Record Narration in PowerPoint

6 minutes read

@ tutsplus.com

Learn how to add voiceover and annotations to your PowerPoint presentation. Narrate your slides using audio recording best practices and quick workflows.

You might think of PowerPoint as the app you use when you’re speaking to an audience. But what if that audience can’t be in the same room as you? You can do just that as we learn how to narrate a PowerPoint presentation.

Benefits of Narrating Your Presentation

You can record audio directly inside PowerPoint. This feature allows your viewers to play it back at their convenience. Best of all, the audio stays synced to the slide timings you set while recording.

If you send a presentation on its own, your audience may flip through the slides and miss key points. By adding narration, you reinforce your messages and enhance understanding. In this tutorial, you will learn how to effectively record narration in PowerPoint.

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When you narrate PowerPoint presentations, using a premium template can elevate your project. With thousands of designs, Envato Elements has you covered. Here are some of the very best:

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Now let’s delve into how to record quality audio narration in PowerPoint:

How to Quickly Record Narration in PowerPoint

Watch this quick, two-minute screencast below for a guided tour on recording narrations in PowerPoint. In it, you’ll learn how to add narration to your presentation or on selected slides:

Prefer written instructions? Keep reading to walk through the steps to add narration to your PowerPoint presentation.

Audio Recording Best Practices for Proper PowerPoint Narration

With an affordable microphone, you can easily add the commentary your audience should hear. It’s easy to include it with the final PowerPoint presentation file so that your commentary follows the PPTX file.

You may not have access to a professional recording studio, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve the audio quality of your voiceover.

Great narrated PowerPoint examples have clear, easy-to-understand audio. Here are some tips to enhance your PowerPoint narration:

Prepare an Outline or Script: As a presenter, I always like to write an outline or script for my recorded audio. Use the speaker notes section in PowerPoint or print your notes to keep your audio on track.
Upgrade Your Microphone: Purchase an inexpensive USB microphone for better sound quality than your laptop’s built-in microphone. I recommend the Samson Go Mic, which clips to the top of my laptop. You can also use wireless headphones like Apple AirPods to narrate. Remember, the best microphone is the one you have with you.
Minimize Background Noise: Turn off fans and devices, and close doors to avoid distractions.

Steps to Record Narration for PowerPoint

Let’s walk through how to properly set up for audio recording. You’ll learn how to professionally record your narration and add it to your PowerPoint slides.

As you follow the instructions for adding narration, it helps to have a great design. We’ll use the beautiful Sora - Multipurpose Presentation from Envato Elements as our example.

Note: These instructions are based on Windows and Office365. If you’re using a different operating system or version of PowerPoint, your steps may vary.

Step 1. Set Up Your Microphone

Before starting, ensure your microphone is plugged in and ready to record. Access the audio device settings on your system to set your default microphone, selecting your external microphone over the built-in one.

PowerPoint doesn’t allow you to change the recording device or set volume levels, so make sure it’s ready before you dive in.

Step 2. Press Record in PowerPoint

To record narrations in PowerPoint, locate the Slide Show tab on the ribbon. Click on it to access the available options.

Start on the first slide to record audio and timings for the entire presentation. Click the Record button to launch the Recording menu, where you will see thumbnails of your slides below, and a menu bar at the top.

Make sure you’re ready before pressing Start Recording. After you click, you can narrate while PowerPoint records both audio and screen activity.

Step 3. Start Recording Your Narration

After clicking Record, notice the round red button in the top center—it indicates that PowerPoint is not yet recording audio. Click this button to begin. A three-second countdown will appear, and once it reaches zero, your microphone is live, capturing your narration.

Keep an eye on the Recording menu with the runtime counter at the top to track time as you present.

Begin speaking and navigating through your slide deck using the arrow keys. PowerPoint records what’s on your screen along with your audio.

When finished, click the red Record button again to stop the recording. If possible, use Presenter View for a better experience, allowing a preview of your next slide and your speaking notes on a second screen.

Step 4. Use Annotations (Optional)

While recording, you can add annotations to emphasize specific points in your slides. You can use a digital pen, highlighter, or laser pointer to make markings.

This feature is especially useful for drawing attention to specific content during your narration. You can access annotation controls below your slide previews.

Step 5. Reset Presentation Timings as Needed

If your slide timings need adjusting, you can easily restart the process. Ensure you’re on the Slide Show tab and click Rehearse Timings. Your presentation will enter full-screen mode, and you can use the arrow keys to set new timings.

Once you’re finished, your presentation will include your narration, perfectly timed for your viewers.

You can also save your narrated PowerPoint audio track as part of a video.

How to Add Audio (Narration) for Selected PowerPoint Slides

If you prefer not to record audio for the entire presentation, you can add audio to selected slides.

Click on the Insert tab on the ribbon, and find the Audio button on the right side. Ensure your microphone is selected in your system settings before proceeding.

From the drop-down menu, you can add audio clips recorded in other apps or record audio directly in PowerPoint by selecting Record Audio.

Press the red Record button in the new window to capture audio and place it on your selected slide.

More Top Templates for Microsoft PowerPoint

As you learn how to add narration to PowerPoint, remember that premium templates can enhance your presentations. Check out more top templates that work perfectly with our steps for narrating PowerPoint slides!

You Just Learned How to Record a Voiceover on PowerPoint

Voiceovers are a fantastic way to share your insights with viewers, even when you’re not in the same room. Now that you know how to narrate PowerPoint slides, it’s your turn to practice. Re-open a past slide deck and narrate it, then share your narrated presentation. Your audience will surely appreciate the enhanced understanding!

Editorial Note: This post has been updated and a new video added with help from Andrew Childress, a freelance instructor for Envato Tuts+.

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