Amazing Slow Downer & Anytune Alternatives: Which Music Practice App Fits Your Workflow?

Looking for an Amazing Slow Downer alternative or an Anytune alternative? I built Practice Session because I couldn't find a slow down music app that matched how I actually work. Before writing a single line of code, I spent months using every major competitor. This comparison reflects what I learned.

This guide covers Amazing Slow Downer, Transcribe!, Anytune, Capo, and Audacity, plus a note on AI-powered tools like Moises. I'll be upfront about where each app excels, and where I think Practice Session offers a better experience as an alternative.

The Core Question: Single-Purpose Tool or Practice Hub?

Most music practice apps do one thing well: slow down audio. They're digital equivalents of the old tape deck trick: loop a section, drop the speed, learn the part.

That's valuable, but it's not how I actually practice. My workflow involves:

• Organizing a library of songs I'm working on
• Loading sheet music or Guitar Pro tabs alongside the audio
• Creating multiple practice regions with different settings for each
• Building sequences that move through sections automatically
• Training through all 12 keys for jazz standards
• Following lyrics to learn phrasing

None of the existing apps handled this complete workflow. So I built one that does. Practice Session is designed as a comprehensive practice hub, with all your tools in one workspace, rather than a single-purpose slow-down utility.

Not everyone needs a practice hub, though. If you want the simplest possible tool for slowing down audio, one of the competitors might be the right choice.

Feature Comparison Table

Transcribe! — When You Need Extreme Slowdown

Seventh String's Transcribe! has been the professional standard since 1998. Pat Metheny and Michael Brecker endorsed it. It's a serious tool for serious transcription work.

Transcribe!'s Genuine Advantage

Spectrum analysis. Transcribe!'s visual pitch display helps identify notes in dense passages. If you rely on seeing the spectrum to pick out pitches in complex chords or fast runs, this is a genuine differentiator that Practice Session doesn't offer.

The ±36 semitone pitch range (three octaves) also exceeds Practice Session's ±24 semitones. For extreme transposition (like moving a bass part up two octaves to hear it in a clearer register), Transcribe! handles cases Practice Session can't.

Where Practice Session Is the Better Choice

Practice Session now goes down to 10% speed—close to Transcribe!'s 5%—and offers three audio implementations to match different workflows:

• Transcription mode: Optimized for extreme slowdown without simultaneous pitch shift. Maximum quality at very low speeds—ideal for picking out notes in fast passages.
• Real-time mode: Simultaneous pitch shift and time-stretch with low latency. Best for practice scenarios where responsiveness matters, though artifacts increase at very slow speeds.
• WSOLA tuning mode: Manual control over time-stretch parameters. Allows fine-tuning the algorithm to reduce artifacts when you need both extreme slowdown and pitch shift, at the cost of higher latency.

Beyond audio processing, Practice Session offers a more complete workflow:

• Notation sync: Load MusicXML or Guitar Pro files, see the bar grid overlaid on the waveform, watch notation scroll during playback. Transcribe! has no notation support.
• Structured training: Speed Trainer automatically increments tempo. Key Acrobat cycles through all 12 keys. Transcribe! offers neither; you adjust everything manually.
• Modern UX: Drag-and-drop everywhere, customizable waveform display, multi-window layouts with saved positions. Transcribe!'s interface, while functional, shows its age.
• Per-region settings: Each loop can have independent speed, pitch, EQ, and volume. In Transcribe!, all regions share global settings.
• Price: $29 vs $39.

If you regularly transcribe bebop at extreme slow speeds and rely on spectrum analysis to identify pitches visually, Transcribe! is purpose-built for that. For practicing, learning songs, working with notation, or any workflow beyond pure transcription, Practice Session provides a more complete and modern experience.

Amazing Slow Downer — Simplicity as a Feature

Roni Music's Amazing Slow Downer has been around for over 20 years. It pioneered consumer time-stretching and remains popular for its straightforward approach.

Amazing Slow Downer's Genuine Advantage

Mobile apps. ASD offers iOS and Android apps. Practice Session doesn't have mobile apps yet. If you practice primarily on your phone or tablet, that's a real limitation on my end.

ASD also has a reputation for audio quality; drummers in particular praise the time-stretch algorithm. And the interface is simple: open file, set speed, set loop, practice. No learning curve.

Where Practice Session Is the Better Choice

For desktop users, Practice Session does everything ASD does, plus more:

• Same core functionality, better execution: Slowing down, looping, pitch shifting. Practice Session handles these with a more modern, customizable interface.
• Wider pitch range: ±24 semitones vs ASD's ±12. If you need to transpose more than an octave, ASD can't do it.
• Auto tuning detection: Practice Session detects when a recording deviates from A440 and applies the correction automatically. No more struggling to find the right cents adjustment to match an old recording to your instrument.
• Speed up beyond 200%: Practice Session goes to 400%. Useful for checking your playing against a faster version or practicing up-tempo.
• Notation and lyrics: ASD has neither. Practice Session integrates both with timestamp sync.
• Flexible region behavior: Practice Session lets you toggle between auto-loading per-region settings (speed, pitch, EQ, volume) or using regions purely for loop timing while keeping your current audio settings.
• Music library: Organize songs in hierarchical folders vs. ASD's basic list.
• Price: $29 vs $40 for ASD desktop.

Practice Session can also import ASD project files, so if you're considering switching, your existing work transfers over.

If you need mobile apps, ASD has them and Practice Session doesn't (yet). For desktop use, Practice Session offers the same core features with a more capable, modern interface, at a lower price.

Anytune — The iOS Champion

Anytune dominates Apple's ecosystem with 30,000+ five-star ratings. If you're committed to iOS or Mac and want a polished mobile-first experience, it's the strongest option in that space.

Anytune's Genuine Advantage

Mobile-first design and Apple integration. Anytune was built for touch interfaces. The iPad experience is excellent: large waveforms, intuitive gestures, iCloud sync across devices. If mobile practice is central to your workflow, Anytune delivers where Practice Session currently can't.

The 5% minimum speed also matches Transcribe!'s extreme slowdown capability, and the Step-It-Up trainer for automatic speed progression is well-implemented.

Where Practice Session Is the Better Choice

For desktop users, especially on Windows or Linux, Practice Session offers significant advantages:

• Cross-platform: Windows, Mac, Linux. Anytune is Apple-only. If you're on Windows, or might switch in the future, Anytune isn't an option.
• Notation sync: MusicXML and Guitar Pro integration with bar grid overlay. Anytune has no notation support.
• 12-key training: Key Acrobat automatically transposes through all keys, essential for jazz musicians practicing standards. Anytune requires manual transposition.
• Auto-generate regions from notation: Load a Guitar Pro file and instantly convert its sections (Intro, Verse, Chorus) into practice regions. Huge time-saver when starting a new song.
• Lyrics sections to regions: Same workflow for lyrics: import an LRC file and convert timestamped sections into loops automatically.
• Multi-window workspace: Arrange notation, lyrics, waveform, and controls in separate windows. Positions and sizes are remembered between sessions.
• Deeper customization: Multi-key shortcuts, extensive waveform display options, configurable behaviors throughout.

If mobile practice on iOS is essential to your workflow, Anytune is excellent. For desktop practice, particularly with notation integration or on non-Apple platforms, Practice Session provides a more powerful workspace.

Capo — Automatic Chord Detection

SuperMegaUltraGroovy's Capo won an Apple Design Award in 2011. Its differentiator is automatic chord detection: the app analyzes songs and displays chord diagrams that update when you transpose.

Capo's Genuine Advantage

Automatic chord identification. Load a song, and Capo identifies chords throughout, displaying diagrams for guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, and more. Users report it "gets you 90% there." When you transpose, chord diagrams update automatically.

No other app in this comparison offers comparable automatic chord detection. If learning chords by ear is your primary challenge, Capo addresses it directly.

Where Practice Session Is the Better Choice

If chord detection isn't your primary need, Practice Session offers more in nearly every other dimension:

• Speed range: 10%–400% vs Capo's 25%–150%. Practice Session goes slower and much faster.
• One-time pricing: $29 once vs Capo's $40-50/year subscription. Over 2-3 years, Practice Session costs significantly less.
• Cross-platform: Windows, Mac, Linux vs Capo's Apple-only.
• Notation sync: Display actual sheet music synchronized to playback, more precise than chord diagrams for complex parts.
• Lyrics support: Capo has none.
• Training automation: Speed progression and 12-key training. Capo has neither.
• Per-region settings: Independent audio parameters for each section.

Capo's automatic chord detection is unique and useful for guitarists learning songs by ear. If that's your primary need, it's worth considering despite the subscription cost and platform limitations. For everything else, especially notation-based practice or cross-platform needs, Practice Session is the more capable choice.

Audacity — The Free Option

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor. It can slow down music, but it's not designed for practice workflows.

When Audacity Makes Sense

Budget constraint is absolute. If $29 isn't possible right now, Audacity is functional. You can slow down audio (destructively; the Change Tempo effect modifies your file), manually select regions, and pitch shift.

Why Dedicated Practice Software Is Worth It

Audacity requires multiple steps for operations that take one click in Practice Session:

• Non-destructive speed: Practice Session adjusts speed in real-time. Audacity applies a destructive edit; to try a different speed, you undo and reapply.
• Saved loop points: Practice Session remembers regions and settings for each song. Audacity has no persistent loops, so you re-select regions each session.
• No practice features: No speed training, no key cycling, no notation, no lyrics. Audacity is an audio editor, not practice software.

The Gear Page consensus: "Transcribe vs Audacity — NO COMPARISON!" The same applies here. If you practice regularly, the time saved with dedicated software pays for itself quickly.

What About AI Tools Like Moises?

Moises has 65+ million users and won Apple's iPad App of the Year. Its headline feature is AI-powered stem separation, isolating vocals, drums, bass, guitar, and other instruments from mixed recordings.

Stem separation is useful technology. Bassists isolate bass lines. Drummers remove drum tracks and practice along. The quality has improved significantly since 2023.

But stem separation and practice workflows are different problems. Moises extracts audio stems. Practice Session helps you work with audio systematically: structured loops, notation sync, key training, speed progression.

Many musicians use both: Moises to extract stems, then Practice Session (or another practice app) to work with those stems. The tools complement rather than compete.

The pricing models also differ: Moises is subscription-based ($50–120/year for Premium), while Practice Session is a one-time $29 purchase.

Which App Should You Choose?

Your Situation	Recommendation
Desktop user wanting a complete practice workspace	Practice Session — notation sync, training automation, modern UX
Windows or Linux user	Practice Session — Anytune and Capo are Apple-only
Working with sheet music or Guitar Pro tabs	Practice Session — only option with notation sync
Jazz musician practicing standards in all keys	Practice Session — Key Acrobat is unique
Want the most affordable full-featured option	Practice Session — $29 vs $39-50 competitors
Need extreme 5% slowdown and spectrum analysis	Transcribe! — unmatched extreme slowdown and spectrum analysis
Mobile practice is essential (iOS/Android)	Anytune or ASD — Practice Session doesn't have mobile apps yet
Want automatic chord detection	Capo — unique feature, but subscription and Apple-only
Need AI stem separation	Moises — different problem space, complements practice apps
Absolute budget constraint	Audacity — free, but significant workflow overhead

Why I Built Practice Session

The apps above do their specific things well. But I kept finding myself switching between tools, manually setting up practice regions, and wishing I could just load a Guitar Pro tab and have the sections ready to loop.

Practice Session is designed as a practice hub where everything lives in one place:

• Music library with hierarchical folders to organize what you're working on
• Notation sync that displays MusicXML or Guitar Pro files alongside audio, with a bar grid on the waveform
• Auto-generated practice regions from Guitar Pro sections or lyrics timestamps, so you can start practicing a new song in seconds
• Custom sequences to queue up multiple sections, each with independent speed, pitch, EQ, and volume
• Key Acrobat for automatic 12-key transposition training
• Speed Trainer for progressive tempo increases
• Modern, customizable interface: drag-and-drop throughout, multi-key shortcuts, multi-window layouts with saved positions, extensive display options

The current $29 price is introductory. The feature scope would justify a higher price, but we're keeping it low while building initial user base. If you're considering Practice Session, now is a good time.

Pricing Summary (January 2026)

App	Desktop	Mobile	Model
Practice Session	$29	—	One-time (launch price)
Transcribe!	$39	—	One-time
Amazing Slow Downer	$40	$10-15	One-time
Anytune	$35 (Mac)	$15 (iOS)	One-time
Capo	—	—	$40-50/year
Moises	—	—	$50–120/year
Audacity	Free	—	Open source

Final Thoughts

Each app in this comparison does something well. Transcribe! is unmatched for extreme transcription work. Anytune owns mobile practice on iOS. Capo's chord detection is unique. Moises leads AI stem separation.

Practice Session occupies a different space: a comprehensive desktop practice hub with notation integration, training automation, and modern UX, at the lowest price point of the full-featured options.

For most desktop musicians who want more than basic slow-down functionality, I believe Practice Session is the best Amazing Slow Downer and Anytune alternative available. The 14-day free trial lets you judge for yourself.

Note: I've done my best to accurately represent each app's features and pricing. Software changes over time, and my hands-on experience varies across these tools. If you spot any inaccuracies, please let me know so I can correct them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best Amazing Slow Downer alternative?

For desktop users, Practice Session offers the same core slow-down and looping features as Amazing Slow Downer, plus notation sync, training automation, and a more modern interface—at a lower price ($29 vs $40). If you need mobile apps, Anytune is a strong alternative on iOS and Android.

Is Anytune available for Windows?

No, Anytune is only available for iOS, Mac, and Android. Windows users looking for an Anytune alternative should consider Practice Session (Windows, Mac, Linux) or Amazing Slow Downer (Windows, Mac).

Which app is best for transcribing music?

Transcribe! remains the gold standard for extreme transcription work, with 5% minimum speed and spectrum analysis. Practice Session is a strong alternative with 10% minimum speed and multiple audio modes optimized for transcription, plus notation sync that Transcribe! lacks.

What's the cheapest music practice app?

Audacity is free but lacks practice-specific features. Among dedicated practice apps, Practice Session at $29 (one-time) is the most affordable full-featured option. Capo requires a $40-50/year subscription, and Moises costs $50-120/year.