How to add voice overs to PowerPoint presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint is an incredibly versatile collaborative tool. It offers so much flexibility, design options, and facilitates easy sharing. Business professionals, teachers, students, and others can create presentations about a specific topic.

If you need to prepare a presentation for work or school, perhaps you’re wondering how to make a slide show more interesting. Adding a voiceover presentation is an excellent solution.

By following the best voiceover practices, your entire presentation becomes more exciting and easier to follow. This article explains why voiceover is important and how to record narration over a PowerPoint presentation.

What is PowerPoint?

PowerPoint, or PPT for short, is a presentation software. Part of the Microsoft Office suite, you can use PowerPoint to create a slide show containing charts, images, videos, and other vital information. Using PowerPoint to present a project or an idea in a corporate setting is common.

Which options you’ll have access to depends on your version of PowerPoint. But some features have remained the same since the original iteration. PowerPoint also offers features like transitions, animations, templates, and different layouts.

If you’ve purchased a Microsoft 365 package or a business version of the operating system, you can access PowerPoint. It’s also vital to point out that users can export slides in various file formats, including JPG, PDF, XML, and GIF.

Why add voiceovers to your PowerPoint presentations?

Imagine you’re watching a silent movie. While the visuals might be captivating, without an audio icon or sound, you might feel something’s missing. The same goes for presentations. While slides with text and images in your slide deck can convey information, adding your voice can bring that content to life.

Firstly, voice overs give your presentation a personal touch. Instead of just reading slides, your audience hears your voice guiding them through the content. By simply clicking on the audio icon in the top left of the slide, they can hear your narration. It’s like having a conversation rather than giving a one-sided lecture. This can make your audience feel more connected to the material and to you as the presenter.

Secondly, not everyone processes information the same way. Some people are auditory learners, which means they understand and remember things better when they hear them. By adding voice overs, you cater to these learners, ensuring that more of your audience grasps and retains the information you’re sharing. And if you’re on a budget, there are text to speech software free options available that can help you create these voiceovers.

Additionally, voice overs can provide clarity. Sometimes, text on a slide can be ambiguous or open to interpretation. With voice overs, you can explain complex ideas, emphasize important points, and give context where needed. It’s like having a helpful narrator explaining a story, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. And with the check box feature, listeners can mark points they want to revisit later.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the convenience factor. If someone missed your live presentation, having a version with voice overs means they can still get the full experience on their own time. They can pause, rewind, and replay sections they find challenging, making it a flexible learning tool.

In short, adding voice overs to your PowerPoint presentations makes them more engaging, clear, and accessible. It’s a simple step that can make a world of difference in how your content is received and understood.

Steps for creating a voiceover for your PowerPoint presentation

The good news is that it’s pretty easy to create a PowerPoint presentation with a voiceover. The software has a built-in feature, so you don’t need to rely on third-party apps. Whether you’re using a Windows or Mac computer, it doesn’t matter.

The steps are identical for both. However, to record sound, you need to make sure the audio on your device works. You can either use the integrated mic on your laptop or a headset.

Follow this tutorial to record a slide show and add a voiceover:

1. Launch PowerPoint on your Mac or Windows computer.
2. Open an existing presentation or start a new one.
3. Navigate to the “Insert” menu from the main toolbar.
4. Select “Audio,” and click on the drop-down arrow, click on “Record Audio.”
5. Name the audio file and select record button when you’re ready.
6. When you’re done, select the Play button to listen to the playback from the dialog box.
7. If you’re happy with the results, click on the “Insert” button.
8. Go to the File tab and select the “Save As” option to save the new PowerPoint presentation.

Note: You can press the “ESC” button on your keyboard to exit the record audio function.

Make sure to follow the slide timings as you record the voiceover. If you don’t like the audio recording, click the cancel button and start re-recording.

Also, recording voiceover is not the only solution in PowerPoint. You can also create a video that follows your PowerPoint slides. If you go to the Slide Show tab, you’ll find the “Record” button, which allows you to record video and voice.

Tips for creating a great voiceover

Audio narration is straightforward in theory. However, there’s a lot you need to consider when recording an excellent voiceover. Here are a few tips that can help.

Check your gear

It’s essential to make sure your audio is clear and crisp. You don’t need high-end equipment, but you must ensure everything works. Check the audio settings on your device and use a microphone stand if necessary.

Always prepare

You can prepare for a voiceover in several ways. First and foremost, write a script. PowerPoint voiceovers work best if you’re reading from a script. If you didn’t write it, make sure to read through it at least once.

Moving from the current slide to the next slide without preparing well will result in poor-quality voiceovers. Finally, have a glass of water next to you as you record in case your mouth gets dry.

Eliminate noises

You may not notice background noises at first, but your audio equipment likely will. Before you click on the speaker icon in PowerPoint and start recording, close the windows and doors. Turn off all notifications and remove the clock from the room if it’s noisy.

Be confident

If you’re not confident about the subject you’re narrating, the audience will pick up on it. Being confident is often easier said than done, but that’s truly the key to a great voiceover. Your presentation will be much better and more interesting if you add some personality to the script and deliver your lines like a pro.

Enhancing your presentation with additional features

Now that your voice-over is successfully integrated into your PowerPoint slide deck, you can further enhance it by incorporating additional features. Consider the following:

Incorporating background music and sound effects

Background music and sound effects can add depth and impact to your presentation. Use them sparingly and strategically to evoke emotions, emphasize key points, or create a particular atmosphere. Ensure that the volume levels are balanced, and the audio does not overpower your voice-over or distract your audience from the main content.

Using animations and transitions effectively

Animations and transitions can bring your presentation to life and make it visually engaging. Use them strategically to guide your audience’s attention, highlight important information, or create smooth transitions between slides. However, be cautious not to overuse animations, as excessive animations can be distracting and diminish the professionalism of your presentation.

Speechify – Record narration for PowerPoint presentations with text to speech

There’s another way to include a voice in your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a Speechify account, you can start recording the voiceover whenever and include the audio file later.

Speechify is a text to speech software that reads any digital text aloud. Text to speech is a type of assistive technology and a fantastic tool for creating voiceovers. If you’re ready to start recording voiceovers for your PPT presentations, check out Speechify today for free.

FAQ

What is the benefit of voiceover on a PowerPoint?

The main benefit of voiceover on a PowerPoint is that it adds an explanation to the presentation. If you can’t present your slides in person, using a voiceover is the next best solution. The same applies if you’re uncomfortable presenting in person but use a voiceover instead.

What is the best first slide in a PowerPoint?

The first, or opening slide in PowerPoint, impacts the viewers’ expectations. It’s crucial to grab attention using statistics or an interesting piece of data. You can also write a short joke or ask an important question. Sometimes, a quote is an excellent way to start a PowerPoint Presentation.

What other text to speech apps are available?

Speechify is one of the best text to speech apps on the market. However, there are other options available. Users can consider Amazon Polly, NaturalReader, Speech Central, Voice Dream Reader, and several others.