How can I get tracks to play faster than normal speed in itunes?

Hey, I know this is late but what works on Mac for me is if you play your audio with Quick Time player, then you can press Option + forward. It gives you speeds between 1.1-1.9 and so everytime you pause you just need to hit Option and Forward again and set to the desired speed (hold Option and keep pressing the forward until desired speed reached) video continued from where you left off.

I will show you how I played my audio or mp3 files at any particular speed. This method will allow you to simply enter in your desired speed.(ex. 1.5 or 1.33)

In my case Im using an audio book [Lord of the flies] I download off youtube as a MP3 file using this program:

http://download.cnet.com/MediaHuman-YouTube-to-MP3-Converter/3000-2140_4-7544580 3.html

First off, you will need to make sure your audio file is open in QuickTime player rather then iTunes. First you need to locate the audio file. If your audio file is in itunes then right click the file and select "Show in Finder"

The file should open in a finder window, highlighted. Right click the file, go to "Open With.." And click Quicktime Player. (If quickTime Player is not an option, you need to go to "Other..." and select QuickTime Player from your Applications folder)

Now that your mp3 file is open in a QuickTime window you may proceed to step 1.

1) Open Finder

2) Click Applications

3) Click Utilities

4) Open AppleScript Editor

5) In the program copy and paste the script below.

6) Click "Compile"

7) Now to test this script, click "Run" A window should pop up prompting you to enter your desired speed (default is 1.5)

8) press "OK" and quick time should start playing your audio at the speed you entered in.

9) If you would like to use this script again, go to File > Save... >Name your AppleScript and save it Anywhere (I saved mine in the Music Folder for easy access)

tell application "iTunes"
pause
set myTrack to location of current track
# the player’s position within the currently playing track in seconds
set mySeconds to player position
end tell
# show a Dialog
set SpeedFactor to 1.5
display dialog "Enter speed factor:" default answer SpeedFactor
set SpeedFactor to text returned of the result
tell application "QuickTime Player"
activate
# pause all previously opened documents
set open_docs to documents
repeat with doc in open_docs
pause doc
end repeat
# open the track just played in iTunes
open myTrack
# get the 'QuickTime' document, MyTrack should be equivalent but it isn't
set MyMovie to first document
# rewind by 10 seconds
if mySeconds > 10 then
set mySeconds to mySeconds - 10
end if
# set current time
set current time of MyMovie to mySeconds
# set Speed Factor and start playing
set rate of MyMovie to SpeedFactor
end tell

I recommend using something like VLC media player with that you can select the speed of playback you require 1.5x, 2x etc etc

every time i pause and unpasue, it goes back to playing normal speed. so i end up needing go back to script editor to choose the correct speed again, but then the recording starts from the beginning again. and since i need to constantly pause and unpause to take notes, it actually wastes time to keep changing speeds back and forth. i'll end up saving more time in the long run just listening at normal speed and pausing whenever i feel like to take notes.

2010 post on changing playback speed in iTunes - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2411659?answerId=11432266022#11432266022 - primarily for audiobooks but if you read the whole thread there is mention of ways to do this with other media.

Looks great! Anything available for doing this on my iPhone 7 Plus? Only thing I'm missing from my Android days - 2x audio player for podcasts and audiobooks.

Thank you.

I found this to work the easiest.

Changing audios to audiobooks:

Change the “Media Kind” from “Music” to “Audiobook” in iTunes.

Right-click the track(s) in iTunes.

Select “Get Info.”

Select the “Options” tab.

Next to “Media Kind,” change the category from “Music” to “Audiobook.”

Select “OK.”

Sync iTunes with your iPhone

On your iPhone or iPod, select speed.

For an iPhone or iPod Touch

Play the track using the iBook app. If you don’t see detailed info, tap the screen once. Then you should see an icon that gives you
three options for the playback speed:

1. 1.1/2x speed
2. 2.1x speed
3. 3.2x speed

adapted from:

http://andynaselli.com/how-to-listen-on-double-speed-with-an-iphone-or-ipod

Surely there is a way to do this in itunes...

There is not a way to do this in iTunes.

If you want to see that available controls for playback, look at the Control menu at the upper left of iTunes.

How can I play them form Ibook? I did the first steps and changed them to Audiobook but as soon as i press ok the disappear from iTune!! when I open the iBook I don't know how to get them to that app! can you help me please

I know I'm a few years late, but I developed an app that does exactly what you want. It's called Speed-Up. It lets you play music, podcasts, and audiobooks at any speed without leaving iTunes.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

<Edited by Host>

By the way, the audio file you have open in QuickTime, must also be open in itunes and be paused.

this is pretty complicated, how did you figure out how to use script editor? either way, it works well for me and i really appreciate your help!

That was great ... Thank you