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Lo-fi

Lo-fi effect online: turn any song lo-fi

Upload a track and it turns lo-fi: a dark top, 8-bit grain, hiss and noticeable speed drift, like an old sampler and worn tape. Preview the first 25 s for free.

25 s preview free · full version 1 token · WAV or MP3 320

Try it on your track →
  • 8-bit levels and a lower sample rate
  • Band 50 Hz – 7 kHz
  • The strongest drift of the five eras

What changes in the sound

  • A 50 Hz – 7 kHz band. The darkest top of the five eras, so the sound is soft and muffled.
  • 8-bit levels. The level is rounded to a coarse grid, which gives grain, especially on quiet tails.
  • A lower sample rate. Samples are held as if the sound went through a sampler at about 11–12 kHz, which makes the top rougher.
  • Strong speed drift. 0.8% about 0.7 times a second, twice as strong as cassette.
  • Hiss at about −50 dBFS, the loudest of the five eras, plus soft tape-style saturation.
An honest note on the presets. They imitate a medium artistically; they are not an exact copy of a record or tape. A preset does not even out the loudness; it only keeps peaks from going above 0 dBFS. To bring the version to streaming loudness, use mastering.

When lo-fi works

For chill beats, background music for study and work, lo-fi hip-hop covers and moody versions of songs. The effect is strong, so on vocal tracks 50–70% is often enough.

It pairs well with a slowed version: slow the track down by 10–15% first, then add lo-fi.

How to move a track to another era in 3 steps

  1. Upload the track: WAV, MP3, FLAC or M4A, a file up to 100 MB.
  2. Choose the medium and the amount, from a light touch to the full sound of the era (0–100%). Listen to the start of the track for free and compare it with the original.
  3. Make the full version after signing in and download it as WAV or MP3 320 kbps. Tracks up to 10 minutes.

What it costs

WhatPrice
PreviewFree, the first 25 s of the track. Free previews per day: 20, no sign-in needed.
Full version1 token per file, after signing in. If the version fails on our side, the token comes back.

The preview limit resets at midnight UTC.

What to do next

Track masteringBring the version to streaming loudness; the era's character stays. All five erasVinyl, tape, cassette, AM radio and lo-fi compared in one table.
About rights. Process your own tracks or tracks you have the rights to. Publishing such a version of someone else's song needs the rights holder's permission.

Questions and answers

How is lo-fi different from cassette?

Lo-fi is rougher: the top is cut lower (7 kHz against 10 kHz), it adds 8-bit levels and a lower sample rate, and the drift is twice as strong.

Does it add drums or rain sounds?

No. The tool only changes the sound of your track: the band, the bit depth, the noise and the speed. It does not add new parts or nature sounds.

Is it free?

Previewing the first 25 s is free and needs no sign-in; free previews per day: 20. The full version costs 1 token per file and needs a sign-in.

Can I make the effect lighter?

Yes. The Amount slider blends the processing with the original from 0 to 100% in 5% steps. At 30–50% you keep a light touch of the medium; at 100% you get the full preset.

Should I master it afterwards?

If the version goes to streaming platforms, yes. The preset does not even out loudness; it only keeps peaks under 0 dBFS. Mastering brings the loudness to the platform's target and keeps the era's character.

More: all sound eras · sped up and slowed versions · track clip · track mastering

Move your track to another era

The first 25 s are free, no sign-in needed.

Open Sound era →