Reverse Audio Online — Play Any Sound File Backwards

What Is Audio Reversing?

Audio reversing plays an audio file backwards — the last sample becomes the first and the first sample becomes the last. The result is the audio heard in reverse chronological order, creating an otherworldly or mysterious sound. While it sounds simple, reversed audio has been used creatively in music production and sound design for decades.

Creative Uses for Reversed Audio

• Music production — Reversed cymbal crashes create a building swell effect widely used in pop, electronic, and hip-hop music. Reversed vocals create a ghostly atmosphere. Reversed piano chords create unique ambient textures.
• Sound design — Reversing a sound effect creates an unusual attack and release shape that can be used for transition effects in video editing.
• Memes and viral content — Reversed speech or music is a staple of online humour and content creation.
• Hidden messages — Some artists embed hidden phrases in recordings that only become intelligible when reversed, a technique sometimes called backmasking.
• Ear training — Listen to a melody reversed to train your ability to hear note relationships from a different perspective.
• Film and game audio — Reversed growls, explosions, or mechanical sounds are used to create unique sci-fi and horror audio effects.

What Does Reversed Audio Sound Like?

The character of reversed audio depends heavily on the source material. Speech reversed sounds alien and incomprehensible. Music reversed has an otherworldly quality with unusual attack and decay shapes. Percussion reversed has a distinctive swell and cut character. Singing reversed creates haunting ambient textures.

Technical Quality

Audio reversal is a lossless operation for WAV and FLAC files — every sample is preserved, just in reverse order. For MP3 files, the audio is decoded, reversed, and re-encoded, which involves a standard MP3 re-encode at the original bitrate. Quality is maintained to the same standard as the source file.

Combining with Other Effects

Try combining reversed audio with other effects. Add a fade-in to a reversed crash cymbal for a growing swell. Apply reverb to a reversed vocal for a dreamy texture. Speed up reversed speech for intense, rapid backwards vocals.