Good voice-over requires a well-written script that you deliver in a natural, comfortable voice.
Photo credit Trevor Brady
You also need a sound card and a computer that can handle the huge file that results.
PowerPoint lets you record narration as part of a slide show. Before you do this, however, test both your computer and your microphone to make sure they are up to the task.
Use Windows’ Sound Recorder, a Windows accessory, to do this test. You’ll find it in Accessories, Entertainment.
Note: If you did not install Sound Recorder when you installed Windows, you may need to open Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components to add it.
The instructions below have been tested in PowerPoint 2002 and 2003.
If you have 97 or 2000, read Geetesh Bahaj's excellent article at Indezine.
How to test sound recording
- Plug your microphone into your computer.
Do not use the microphone built in to your laptop or keyboard. Use a microphone that you wear as a headset and that is plugged in to the microphone port of your computer. This gives you much better recording quality.
Make sure your computer sound is turned on.
You may be able to do this with function keys.
If not, open Control Panel, Sound and Audio Devices, and check the settings.
Windows has test wizards that can help with this process.
- Open Sound Recorder.
- Choose New on the File menu to begin a new recording.
- Click the record button — a red dot — to start recording.
- When finished recording, click Stop, a black rectangle.
- Rewind the recording and then click Play.
If your voice is not recording, or there is static, make sure your microphone cable is securely connected to the microphone port.
Also check to make sure the microphone cable is not frayed or damaged.
If you have another microphone, run the same test with the second microphone to see if there is any difference in the results between the two.
If you still are getting poor recording, check with the sound card manufacturer to make sure you have the most recent drivers for your sound card.
If you are unable to get a good recording using Sound Recorder, you are unlikely to get a good recording in PowerPoint.
You may want to consider getting a new microphone or a new sound card.
