Reverse Audio (Play It Backwards)
Drop in an audio file: it's flipped right away, so you can listen to it backwards, compare it with the original and download it. Perfect for secret messages, sound effects and challenges.
- One click
- Instant playback
- MP3, WAV, M4A
- 100% private
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How do you reverse an audio file?
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Add your file
Drag in an MP3, WAV, M4A, voice memo or video: the audio is reversed automatically.
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Listen
Press ▶ to hear the sound backwards, and switch to "Original" to compare.
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Download
Pick the format (same as the original, MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC or M4R) and download the reversed audio.
Sound in reverse, made simple
Instant reversal
The file is flipped as soon as it opens: the end becomes the beginning, and the waveform is shown the new way round.
Compare with the original
Switch between the reversed version and the original with one tap, at the same point in the track.
All formats
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, Opus, AAC, WMA, AMR and the sound of videos are all accepted.
Nothing is uploaded
The processing happens in your browser: your recordings stay on your device.
Make a secret backwards message
It's a classic game: record a sentence, reverse it, and the other person has to guess what it says. For a real hidden message, do it the other way round: write your sentence backwards phonetically, record it with the Online Voice Recorder, then reverse it here. The result sounds like an unknown language, but once it's reversed again the message appears. It's also how the "singing backwards" challenge works: listen to a reversed song, imitate it, then reverse your own recording to get (more or less) the original song back.
Sound effects: reverse cymbals, swells and atmospheres
Sound engineers have reversed sounds for decades to create effects: a reversed cymbal or piano produces a gradual swell that's often used before a chorus or a transition. A reversed reverb gives a ghostly effect, and backwards voices create an eerie atmosphere for a film or a video game. Reverse the sound, trim the useful part with the MP3 Cutter, then drop it into your project.
Hidden messages in songs: myth or reality?
Recording a backwards message into a song is called "backmasking". Some artists have done it on purpose, as an in-joke; many other "messages" are just sounds that the brain interprets as words, a phenomenon called pareidolia. With this tool, you can listen to a passage backwards yourself and make up your own mind.
Formats and quality of the reversed file
The reversed file is saved in the same format as the original when possible, or as MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC or M4R (iPhone ringtone). The sound is simply played the other way: no other change is made. For very long files, reversing takes a bit of memory, because the whole track has to be loaded before it can be flipped. To reverse a video along with its picture, use Reverse Video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reverse an audio file?
Drop the file into the box: it's reversed automatically. Listen to the preview, then download it in the format you want.
How do I reverse a voice recording?
Record your voice (with your phone's recorder app or our Online Voice Recorder), add the file here and download the backwards version.
Can I get the original sound back?
Yes: reversing an audio file twice gives you the original. Add the reversed file and reverse it again.
Can I reverse the sound of a video?
Yes: drop in the video and its soundtrack is reversed and saved as an audio file. To reverse the whole video, picture included, use Reverse Video.
Does reversing reduce the quality?
Reversing itself doesn't change the sound. The file is re-encoded in the format you choose: as WAV or FLAC there's no loss at all, as MP3 or M4A a slight loss that's rarely audible.
Is my file uploaded?
No, everything is calculated in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. Free, no sign-up.