open the audio file you want to reverse in Adobe Audition.
2. Select the section of audio you want to reverse. You can select the entire clip or just a portion.
3. Go to Effects > Reverse.
4. The selected audio will now be reversed. You can preview it to confirm.
5. Export the file to save your changes.

The Reverse effect is very straightforward in Adobe Audition. It instantly flips the audio selection backwards. This can be useful for creative effects, hearing something from a different perspective, or correcting recording errors.

According to users on Reddit, you can also reverse only a portion of an audio clip by splitting it first before applying the Reverse effect. This allows you to reverse just one section or part of a recording as needed.

Using Reaper

Reaper is a digital audio workstation that allows you to easily reverse audio recordings. Here is a step-by-step process for reversing audio in Reaper:

1. Open Reaper and import the audio file you want to reverse.
2. Select the section of audio you want to reverse. You can reverse the entire audio clip or just a portion.
3. Go to the Items menu and select Take -> Reverse Items.
4. This will reverse the selected audio.
5. You can preview the reversed audio to confirm it played in reverse.
6. Export the file to save the changes.

Reaper makes it easy to quickly reverse an audio clip or section. With just a few clicks you can play any audio backwards. Reaper is very versatile for audio editing and effects.

Online Tools

There are a variety of online audio reversers that allow you to reverse mp3 and other audio files directly in your web browser, with no software download required. These tools offer a quick and easy way to reverse audio by simply uploading your file or providing a URL link.

For example, MP3Cut’s online audio reverser supports dragging and dropping files to reverse them. It handles common formats like MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA, M4A and more. After processing, you can download the reversed audio or share it via social media.

Another option is SafeAudioKit’s audio reverser, which reverses files up to 50MB for free. It supports MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC and other formats. The site mentions using reversed audio for hidden messages, pranks, and more creative purposes.

For a straightforward tool, RouteNote’s online reverser lets you reverse audio files up to 5 minutes. It specifically cites creative uses like producing reversed samples or hidden messages for fans.

Mobile Apps

There are a few mobile apps available to easily reverse audio recordings on both iOS and Android devices. The most popular apps include:

On iOS, the Reverse Audio app allows you to record audio through the microphone and then play it back in reverse. According to the App Store description, it can “reverse play recorded sound” and is designed for “The Backwards Words Challenge.”

For Android, Reverse Talk offers similar functionality. You can record audio and “talk reverse” to share fun backwards recordings with friends. Another Android option is Reverse Audio, which lets you reverse both new recordings and existing audio files.

These easy-to-use apps provide a quick way to reverse audio clips without needing desktop audio editing software. They are handy for social media challenges and entertainment purposes.

Common Uses

Playing audio backwards has some interesting and creative uses, though it gained notoriety for alleged hidden backwards messages in songs (Backmasking). Here are some of the most common uses and effects of reversing audio:

• Finding hidden or suggestive messages in songs when played backwards, known as backmasking. This technique rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with controversial claims of satanic messages hidden in rock songs (Sensible Reasons to Play Music Backwards).
• Creating unique effects by playing vocals or instruments in reverse.
• Analyzing audio recordings for accuracy or tampering, such as verifying speech transcripts.
• Isolating or hearing specific parts of a complex audio track more clearly.
• Fun listening effects and games by reversing songs or audio clips.
• Creative songwriting techniques involving backwards parts.
• DJ effects and transitions by reversing the end or beginning of songs.

While controversial at times, reversing audio can produce intriguing results for entertainment, analysis or creative expression. It allows us to hear familiar sounds in an entirely new way.

Copyright Considerations

When reversing or manipulating copyrighted audio recordings, it’s important to consider potential copyright infringement issues. The legality of reversing copyrighted audio is somewhat unclear. According to one analysis, “Technically it is copyright infringement to use any part of a recording at all, no matter what you do to it.” (Source) However, others argue that reversing audio sufficiently transforms it, making a legal case more difficult. Overall, caution is advised when manipulating copyrighted recordings without permission to avoid potential disputes. The safest approach is to only reverse audio you have created or have explicit rights to use.

Conclusion

Playing audio recordings backwards can be an interesting experience and reveal hidden details in the audio. While it was once mainly used for novelty purposes, it now has practical applications for audio engineers and musicians. The process is straightforward with the right audio editing software or mobile app. When uploading backwards audio online, be mindful of copyrights. Overall, experimenting with backwards audio can give you a new appreciation for the depth of information stored in sound. With some simple tools, you can explore recordings like never before.