Sound Files in Powerpoint

Sound in Microsoft Powerpoint
Technology Mini Lesson
Huntley Project Schools
Inserting sound files into PowerPoint
PowerPoint can handle a number of different sound files including MIDI, AIFF, and
MP3, however it's preferred file format is the WAV, particularly on the Windows platform.
Adding sound from a file
1. If you wish to use a new sound, make sure you download and save the file on
your computer, preferably in the same folder with your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Click on Insert menu < Movies and Sounds < Sound from File
3. In the Look in drop-down menu, specify the drive and folder where the sound file
is located.
4. In the file list, click the sound file you want, then click OK.
5. PowerPoint may ask you whether you want the sound to play automatically or on
mouse-click. If you choose mouse click, you will need to click the icon during the
presentation to start it playing.
Recording your own sound files
To record sound files, you need to plug a microphone into the mic jack on your
computer's sound card.
The following steps show you how to record a narration for a slide.
1. In Normal or Slide View, click on the slide you want to add a recording to.
2. Click the Insert menu < Movies and Sounds < Record Sound.
3. When the Record Sound dialog box appears, type a name for your recording in
the Name box.
4. Use the Play, Stop, and Record buttons to record your narration.
5. If you want to change your recording, you need to delete it and start over. Hit the
Cancel button from the Record Sound dialog, or select the
icon on the slide
and hit Delete.
6. When you're satisfied with your recording, click OK. The Record Sound dialog
box will close, and a
speaker icon will appear in the middle of your slide. You
can resize this icon or move it to other parts of the slide.
Adding music from CDs
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If you have a CD ROM drive installed in your computer, you can add CD music tracks to
your PowerPoint presentations. However, you can only add the music tracks to slides.
The track will not attach to objects, animations, or transitions.
1. Select Insert menu < Movies and Sounds < Play CD Audio Track
2. Under Play CD Audio Track, enter the music track number in the Start and End
Track boxes provided. For example, to add the fifth track of the CD, type 5 in the
Start Track box and in the End Track box. If you want to play just the first 30
seconds of the track, type 00:30 in the End Track At box.
3. When you are finished, click OK. The CD icon
will appear in the middle of
your slide. You can resize this icon or move it to other parts of the slide.
4. PowerPoint may ask you whether you want the sound to play automatically or on
mouse-click. If you choose mouse click, you will need to click the icon during the
presentation to start it playing.
Make sure the CD is in the drive during your presentation.
Otherwise, the music won't play.

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