1. Using the PowerPoint "Record Narration" feature
The most popular way to narrate a PowerPoint presentation is to use the Record Narration feature within PowerPoint. This feature is a convenient audio recording tool that does not require additional software. To access this feature, choose the "Slide Show" menu and select "Record Narration". From the Record Narration dialog box, you can set your microphone levels and adjust quality settings.
2. Inserting external sound files on slide transition
An effective way to narrate your presentation is to add pre-recorded narration under the "Slide Transition" settings. This is a simple process and is therefore highly recommended. To insert sound within the Slide Transition settings simply click the "Slide Show" menu and select "Slide Transition". click on the "Sound" drop down menu. Select the "Other Sound" option located at the bottom of the list. This will launch the "Add Sound" dialog box, from which you can browse for your pre-recorded sound file on your computer.
3. Inserting external sound files within an animated object
An effective way to insert sound into your presentation is to incorporate a pre-recorded sound file within an animated object. Adding a sound file to an animation is a useful tool for easy timing of narration with a specific slide event. Open the "Slide Show" menu, and select "Custom Animation". This will launch the "Custom Animation" setting panel on the right of the PowerPoint slide area. Select the first object that you would like to animate.and click the "Add Effect" button and choose an effect for the selected object from those available in the drop-down box.
Once you have chosen an effect, the animated object appears in the Custom Animation timeline area. Right-click the object you wish to add sound to and select the "Effect Options" menu item. This will launch the Effect Options dialog box for the effect that has been applied to the selected object. Select the "Effect" tab. Within the "Effect" tab, you will see a "Sound:" drop-down box which will read "[No Sound]". Click on the drop-down box and select "Other Sound" from the list. This will launch the "Add Sound" dialog box.
4. Inserting external sound files as a media object on the slide
A common method for inserting sound in your presentation is to add a pre-recorded sound file as a media object on the slide. This option will result in a speaker icon appearing on each slide.
When inserting a sound as a media object, the process is as follows.
On the "Insert" menu select "Movies and Sounds" and then "Sound from File". This will launch the "Insert Sound" dialog box. Once you have selected the file from its location, click "OK".
The media object sound icon will appear on your slide and a dialog box will read: "How do you want the sound to start in the slide show?"
You can answer "Automatically" if you would like the sound file to play automatically when it is animated, or you can answer "When Clicked" if you only want the sound to play when the speaker icon is clicked on by the viewer.
Once you have inserted sound into your presentation, there is no need to worry about timing in PowerPoint to get perfectly synchronized presentations. In Impatica for PowerPoint, just use the "Wait for Sound" options on the Media tab to specify exactly how your presentation should be synchronized.
Use Wait for Sound "at end of slide" to have slides advance only once the entire sound has been played. Use Wait for Sound "at end of animation" to perfectly synchronize narration inserted on animation effects (i.e. using method #3 above).
Content provided by Impatica for PowerPoint.
Impatica for PowerPoint is an award winning desktop software that allows you to deliver media-rich PowerPoint content over the internet and to many handheld devices without software issues, file size problems, or plug-in complications that restrict you with Flash. Masterviews visitors can act now and save 40% on Impatica for PowerPoint!
