How to reverse an audio file
- Drop an audio file into the box or click to choose one. It's reversed as soon as it loads.
- Press Play reversed to hear it backwards, or Play original to compare. Space toggles reversed playback.
- Pick MP3 with a bitrate, or WAV for lossless output.
- Click Export reversed to download the file, saved with -reversed added to the name.
What you can do with Reverse Audio
- Instant reversal
- The whole file is flipped sample by sample the moment it loads, with no settings to configure first.
- Reversed waveform view
- See the backwards waveform with a playhead that follows playback for both the reversed and the original version.
- A/B comparison
- Switch between the reversed and original audio with one click to hear exactly how they differ.
- MP3 and WAV export
- Save as MP3 from 96 to 320 kbps or as 16-bit WAV for use in a video or music editor.
- Works with most formats
- Open MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, FLAC and other formats your browser can decode, on desktop or mobile.
Uses for reversed audio, from reverse reverb to backmasking
Reversing audio plays the samples in the opposite order, so every sound's shape flips: a piano note swells up from silence and stops abruptly, and reverb tails rise before the sound that caused them. Producers use this for reverse cymbal swells, reversed vocal intros and transitions, and sound designers use it for ghostly or alien effects. A popular trick is to reverse a sound, add reverb in an editor, then reverse it again, which creates a reverb that builds up into the note.
Reversing is also how people check songs for backmasking, messages supposedly hidden by recording them backwards. Most claimed examples turn out to be the brain finding words in random syllables, so listen with healthy skepticism. Another fun use is the reverse singing challenge: record yourself singing a reversed phrase with the Voice Recorder, then reverse that recording here to hear how close you got to the original. The reversal itself is lossless when you export WAV; MP3 export re-encodes the audio.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play a song backwards?
Drop the song into the box and press Play reversed. The file is reversed in your browser immediately, so you can listen without exporting anything. Click Export reversed if you want to keep a copy as MP3 or WAV.
Is my file uploaded when I reverse it?
No. The audio is decoded and reversed locally in your browser, and the MP3 is encoded on your device. The file is never sent to a server, so private voice recordings and unreleased music stay private.
Can I reverse only part of a song?
This tool reverses the whole file. To reverse a section, first trim it out with the MP3 Cutter, reverse the clip here, and then use the Audio Joiner to put the pieces back together in the right order.
Does reversing audio reduce the quality?
The reversal changes nothing but the order of the samples, so it's lossless, and exporting as WAV keeps it that way. Exporting as MP3 re-encodes the audio, which is effectively inaudible at 192 kbps or higher.
Can I reverse audio on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in Safari on iPhone and Chrome on Android. Pick a file from your library or the Files app, play it backwards, and the exported file lands in your browser's downloads.