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How to Add Audio to Slides in PowerPoint 2016
Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
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In today's digital world, presentations are an integral way for many people to effectively convey their messages. PowerPoint, a widely used tool, offers a wide range of features. One such feature is the ability to add audio to your slides, which improves the presentation experience for your audience. By integrating sound, you can provide commentary, add background music, or even enhance specific parts of your slide show with audio cues. PowerPoint 2016 makes this process simple. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to add audio to your PowerPoint 2016 slides.
Getting started with audio integration
Before you add audio, you need to have the audio files you want to integrate into your slides. Preferably, these files should be in a format supported by PowerPoint, such as MP3, WAV, or WMA.
Once your audio file is ready, open your PowerPoint presentation. Make sure PowerPoint 2016 is properly installed on your machine, and you will be ready to follow these steps to seamlessly add audio to your presentation.
Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation
To begin, open the PowerPoint presentation you want to add audio to. Once your presentation is open, go to the slide where you want to insert the audio. If you want the audio to highlight or explain information on a specific slide, it's important to select the proper slide.
Step 2: Inserting audio into the slide
2.1 Locate the insert tab
At the top of your PowerPoint interface, you will find a menu with various tabs such as Home, Insert, Design, Transition, and more. Click the Insert tab to see options related to inserting objects into your slide.
2.2 Select audio options
In the Insert tab, look for the Audio button, which is usually located on the right side of the ribbon. Once you find it, click Audio. A drop-down menu will appear, with different options for inserting audio.
If you have a specific audio file stored on your computer, select Audio on My PC. You can also select Record Audio if you want to record your own custom audio directly through PowerPoint.
2.3 Insert audio from file
If you choose Audio on My PC, a dialog box will pop up, allowing you to browse the directories on your computer. Find and select the audio file you want to use, then click the Insert button. This action will embed the audio file into your selected slide.
Step 3: Manage audio playback
3.1 Set the position of the audio icon
Once you add the audio file, PowerPoint places an audio icon on your slide by default. You can move this icon to your preferred location on the slide by clicking and dragging it. This is purely for visual purposes, and your audience will see this icon when you play the presentation, unless you want to hide it.
3.2 Adjust audio playback settings
Click the audio icon, and you'll see a new tab called Playback on the ribbon. This tab contains all the options to control the behavior of your audio file during the presentation.
Here are some adjustments you can make:
- Start: Choose how and when the audio will start playing. You can choose from three options:
- On Click: Audio plays when you click the audio icon.
- Automatically: The audio starts as soon as the slide appears in the presentation.
- Play across slides: The audio continues to play as you move to the next slides, which is useful for adding background music throughout the presentation.
- Volume: Adjust the audio volume according to your needs. It can be set to low, medium, high or mute.
- Loop Until Stopped: Enable this option if you want the audio to play continuously until you stop it. This is useful for recurring background music.
- Hide During Presentation: Check this box if you want to make the audio icon invisible during the presentation.
- Rewind after play: This will automatically rewind the audio after it has been played.
Step 4: Preview your audio
It's a good practice to preview the audio once it's set up. Simply go into Slide Show view to see how the audio integrates with your presentation. This allows you to change any settings if the audio doesn't play as expected.
4.1 Running a slide show
For a preview, click the Slide Show tab and select From Current Slide. This will start the presentation from the selected slide, allowing you to experience the audio just like your audience.
Watch how and when your audio plays and make sure the audio levels and playback timing are exactly right. If adjustments need to be made, exit Slide Show view and fine-tune your settings in the Playback tab as needed.
Step 5: Other tips for audio optimization
Audio doesn't have to be static in your presentation. PowerPoint provides various tools to personalize audio to complement your content. Here are some advanced ways you can take your audio implementation even further.
5.1 Trimming an audio clip
Sometimes, audio clips may be long or contain parts that are not necessary for your presentation. PowerPoint allows you to trim audio files as needed:
- Click the audio icon, then go to the Playback tab.
- Select Trim Audio. A window will appear with a view of your audio file.
- Set the start and end time by adjusting the green and red sliders. You can also enter the exact time in seconds if needed.
- Click OK to apply the trim.
5.2 Adding animation to audio
By default, the audio plays without any visual cues, but you can synchronize it with the animations for a better experience. Here's how:
- Select your audio icon.
- Click the Animation tab on the ribbon.
- Choose an effect from the list, such as appearing, flying, etc.
- Use the Animation pane to adjust the timing and sequence of audio with other animations.
By combining audio with animation, you can emphasize specific points and control the pace of your presentation more effectively.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can effectively add audio to improve your PowerPoint 2016 presentations. Audio elements can transform a simple presentation into a more engaging and informative session, giving your audience a multi-sensory experience. Whether you're adding instructional commentary, using music for emotional effect, or making your content more accessible, mastering audio in PowerPoint is an essential skill.
Remember that the key to a successful presentation lies not only in the audio content, but also in its seamless integration with the visual elements and the overall flow. Review your presentation from the perspective of your audience to ensure that the audio complements and enhances your message.
With practice, you will be able to create professional and engaging presentations using the right balance of audio, visual, and textual elements. Enjoy presenting!
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