Do you want your Google Docs to be more professional? Learn how to add voice overs to your Google documents and presentations.

Google Docs voice overs guide

Google Docs is a versatile and convenient word-processing tool that many use every day. From presentations to highly collaborative documents, it can help improve efficiency and workflow. Google Docs can become even more engaging and helpful when using voice over narration for presentations, voice typing, and text to speech.

Adding that auditory layer to your work will enhance comprehension for other people on the team. In this article, you’ll learn exactly how you can integrate voice overs and other similar features in Google Docs.

What can Google Docs do?

There are multiple features that Google Docs has besides the usual everyday options from which most people choose. Below are some creative ways to add flare to your work using audio recordings. These methods work on Google Slides, Google Sheets, and documents.

Voice overs

You can create voice overs for your audience so that they can listen to presentations in Google Slides or PowerPoint. As soon as the user opens the file, they can hear the material from the start. This is proven to be an effective strategy for learning and successful company briefs. Here’s how you can do it.

Voice over for Google Slides

To make a voice over on Google Slides, you must first make your complete presentation along with separate audio files for the narration of each slide. You can do this by either recording the material yourself using speaker notes or using a voice generator.

1. Create audio files for each slide and upload them to Google Drive. You can do this with your voice recorder.
2. Add audio to your slide and configure the play settings. This option can be found in the dropdown menu after selecting "Insert" and then "Audio" in the toolbar.
3. Navigate your cursor on the speaker icon to access the "Format options" menu.
4. Choose whether you want the audio to play automatically or manually when the slide is clicked by a listener.

• You can define whether the recording should stop or repeat once it reaches the end by selecting the "Loop" option after you insert audio that you need for each slide.
• You also have the option of dragging the play button on your slide, resizing it, and recoloring it.

Voice over for Microsoft Powerpoint

Follow the steps below to create a voice over for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the slide to which you want to add a voice over.
2. Click on "Insert" and select "Audio" from the dropdown menu at the top of the screen.
3. Choose "Record Audio" and record your voice over for the selected slide.
4. Review and edit the recording, then save and repeat for the next slide until you’re finished.
5. Save your PowerPoint presentation and share it with your audience.

Voice typing

Google Docs also allows you to type with your voice. Here’s how you can do this as well.

To use voice typing in a document, follow the steps below: 

1. Make sure that your microphone is plugged in and is properly working.
2. Launch a document in Google Docs via Chrome browser or any other web browser. You can use other browsers, but Google Chrome is recommended.
3. Select "Tools" and then "Voice typing" to display a microphone box.
4. Click the microphone button when you're prepared to speak.
5. Speak audibly, at a standard rate and volume (for further instructions on using punctuation, refer below).
6. When finished, click the microphone button to enable the voice typing option.

The process for Google Slides presentations is completely the same; just make sure you have your presentation open on the screen instead of the document.

Text to speech

You can also use text to speech within Google Docs to read the transcription of your material aloud.

1. Open the document that you want to read and select the text you want to hear.
2. Press the "CTRL" and "A" keys at the same time as a keyboard shortcut to select all the text.
3. Click on "Accessibility" on the top menu bar.
4. Select "Speak Selection" from the "Speak" dropdown menu.
5. The screen reader software will then read the selected text out loud.

Chromevox Chrome extension

Additionally, you can adjust the voice speed and choose different voices by clicking on the settings option located right next to the play option. Many also choose to use Chromevox to read internet tabs aloud. This feature is available as a Chrome extension. After downloading the extension, here’s how you can use it:

Open your Google Chrome browser.

1. Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser.
2. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
3. Scroll down to the "Advanced" section and click on "Accessibility."
4. Toggle on the switch next to "ChromeVox" to disable the screen reader.

Keep in mind that there are a variety of text to speech apps, such as Speechify, that can do this too. Speechify is available across platforms, including Android devices, iOS, and Mac.

Benefits of using voice overs

Voice overs can provide an accessible and engaging way to deliver information. By adding audio to visual media, you can create a more dynamic experience for your audience. This can help to maintain their attention and increase their engagement with the content. Additionally, voice overs can be especially helpful for those with disabilities or language barriers that may make it difficult to read text on a screen.

In the context of Google Docs and presentations, voice overs can be a powerful tool for delivering information in a more impactful way. In Google Docs, voice overs can be added to provide an audio component to text-heavy documents, such as reports, manuals, tutorials, or academic papers. Overall, using voice overs in this context is an engaging way to make workflow easier.

Voice over generator

Using a voice generator for presentations and documents can add a professional touch by providing a clear and consistent tone. It also allows you to eliminate any potential issues with personal pronunciation, ensuring that the content is presented in the best possible light. Using an excellent voice generator can give your Google Docs presentations and documents a polished and engaging feel.

Speechify Voice Over Studio

Speechify Voice Over Studio is a useful tool for creating engaging and effective voice overs for your Google Docs projects. With Speechify, you can simply upload or type a script into the platform and access over 200 realistic voice options to narrate your project. You can also edit the speed, tone, and pauses in the narration to match the tone and style of your work as well as add background music to take your final product to the next level.

Additionally, Speechify's support for over 20 languages and accents could help make your Google Docs projects more accessible. So what are you waiting for? Whether you're creating presentations, reports, or other types of content, Speechify Voice Over Studio can elevate the impact of your work. Create professional-sounding voice overs for your Google Docs projects quickly and easily by signing up for Speechify Voice Over Studio today.

FAQ

Can I use voice typing in languages other than English?

Yes, Voice typing supports a variety of languages other than English, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, and many more.

How accurate is Google Docs voice typing?

The accuracy of Google Docs voice typing varies depending on factors such as the quality of your microphone, background noise, and the complexity of the language being spoken.