Speed-Up for iTunes App Reviews

Simple and it works! (Although I dont understand why Apple didnt just build this into iTunes?) Previously, I used iTunes to manage podcast subscriptions, but I listened to them on my iPhone or in VLC (so I could control playback speed). Speed-Up saves me the time of locating the files and playing them via VLC *and* the reduced playback time. I really like the preference for choosing the speed presets *I* want to use. It took me a minute to figure out that Speed-Up requires OS X Sandbox Authorization for the actual media files, not just the iTunes folder (my media is on an external drive). After that it works great (10 podcast episodes, so far). Thanks!

App seemed to work fine first time it was installed. A few days later I noticed it was doing nothing. The icon won’t show up in itunes bar (maybe not enough room?) but when I can find it, I can edit preferences and the settings, but it doesn’t affect the playback speed. WTH?

I bought this app so I can listen to podcasts that had good contact but with slow speakers. This app doesnt distort the voice, but adds a HUGE echo which gets worse the faster we go. The echoes render the speaker incomprehensible faster than 1.5x.

You’re the best, guys. So simple. And it’s worked. 5 stars.

Speeds up podcasts on my mac, exactly as described.

It resets the position where I left the book every time I hit “Pause”, which makes the whole thing unusable.

The ONLY way this works is if you DOWNLAOD the entire podcast episode and listen to it that way; it does not work when STREAMING podcasts. I spent a long time trying to figure out why it wouldn’t play, and I didn’t see those instructions ANYWHERE on their site. When you download a podcast episode and listen to it using this app, you hear what sounds like TWO COPIES playing at the SAME TIME. It is VERY distracting and is NOT AT ALL like the speed up function in the Podcast app in iTunes. I sincerly hope that Apple builds faster playback for podcasts in the new version of iTunes, this is a POORLY MADE work around that BARELY does what it says it will do.

Very disappointed that there are only a few fixed speed values, not a continuous setting.

This provides a feature sorely missing from iTunes for some time now. The time stretching has about as many artifacts as you would expect, but is nonetheless pretty good. It would be nice if the menubar item popped a slider out right away instead of having to click on "other," and if the speed of playback updated in real time without having to click ok. Its still really useful!

I was looking for an app like this. I listen to audio books a lot and get bored out of my mind listening at regular speed (ADHD). This app allows you to speed-up without any skipping or other gotchas. Does what is says perfectly. Note: I orginally bought it in August, 2010. The developer sent a promo code to allow existing owners to migrate to the Mac App Store. So I am extremely happy with the product and its support. Summary: Quality product and one of my absolute favorite apps.

If you enjoy listening to podcasts but find you have too many of them and never seem to make it through the list, then this app is a great solution. While you can use faster speeds, if you have a podcast you really enjoy listening to at normal speed, just dialing it up to 1.15x can shave off several minutes without much noticeable change. I have been using Speed-Up for several months and have had no problems with it, and its processor use is not even noticeable. You may remember a similar speed up feature built into iTunes, however, as of several versions ago it was taken out, which makes this app indispensable.

I have been waiting for something like this for a while. Thank you! The only thing I would ask for (and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5) is that you can add a different speed in the drop down menu without having to click on other. An option to start when itunes is started up would be nice too. Otherwise it is simple and easy. The pitch doesnt change when you speed up.

Great app, but on some of my audiobooks I keep getting the message "The file is not a movie file". It seems like it doesnt work well with all audiobooks.

The idea is perfect... to mimic the iPods multi-speed functionality with podcasts. However, in practice, the resulting output is really unnerving. I usually listen to my podcasts on my iPhone at 2x speed. With Speed-Up, even at 1.5x speed the sound is very echoey and flangy. The effect is quite noticeable... it almost feels like its popping in an out of stereo (like on channel falls in and out of sync). Going beyond that speed ... well it gets worse. Whatever Apple did within their iPod app on the iPhone, it worked and works well. While I applause the developer for thier effort, I cannot recommend this app. Not yet at least. I will ammend my review if things improve.

I tried to use this app to listen to chaptiers of the Bible at about 1.3X (the reader I have reads slowly.) It would skip up to the last 30 seconds on some tracks and repeat the last 3 seconds or so on others. I e-mailed the developer and they responded by asking me to send them some mp3s to test them out. They have not responded or fixed it. With so many complaints in the reviews and the 3, 2 and 1 start feedback prevailing I think Apple should yank this from the store until the developers can get it right. Hope this keeps someone else from wasting $2.99 plus tax USD.

Works as advertisted. I use it to help keep up on the multiple podcasts I subscribe to. Great little time saver.

I uploaded MP3 versions of my lectures onto iTunes and they play perfectly without Speed-Up and when I try using it, the audio loops over and over. Works with regular music though. There is a bit of a lag period as the program analyzes the file it needs to speed up. This lasts about 10 seconds. My two-star rating is mostly due to the fact that the program isnt working for the purpose I needed it for and Im out $3. Not bad, but not great.

I use this for listening to lectures. I find the best rate is around 1.38x but Im sure others could comprehend faster. All my audio is exported from word audio taken in class and then played through iTunes. Works great, great buy!

I normally dont write reviews, but I feel that this one should get one. Ive researched for a very long time to try and find a way to play my audiobooks through iTunes at 2x the speed, the same as I do on my iPhone. There is nothing at all that will do this, that I have been able to find. So when I ran across this app, I figured it would be worth a try. And Im glad I did. One thing I should note, if youre having issues with this app, turn off your equalizer. It seems to work much better with the equalizer off. Ive also found that the default speeds are actually there for a reason. If playback is set over 1.50, the audio will start to break up and/or the left and right channels will get out of sync. I also dont have a set of speakers that allow me to only run one speaker, but I would imagine that this would help resolve the issue. The short and sweet is, this app works and works well enough to utilize on a daily basis. The primary goal for using iTunes, instead of other audio applications that will speed the playback up, is so the positions will be saved when you finish listening and that would also be synced to your iPhone. This is important for me, as I listen to audiobooks constantly and most of them are 10 hours plus. If youre avid audiobook listener and you want to listen to them fast, like you do on your iPhone. You can get to 1.50 without fail. Worth the money.

This has gotten me out of a jam: having to transcribe a 2 hour interview. We were both talking fairly quickly and Im not a speed typist. With the .5 speed playback, there is a slight echo effect, but this does not hinder comprehension. This speed is just slow enough that I can type along without stopping too often to replay. For the price, its great and definitely worth trying.