Usually 2x is too fast for me but, I may go that fast if I'm "skimming" for interesting content. Then I'll slow it down.
https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/media.html#dom-media-...
I also learned about https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/media.html#dom-media-... while digging up that link
Be aware that MDN reports playbackRate over 4.0 gets its audio muted https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/HTMLMediaEl...
I don't just want to reduce the time I spend listening to the presenter blather on about irrelevant stuff. I want to reduce the amount of irrelevant stuff the presenter blathers on about.
But also 2x even without fluff — unless the content is technical enough and unfamiliar enough that I need to slow down to absorb it. Or the person talks like the micromachines man.
1.4x or 1.5x, depending on recording quality, setting in which I am listening, and speaker clarity.
2x is ok for skimming/reviewing material.
For a couple of podcasts that I really enjoy, will keep it to 1.0x, but still with silence trimming.
Most modern media just isn't very deep nor trying to layer a lot of interesting symbolism; if it's fairly one-dimensional / one-layered then you can blast through anything at 2x or 3x.
In the modern social media era, it feels like sometimes video content is filled with as much stuff as possible, like with the average MrBeast video, but it's mostly sausage. None of it has any deep meaning nor does it build up to something greater than the sum of its parts.
If it's entertainment like audiobooks, it's for my enjoyment, so why should it be faster than 1x? If it's for education, everything faster than 1x makes it hard to understand, and if there is too much filler content, I will find another source to learn about it.
I use 1.5x-2x for stuff I have to listen too, but don't enjoy.
DowsingSpoon•1h ago
mdaniel•1h ago
Scoundreller•18m ago
Maybe some coefficient of word/thought complexity.
Not a relative multiple of the base rate. Garbage in, garbage out and all.