how to do a voice over on powerpoint presentation

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How to record voiceover narration in powerpoint.

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5 ai tools to analyze pdfs for free, 12 single-purpose mac apps i couldn't live without, quick links, preparation, record a voiceover for your presentation.

If you’re sending out your presentation instead of giving it in front of an audience, but you feel adding a vocal explanation would better help to deliver the message, record a voiceover narration. Here’s how to do it.

Before you begin your PowerPoint narration, you’ll need to make sure you’ve made the proper preparations.

Set Up Your Mic

First, you’ll need a microphone. Most modern computers have a built-in microphone that gets the job done, but investing in a USB microphone will increase the audio quality of the narration by quite a bit.

The built-in microphone will be set as your input device by default, so if you plan on using it for the PowerPoint narration, you don’t need to take any additional steps in setting it up. However, if you plan to use a USB microphone for the narration, be sure to set it as the input device.

To do this on Windows, right-click the volume icon found on the right of the taskbar. In the menu that appears, select “Open Sound Settings.”

The “Sound Settings” window will appear. Here, scroll down to the “Input” section and click the box under “Choose your input device.”

If you’re using a USB microphone, it will appear here. Select it to set it as the input device.

The steps for Mac users are extremely similar. The only difference is you should go to "System Settings" and select "Sound" instead of right-clicking the volume icon like on Windows. From there, the steps are the same.

Take Notes and Rehearse

With your mic set up, you’re ready to start recording, right? Well, not quite. While you may not be physically standing in front of the audience delivering this presentation, you still need to treat it as though you are. This means going through the basics---taking notes and rehearsing your delivery.

One thing you can do to help you record a successful narration is to write out a script. As with a live presentation, though, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading straight from your notecards. Practice reading through the script a few times so that it sounds natural and fluid.

Once you’re confident in your delivery, it’s time to start recording.

Open the PowerPoint presentation in which you would like to record a voiceover narration. Head over to the “Slide Show” tab and, in the “Set Up” group, select “Record Slide Show.” Once selected, a drop-down menu will appear. Here, you can choose to start the narration from the beginning or from the current slide. If you choose to start recording from the current slide, make sure that you’re on the slide you’d like to start recording from.

Related: How to Record Your Screen with Microsoft PowerPoint

In this example, we’ll choose “Record from Beginning.”

Now, you’ll be in full-screen mode. You’ll notice a few extra tools appear, including a record button at the top-left corner of the screen. When you’re ready to start recording, click this button.

When you select the record button, a countdown timer will appear, giving you a three-second delay between clicking the button and starting your recording.

You can now start recording your voiceover narration! Continue through the presentation by clicking the right arrow to go to the next slide.

You can pause the recording at any time by pressing the pause button in the top-left corner of the window. The recording will automatically end when you make it to the last slide. Alternatively, you can press the stop button, also located at the top-left corner of the screen.

If you want to play your narration back, you can select the replay button.

A speaker icon will appear at the bottom-right corner of each slide that has a recorded narration. You can also play your narration back on each slide by hovering over the icon and pressing the play button.

If you’re not satisfied with the narration, simply repeat these steps to re-record.

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• office 2019

How to do a voiceover on a PowerPoint presentation and add pre-recorded audio to your slides

• You can record a voiceover in PowerPoint and insert it into your next presentation using the software's Audio recording feature through the Insert menu.
• Recording and inserting a voiceover into PowerPoint is a relatively similar process on an Apple Macbook and Windows PC.  
• Once you've recorded your audio, you can click the microphone icon that appears on your slide and playback your recording. 
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

Public speaking is a valid and common fear. And although you might be trying to hone your public speaking with your free time at home , there's a way you can incorporate your voice into your next PowerPoint presentation without the pressure of speaking on the spot.

How? Microsoft PowerPoint has a feature that lets you create narration for all slides as you see fit. This way, you can record — and re-record — voiceovers for your presentations that won't make you cringe.

The process is virtually identical for both Mac and PC users and you can use your computer's built-in mic or a headset. Whatever your operating system of choice is, easily record narration over a PowerPoint slide in a few quick steps. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart).

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Headset (From $92.49 at Amazon)

How to record a voiceover for PowerPoint on a PC

1. Open a new or existing or presentation in PowerPoint.

2. From the top toolbar, select "Insert."

3. Toward the far right side, click "Audio."

4. Choose "Record Audio…"

5. Name your audio file. 

6. Click the circle icon when you're ready to start recording.

7. Select "OK" when you're done recording.

8. A microphone icon will indicate the narration has been added to the slide. 

How to record a voiceover for PowerPoint on a Mac

1. Open a new or existing or presentation in PowerPoint for Mac.

2. Find and select "Insert" from the top toolbar. 

4. Select "Record Audio…"

5. Name the audio file, and click the circle icon when you're ready to start recording.

6. Click "Insert" when you're ready to finalize.

7. You can click the microphone icon on the slide to hear your recording.  

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How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint

Narrate your presentations with ease

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What to Know

• Single slide: Select a slide. Go to Insert > Audio > Record Audio . Type a name, select Record , then read your script. Select Stop .
• Entire slideshow: Select View > Normal and choose the first slide. Select Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Record from Current Slide .
• To review the recording, click the sound indicator (it looks like a speaker) and then select Play to hear your recording.

This article explains how to record a voiceover on PowerPoint for a single slide or for the entire slideshow. The instructions apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 , PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, and PowerPoint 2013.

How to Record a Voiceover for a Single Slide

Before narrating your PowerPoint presentation, be prepared:

• You’ll need a microphone attached to, or built into, your computer. Test the microphone to make sure it is working. Set the sound level so your audio is easy to hear.
• Prepare yourself for the narration. Write a script you can follow while recording the voiceover. Practice the presentation a couple of times so your voiceover will sound smooth.
• Decide whether to record the voiceover one slide at a time or record a voiceover for the entire presentation in one go.

The simplest way to record audio for a voiceover is to record one slide at a time. To get started, select the slide where you want to add the narration, then go to Insert > Audio > Record Audio .

Here’s how to record a voiceover on the slide:

Type a Name for the voiceover narration.

Select Record (the button with a red dot).

Read your script or ad-lib the narration.

Select Stop when you’re finished recording.

The Record Sound dialog box disappears, and a speaker indicating sound appears in the center of the slide.

To review the recording, click that sound indicator and then select Play to hear your recording.

When you're finished, click anywhere outside the playback controls to accept the recording.

You’ll see an audio icon in the middle of the slide. Move this icon anywhere on the slide to get it out of the way of other elements on the slide.

How to Record a Voiceover for an Entire Presentation

The voiceover for the entire presentation can be recorded at one time. In addition to recording a voiceover, you can record a video of yourself giving your presentation.

To set up your presentation when you want to narrate an entire slideshow:

Select View > Normal

Select the first slide in the presentation where you want to record audio.

Select Slide Show > Record Slide Show > Record from Current Slide .

In PowerPoint 2019, the Recording window opens.

In PowerPoint 2016 and earlier versions, a Record Slide Show dialog box prompts you for further options. In the Record Slide Show box, select options to set up the slideshow:

• Slide and animation timings: When recording, PowerPoint automatically tracks the timing of slide changes and any animations that occur.
• Narrations, ink, and laser pointer: When recording, PowerPoint automatically tracks when narrations, any inking, or laser pointing occurs.

Leave both checked to make automating your slideshow easier.

Select Record .

In PowerPoint 2016, select Start Recording .

Select Pause to temporarily stop the recording if you need a break.

If you made a mistake and want to start over, select Clear > Clear Recordings.

In PowerPoint 2016 select Clear > Clear Recordings on Current Slide .

When you’ve finished recording a slide, select the Advance button to advance to the next slide or press the spacebar on your keyboard.

When you’re done recording your narration on the slide, select Stop and close the recording window to return to the presentation.

You may have noticed some controls at the bottom left side of the screen. These are a few controls to aid you in your presentation.

These handy handy tools include the Laser Pointer , Highlighter , and Eraser . As you advance through your presentation, mark or highlight parts of your slides as you narrate. PowerPoint records the timing of these marks (if you left the boxes checked) to go along with your narration. Likewise, using the laser pointer shows a simulated red laser dot so that you can point out different things on your slides as you narrate your presentation.

How to Listen to the Recorded Voiceover

Once you’ve recorded your narration, you can go back to the slides and listen to your voiceover.

Here’s how to play a narration:

Select the slide containing the voiceover you want to hear.

Look for the recording icon on the slide. It should appear as either a small video screenshot or a speaker icon on the slide.

Hover over select this icon and then click Play to preview the recording.

How to Turn a Voiceover Off

If you don’t want to hear your narrations when playing a slideshow, but want to keep the narrations with the slide, turn voiceover off.

To turn voiceover off, select Slide Show and click to deselect the Play Narrations checkbox.

How to Delete a Voiceover

There are a couple of ways to delete voiceover audio in your presentation. To delete the audio on a single slide, find and select the recording on that slide, then press the Delete key.

To delete the voiceover from all the slides in a presentation: Select Slide Show and then select the down arrow to open the Record Slide Show menu. Then, select Clear Narration on All Slides .

Embedding Versus Linking Audio Files in PowerPoint

When you use the PowerPoint tools to record a voiceover narration, the audio file is embedded in PowerPoint. This means the audio is part of the PowerPoint file and not stored in a separate file, making it easy to play your presentation on any device.

If you have audio you recorded using other software and it's stored on your computer, you can link to the audio file. Linked files keep your presentation size smaller, but links can be broken if the audio file isn't available to the PowerPoint presentation. To prevent broken links, store the presentation file and the audio files in the same folder on your computer.

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Blog > Record voice narration for PowerPoint

Record voice narration for PowerPoint

01.11.21   •  #presentation #powerpoint #voiceover #narration.

In this blog post, you'll learn how you can add a narration for your PowerPoint presentation. Adding audio or video narration can be very helpful, especially in a time where many seminars and meetings have to be conducted online. If you would rather give your presentation using a live stream (which has many benefits), scroll down to the bottom and learn how you can do that!

Here's what you need for recording:

• a microphone (your computer's microphone should do)
• a finished set of PowerPoint slides
• a video camera (only if you want to record video as well)

• Open your PowerPoint presentation or create a new one.
• In the taskbar, select Slide Show . Then click Record Slide Show .
• Choose the option Record from Beginning .

• You'll now get to a different view, which we'll call "Recorder View". Here's an overview:

• In the bottom right corner, you'll see three icons. The one on the left is for switching the microphone on/off. Make sure this function is turned on. The icon in the middle is for turning on/off your camera. You can choose if you want to switch the video recording on or not. The last icon is only available if you've chosen the video recording function. If the function is enabled, you'll be able to see a video preview.
• In the top right corner under "Settings", you can choose what microphone (and camera) you'd like to use. This is only relevant if you have an external recording device that you would like to use. If you're recording with your computer, you don't have to set anything here.
• Now it's time to record. Click the big red Record button on the top left and start speaking.
• Tip: You can either record all the slides at once without pressing pause, or you record each slide individually, then click pause, then go on to the next slide and record again. However, it's important to note that PowerPoint creates an individual audio file for each slide, even if you record all at once.
• Important : PowerPoint does not record during transitions, so only speak when you're on a slide.

• You can also draw on your slides with the painting tools on the bottom. These drawings will be saved to your presentations.
• On the bottom left corner, you'll see what slide you're on. You can also see two time counts. The first one is for the recording on the current slide, the second one is for the recording of the presentation overall.
• If you want to delete the whole voiceover, click Clear and Clear Recordings on all Slides . If you only want to delete the recording on the specific slide you are on, click Clear Recording on current Slide.
• If you want to re-record the audio from one slide after deleting it, just go to that slide and click Record again. Record what you want to say, then click Stop when you're done.
• Once you're done, leave the Recorder View. Click the small x in the top right corner or hit Esc .
• You can now either save the presentation as a regular PowerPoint file (just click Save and you're done) or as a video. If you'd like a video, follow the instructions below:

Save Presentation as Video

• Go to File in the PowerPoint taskbar

• Choose Export on the left, then Create a Video .

• Select the quality you'd like. We recommend Full HD (1080p).
• In the following drop-down menu, make sure Use Recorded Timings and Narrations is selected.

• The setting Seconds spent on each slide is only for the slides where there is no recording (if you have recordings on all of your slides, you can just ignore this setting.)
• Click Create Video and choose where the video should be saved. The video creation might take a while, so don't close PowerPoint right away!

Live interaction with polls & quizzes

If you prefer to give a talk where you can also interact with your audience, then the free software SlideLizard is the ideal solution! Using live polls , Q&A and feedback , your presentations will become even more exciting and interactive. SlideLizard integrates directly with PowerPoint, making it a breeze to use.

Can I record a presentation in PowerPoint?

Yes, PowerPoint also allows you to record your presentation with voice and video narration. You can read about how this works in our blog .

How can I record a presentation in PowerPoint with audio and video?

At first create your presentation. For the recording you will need a microphone (the one on your computer should do), your finished presentation and a video camera (if you also want to record a video). We have created a tutorial on our blog where you can read the further steps.

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About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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How to Narrate a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• October 29, 2019

In this article you’ll learn how to narrate a PowerPoint, with either just your voice or using the new video narration feature.

Firstly, there are two different tools you can use to narrate your PowerPoint slides.

#1: Record Audio  is the legacy PowerPoint narration tool. Although this tool doesn’t have as many features, it is faster to open and use, and is handy if you want to drop a voice note on a slide.

Features of this tool include:

• Voice narration only
• Adds narration to one slide at a time only

#2: Record Slide Show  is the NEWEST (and best) narration tool in PowerPoint, giving you two different types of narration options plus a variety of other options.

The features here are:

• Voice narration
• Video narration (so your audience can also see your face)
• Allows you to narrate an entire presentation in one sitting
• Automatically sets slide timings for you if you later want to convert PowerPoint into a video

And before you get lost in either tool, let’s cover a few things which will help you out (trust me).

Narration definition in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint, narration simply means recording your presentation as you walk someone through it, so that you can easily share the whole thing with someone else.

On top of that, if you get creative, you can use your narrated PowerPoint files to:

• Share your presentation with team members around the world
• Create a library of best practices for your company
• Build training materials for new hires

1. You don’t need fancy recording equipment

Don’t let fancy equipment or a professional recording studio hold you back from narrating your presentation. For most situations, using the built-in microphone on your personal computer is enough.

For example, if you are doing something relatively informal, such as walking a colleague through something in PowerPoint, the quality of your audio doesn’t need to be extremely high.

If you are creating training materials or giving an important presentation, I recommend getting a decent USB microphone (you can see a list of top rated microphones  here ).

That’s because they will help remove any background noise.

2. Find a quiet space and tell people you are recording

Regardless of the quality of your microphone, I recommend finding the quietest place possible to record your narration and let everyone know not to bother you.

When evaluating a quiet place, here are some things to be careful of and to spot check:

• Noisy air conditioners or refrigerators
• Street noise (cars, planes or pedestrians)
• Loud background office or cafe noise
• Cell phones, doorbells or other pinging noises
• Your kids playing in the background

For instance – imagine you are in the middle of narrating your presentation. All of a sudden a colleague knocks on your door or the doorbell rings, and you’re interrupted. It’s not the end of the world, but it will throw you off and likely annoy you.

In addition, if there is too much background noise (like a running air conditioner), the noise can be very distracting to whoever is watching the recording.

3. Check your microphone

The last thing you want to do is walk through your entire presentation, and then discover that your microphone wasn’t working.

Therefore, before narrating your PowerPoint, I recommend double-checking your recording equipment every time before you hit record. This includes ensuring that your equipment is properly plugged in (it happens).

• Right-click  the speaker icon in the task bar (lower right-hand corner of your desktop)
• Select  Open Sound settings
• Choose your  Input  device
• Click on  Troubleshoot  under  T est and troubleshoot

Note:  If you don’t see the audio bar filling up with color as you talk, that means that your input device is either not selected or not properly connected.

• Connect all your audio and video equipment to your computer
• Restart your computer: Start, Power, Restart

#1. Record audio (audio narration only)

While this is the legacy narration tool in PowerPoint, I want to cover it first.

That’s because even if you decide not to use it to narrate your PowerPoint presentation, it is extremely useful for dropping voice notes on your slides.

When used this way, you can quickly capture your thoughts and ideas about a slide without having to get bogged down editing or building it out on the spot.

Below I’ve detailed how to use this tool to narrate PowerPoint slides.

1. Open the Record Sound dialog box

To open the  Record Sound  dialog box, simply:

• Navigate to the  Insert  tab
• Open the  Audio  drop down
• Select  Record Audio

Keep in mind that you can only narrate one slide at a time using this tool. Hence why it’s great for dropping voice notes on a slide, one by one.

2. Record your audio narration

Inside the  Record Sound  dialog box you can narrate your PowerPoint slide. Simply:

• Type in a  Name  for your Audio Clip
• Select the  Record  button (the red dot) to begin narrating
• Click  Stop  (the square) to stop your narration
• Hit  Play  (the triangle) to listen to your narration
• Click  OK  to save the narration to your slide

As a result, you will see a little audio object added to your slide that you can move around and resize if you like.

The audio file can also be played (simply click on the play icon) in both the  Normal View  and  Slide Show View  of your presentation.

In this way, you can work your way through your presentation, adding voice notes to your PowerPoint slides that you or your colleagues can play back from within your presentation.

To learn all about adding music to PowerPoint and how to loop your audio files,  read our article here .

3. Playing your PowerPoint narration

By default, your audio file will be set to play  In Click Sequence  (explained below).

That means it will be added at the end of any animation sequences, trigger actions, etc.. If you don’t have any of these on your slide, it will automatically play when you to to advance to the next slide.

All you need to do is advance your slide (click, hit the space bar or arrow keys, etc.) and it will play.

To change when your audio file plays, simply:

• Select your  Audio  file
• Navigate to the  Playback  tab
• Open the  Start  drop down
• Choose either  In Click Sequence ,  Automatically  or  When Click On

In Click Sequence  means that your audio file plays as part of the click sequence of actions that happen on your slide. This includes animated sequences, trigger actions, and videos, all of which you can set in the Animations Pane.

If you do not have any sequences set up on your slide, your audio file will play right before you advance to the next slide in your presentation.

Automatically  means your audio file plays as soon as you get to that slide in your presentation, instead of playing right before you advance to the next slide.

When Clicked On  means your audio file will only play if someone clicks on it during the presentation in Slide Show mode. For example, you can use this option for a piece of audio that you may not have the time to play, allowing you to choose in the moment whether to play it or not.

4. Delete or overwrite a previous narration file

To delete an audio file narration, simply select the object on your slide and hit  Delete  on your keyboard.

If you want to overwrite or change an existing narration, simply use the  Record Audio  dialog box again (as described above). Doing so will overwrite the existing audio file on your slide.

Warning:  Two narration audio files cannot exist on a slide at the same time. That means that if you narrate a PowerPoint slide a second time, the first recorded file will be overwritten.

To be clear, that means you will need to start over – from scratch – for the individual slide where you want to change the narration.

While you can trim an audio file in PowerPoint, you cannot split apart or merge different audio files like you could if you used dedicated audio editing software.

#2. Record Slide Show (audio + video narration)

The  Record Slide Show  command is the NEWEST and BEST way to narrate a PowerPoint presentation for a few reasons, including:

• Record both audio and/or video narrations
• Narrate your entire presentation in one sitting (you are not limited to creating slide-by-slide narrations)
• You can use the pen, highlighter and laser pointer commands and have them captured in your narration too
• The tool allows you to pause and restart your recording
• All your slide timings are automatically recorded, allowing you to use them to turn your PowerPoint presentation into a video (see how to do that  here )

In short, unless you have a really good reason not to use the  Record Slide Show  command to narrate your presentation, this is what you should be using.

As you will see below, there are a lot more settings you can toggle on and off, but don’t let this stop your from recording your presentation.

1.  Open the Record Slide Show dialog box

To open the  Record Slide Show  dialog box, simply:

• Navigate to the  Slide Show  tab
• Open the  Record Slide Show  command
• Choose  Record from Beginning

If you simply click the  Record Slide Show  command in the Ribbon (instead of opening up the drop down) it will begin recording from the current slide.

Wait a couple of seconds, and the  Record Slide Show  commands will load, and you can start narrating your presentation.

2. Record your  slide show narration

There are a lot more options you can choose from in the  Slide Show  dialog box that that I will explain below, but recording your narration is still pretty easy and straight forward

To start recording your slide show narration, simply:

• Choose your  Camera  and/or  Microphone
• Make sure your  Camera  and/or  Microphone  is turned on
• Use the  Record ,  Stop  and  Replay  commands to start and stop your narrations
• Use the  Arrow  (or use your arrow keys) to advance to the next slide

Once you start recording, you get the option to pause the recording. This allows you to pause and collect your thoughts whenever you need to, and continue narrating your presentation when you are ready.

When you are finished, the individual video and/or audio file narrations are added to the lower right-hand corners of each individual slide, as you can see below.

As you can see in the picture above, your audio and video narrations are recorded and saved on a slide-by-slide basis. That means you can review and record narrations on any slide within your presentation.

Warning:  You can only have one narration file per slide.

If you re-record an audio or video narration, it automatically overwrites any previous narrations you had on that slide.

The only way to have two different narration files on the same slide, is to record one with the  Record Slide Show  dialog box, and record the second with the  Record Audio  command.

3. Set your narration to Play

Your  Record Slide Show  narrations are set to play  Automatically .

That means that whenever you run your presentation (from beginning or from current), your audio and/or video narration will automatically play.

To change when your audio or video narration plays, simply:

• Select the  Narration  file on your slide
• Choose either  In Click Sequence ,  Automatically  or  When Clicked On

4. Record Slide Show options

Record (or hit R) to start recording your narration.

Pause  (or hit I) to pause your narration and collect your thoughts. This button only displays once you’ve started recording.

Stop  (or hit S) to end your narration. If you hit Record again, your new narration will overwrite the existing one.

If you want to stop narrating your current slide before starting on the next one, don’t use the Stop button. Instead, simply navigate to your next slide using your arrow keys or the forward arrow on screen.

Replay  to replay your narration for the current slide. This button only becomes active after you have recorded a narration for that slide.

B. Speaker Notes options

Notes  (or hit N) to open or close your speaker notes for that slide. The Notes window is fairly small and you cannot resize it very well.

Your action of opening and closing the speaker notes pane will not show up in your recorded narration.

Font Size  commands increase and decrease the font size of your speaker notes so that you can see them better.

In my opinion the speaker notes pane is too small and not flexible enough for reviewing lots of speaker notes.

To learn how to print your speaker notes in PowerPoint,  read our guide here .

C. Clear Recordings options

Clear Recordings  allows you to clear your previous recording on either the current slide or on all the slides in your presentation.

You can also overwrite your recording and slide timings by simply recording over the top of your narrations.

Note:  Using Clear Recordings removes both your slide timings and narrations.

That means that if you want to remove your narrations but keep your slide timings, you will want to clear recordings outside of the  Record Slide Show  dialog box. See how to clear timings and narrations below.

D. Input options: Camera and Microphone

Microphone  allows you to choose which microphone you want to record with. So if you are using a microphone other than your computer’s built-in one, this is where you want to select your microphone before you begin recording your narration.

Camera  allows you to choose which camera or webcam you want to use if you are recording video narrations. If you are using a camera other than your computer’s built-in one, this is where you want to select it before you begin your narration.

E. Advance Slide options

Next Slide  advances the click sequence of your presentation, the same way hitting the right arrow key or clicking your slide with your mouse does.

If you have animated sequences or music that is supposed to play, clicking forwards will trigger those sequences, and eventually advance you to the next slide.

Previous Slide  moves you back one slide in your presentation, but it is only available to you when you are not recording.

That’s because re-recording a narration automatically overwrites the previous narration. So once you start your recording, you can only move forward in your presentation.

F. On / Off: Camera and microphone

Microphone  (on/off) turns your selected microphone on or off. You can turn your microphone off and still click through your presentation if you want to mute your sound in the recording.

Camera  (on/off) turns your selected camera on or off. This allows you to add or remove video recording in your narration.

Camera Preview  displays what your camera is recording during your narration. If seeing yourself onscreen while you narrate your presentation bothers you, simply turn camera preview off.

G. Ink options: Eraser, Pen and Highlighter

The  Pen  (Ctrl + P),  Highlighter  (Ctrl + I),   and Eraser  (Ctrl + E)   allow you to draw and highlight things on your slides during your presentation.

To change the color of your ink, simply click on one of the colors at the bottom of your screen.

Anything that you draw on your slides during your narration will be recorded as you draw them. That means that someone watching the recording will see you draw on the slide, as you narrate your presentation.

H. Slide Timings options

Slide Timings  show you how long you have spent on each slide, and which slide you are on within your presentation.

Therefore, if you are converting your PowerPoint presentation into a video, these slide timings determine how long you spend on each slide.

To learn all about how to convert PowerPoint to video,  read our guide here .

I. Close / Minimize options

Close / Minimize  allows you to close out of (or minimize) the  Record Slide Show  app.

Use the  Close  icon (the x) to exit out of the  Record Slide Show  dialog box and return to the Normal View of your presentation. You can also hit the  Esc  key on your keyboard to close out of the dialog box.

#3. How to clear your Timings and Narrations

To clear your  Timings and Narrations  from the Normal View of PowerPoint, simply:

• Open the  Slide Show  tab
• Open the  Record Slide Show  drop down
• Select  Clear
• Choose the  Timings  or  Narrations  you want to clear

If the  Clear  command is grayed out when you open the  Record Slide Show  drop down, that means that you do not have any  Narrations  or  Timings  (same as for transitions) set for your presentation.

Clear Timing on Current Slide  removes the set transition timing for the current slide.

Clear Timings on All Slides  removes the set transition timings on all the slides within your presentation.

Clear Narration on Current Slides  removes any voice or video narration you’ve recorded on the current slide.

Clear Narration on All Slides  removes any voice or video narrations from your entire presentation.

Note:  You can also clear the  Timings  and  Narrations  for your slides at the same time from inside the  Record Slide Show  dialog box.

Inside the dialog box, simply click the  X  and choose to  Clear Recordings on Current  or  Clear Recordings on All .

#4. How to compress your PowerPoint narrations

Adding audio and video narrations to PowerPoint significantly increases the size of your presentation as you can see in the picture above.

Therefore, I recommend compressing your file after you’re done recording narrations.

After narrating your PowerPoint, you can compress your   audio and video narrations. To do that, simply:

• Navigate to the  File  tab
• Select the  Info  group
• Open the  Compress Media drop-down
• Choose  a compression quality

PowerPoint automatically uses the Full HD (1080p) when recording your voice and video. So if you are tight for space, you will need to choose either the  HD (720p)  or  Standard (480p)  options .

To learn a variety of other ways you can reduce your PowerPoint file size,  read our compression guide here .

That’s how to narrate a PowerPoint, and the different options you have using the  Record Audio  and  Record Slide Show  options.

If you have the latest version of PowerPoint, I highly recommend using the  Record Slide Show  option as it gives you the most options to work with.

Just keep in mind that narrating your PowerPoint with audio and video can greatly increase the size of your presentation. Therefore, you may end up needing to consider compress it.

If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about how to improve your PowerPoint skills by  visiting us here

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How to Record Audio in PowerPoint for Narration or Voice-Over | Step-by-Step

Related topic : If you are only looking to insert or add an audio that does not advance or move a slideshow in time and in synch your voice, this article: Adding Music to PowerPoint Slideshow explains how.

How to record audio as a voice-over or narration in PowerPoint – Quick Guide

Why use narrations or voice-overs in powerpoint presentation, before recording your narration or voice-over – tips., make sure your microphone works..

An important step to take before recording your audio is to ensure your microphone is set up correctly and your voice can be played back clearly. The video below runs through how to set up an external mic for your Windows or Mac .

How to Record Audio in PowerPoint Step-by-Step Instructions.

Advanced powerpoint audio recording options., add annotations to your recorded powerpoint slide show..

To use the Annotation Tool in PowerPoint: Scroll to the bottom of the full screen recording view (as shown in the image below). Then, select any of the tools available (the laser pointer, highlighter or pen) and annotate your slide, by drawing with them using any mouse or other pointing device.

Using the Timings Function to Adjust Recording Speed.

To Change the Timings of Your Recording: Navigate to the Slide Show tab in the top ribbon > (Next to the Record Slide Show icon, we used before) > click the Rehearse Timings icon. The presentation will now once again go to full-screen mode, and you can use your arrow keys to change the slides and set new timings.

Clearing or Deleting your narration and / or timings

To Delete a Narration or Timings: Navigate to the Slide Show tab in the top ribbon OR the Recording Tab. Select the down arrow on the “ Record Slide Show ” button > from the menu choose “ Clear ” > Select the appropriate timings and/or narration option.

Save and Distribute the Presentation with Audio as a Movie / Video file.

To Export your Presentation as a video: In PowerPoint navigate to File Menu > Export > Select your preferred options. (E.g.) File Format: MP4 . Quality Width 1,920 Height 1,080

Recording Audio Tips and Tricks

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How to Add Voiceovers to Your PowerPoint Presentations

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Sometimes sending over a PowerPoint slide deck with text and visuals isn't enough. Adding your voice can help you provide additional context and explanations. In this article, we’ll go through a step-by-step process of how to record a voiceover in PowerPoint.

So whether you're creating an e-learning course, a sales pitch, or a product demo, by the end of this guide, you'll be ready to deliver a high-quality and engaging PowerPoint presentation. Let's dive in.

How to Record an Audio-Only Voiceover in PowerPoint

One of the easiest ways to build an engaging PowerPoint presentation is to add an audio-only voiceover to your slide deck. Here’s how to go about it.

• Select the slide where you want to add the voiceover.

If you’re not satisfied with the audio, click the record button to re-record the audio.

How to Edit Audio Voiceover in PowerPoint

PowerPoint has a native audio editor for editing your voiceover. When you click the loudspeaker icon, two contextual tabs appear: Audio Format and Playback .

Use the settings under Audio Format to change the appearance of the loudspeaker icon.

Additionally, use the Playback settings to make changes to your audio. Here’s a summary of the key features in this section.

• Select the Play button to listen to the audio. Click on it again to pause the audio.
• Click any point in the audio bar and select Add Bookmark to mark it for easy reference. Select the bookmark and click Remove Bookmark to delete it.
• Select Trim Audio to remove unwanted sections of your audio.
• Set a duration to Fade In or Fade Out your audio.
• Adjust the Volume of the audio to Low, Medium, High, or Mute.
• In Click Sequence: The audio will start to play after a user clicks on the slide.
• Automatically: The audio starts playing on its own after landing on the slide.
• When Clicked On: The audio will only start playing after clicking on the Play button of the loudspeaker icon.
• Select Save Media as to export your audio recording as an M4A file.

How to Record a Voiceover With Slideshow in PowerPoint

To synchronize your audio with actions on the slide, like highlighting key areas or sketching, follow these steps.

• Navigate to the Record tab.

• The Slide view displays only the slide (as shown in the image below).
• The Presenter view lets you see your notes and the next slide in a panel on the right.

• The Laser pointer lets you highlight specific areas of the slide.
• The Pen and Highlighter tools (available in 12 colors) let you annotate the slide.

• Click the pause button to take a break while recording. Click it again when you’re ready to continue.

Take a pause before you switch to the next slide or your recording might get cut off.

In addition to the audio-only and slideshow-based voiceovers we’ve discussed, you can also record a voiceover with a screen recording .

How to Delete a Voiceover in PowerPoint

To delete your PowerPoint voiceover, follow these simple steps.

• Click Clear Recording .

How to Save Your Presentation With Voiceover in PowerPoint

Whether you recorded an audio-only voiceover or one with a slideshow, you need to choose the best way to save it for an optimal viewing experience. Let's explore three methods to achieve this.

Save as a PowerPoint File

This method is best if you’re working with collaborators who need to edit the PowerPoint file.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + S on your keyboard to open the Save As dialog box.

Save as a PowerPoint Show File

A PowerPoint show file automatically opens in slideshow mode. To save your presentation as a PowerPoint Show file, follow the same process as the previous one but change the Save As type to PowerPoint Show.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

• In the Save As dialog box, select a location for your file, enter a suitable File name , and click Save .

Save as Video

This method saves your PowerPoint presentation as an MP4 file, making it perfect for demos and tutorials.

• Navigate to the File tab.

• Adjust the file quality and ensure Use Recorded Timings and Narrations is selected.
• Set a duration for Seconds spent on each slide . This will be used for slides without a voiceover.

• In the dialog box that pops up, choose a file location, enter a suitable File name , and click Export .

Engage Your Audience With Voiceovers in PowerPoint

Adding a voiceover to your PowerPoint presentation can significantly enhance its delivery and overall impact. With this article as a guide, you’re fully equipped to record your first voiceover in PowerPoint. The more voiceovers you create, the easier it gets. To make your voiceovers even more personable, the Cameo feature lets you record customized camera feeds.

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How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint Presentation (Step-By-Step)

In the evolving world of presentations, adding a voiceover to PowerPoint slides has transformed static visuals into dynamic learning experiences, apt for diverse scenarios from e-learning to corporate pitches. Yet, many struggle to understand “how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint”.

So, how does one infuse life into slides with voiceovers? This article is dedicated to illuminating the process, providing a clear and comprehensive guide on how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint effectively. Read it thoroughly as we explain this process for you in this article.

Part 1: What is the Voiceover PowerPoint Presentation?

A voiceover PowerPoint presentation is a dynamic blending of voice and visuals at its core, enriching the traditionally static slides with narration. This feature can transform a basic presentation into a more interactive experience, enabling the conveyance of information seamlessly, regardless of whether the presenter is physically present or not.

But why is this so revolutionary? In our digital age, the nature of presentations has evolved. Often, circumstances like distance, emergencies, or the sheer convenience of nonparallel learning require us to lean on technologies that ensure the message is still effectively delivered. This is where the voiceover feature in PowerPoint steps in.

Why Opt for Voiceovers in PowerPoint?

Precision through Pre-recording: With the luxury to narrate, practice, and re-record, you gain mastery over your content, ensuring a refined final presentation.

Visual Versatility: Incorporating visuals like images, charts, or graphs and coupling them with voiceovers guarantees that the intended message is clear, without overwhelming the slide with text.

Sharing & Consistency: Given the ubiquity of PowerPoint, sharing your narrated presentation ensures that your message remains consistent across various viewings.

Enhanced Engagement: Using voiceovers enables a heightened focus on content, facilitating a genuine connection with your audience.

Uncomplicated Setup: Whether you are looking at how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint on Mac or iPad, the process is largely uniform. Beyond the software, all you need is a quiet space, a functioning microphone, and a well-prepared script. The investment in preparation ensures an impactful delivery.

So, knowing the fact how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint on the phone or PC voiceover is not merely about adding sound. They are about enhancing understanding, ensuring consistency, and offering versatility in how information is shared. It is an evolution in presentation design, waiting to be harnessed to its full potential.

Part 2: How to Do a Voiceover on PowerPoint

Narrating your PowerPoint slides can add depth to your presentation, making it more engaging and informative for your audience. Whether you are working on a single slide or an entire presentation, adding a voiceover is a straightforward process. Let's look at a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through.

1. Voiceover for a Single Slide:

Step 1: Preparation is key. Before anything else, ensure you have a functioning microphone connected to your computer. It is advisable to test the microphone's sound levels to ensure clarity. Additionally, preparing a script will allow for smoother narration. Practicing a couple of times will further enhance your presentation.

Step 2: Open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide you wish to add narration to.

Step 3: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click on 'Audio', then select 'Record Audio'.

Step 4: A 'Record Sound' dialogue box will appear. Here, input a name for your narration.

Step 5: Click the 'Record' button (represented by a red dot) to start the recording process. Read from your script or speak naturally, depending on your preparation.

Step 6: Once done, click 'Stop'. An audio icon will appear on your slide. You can preview the audio by clicking on the sound indicator and pressing 'Play'.

Step 7: Adjust the audio icon's placement on the slide so that it does not obstruct any other slide elements.

2. Voiceover for the Entire Presentation:

Step 1: Begin by setting your presentation in the 'Normal' view.

Step 2: Select the first slide from where you want the narration to commence.

Step 3: Click on 'Slide Show' and then 'Record Slide Show'. Choose 'Record from Current Slide'. In newer versions like PowerPoint 2019, a recording window will appear. For earlier versions, a dialog box will offer more recording options.

Step 4: Opt for 'Slide and animation timings' and 'Narrations, ink, and laser pointer'. These options enable PowerPoint to automatically track slide changes, narrations, and any annotations you make during the recording.

Step 5: Click on 'Record'. In PowerPoint 2016, you would click 'Start Recording'.

Step 6: You have the liberty to pause the recording if needed or restart with the 'Clear Recordings' option.

Step 7: Navigate through the slides using the 'Advance' button or the spacebar.

Step 8: Once completed, click 'Stop'. You will notice tools at the bottom left of the screen, including the Laser Pointer, Highlighter, and Eraser, which can be used to emphasize points during your narration.

How to Create a Voice-Over PowerPoint on Mac

For Mac users, the process of creating a voiceover PowerPoint presentation largely mirrors that of the Windows version. However, always refer to the specific PowerPoint version's official documentation or support for any variations. If you want to know how to do a voiceover on PowerPoint mac, the previous part is most relevant to you.

So, doing a voiceover on PowerPoint, whether on a single slide or the entire presentation, enhances the viewer's experience. Whether you are using PowerPoint on a Mac or a Windows PC, you now possess the knowledge to confidently narrate your presentations. The power of voice, combined with your slides, ensures your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

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Part 3: Editing Documents with WPS Office - A Free Alternative

In the age of digital documentation and presentations, having access to a powerful office tool is indispensable. Enter WPS Office, a modern and dynamic suite of office applications that caters to the contemporary needs of users around the world. But here is the clincher: it is absolutely free. Whether you are a student, entrepreneur, or a professional, WPS Office ensures that your work is not hindered by software costs.

WPS Presentation: Adding Audio to Your Slides

Much like its counterparts, WPS Presentation allows users to make their presentations more interactive and engaging by adding audio. Here is how you can do it:

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open the specific slide where you want to add audio.

2. Navigate to the 'Insert' Tab: Located at the top of the interface, click on this tab to reveal a dropdown menu.

3. Select 'Audio': This option will allow you to add an audio file from your device.

4. Choose Your Audio File: Browse through your folders to select the desired audio file. Click on 'Open' to insert it into the slide.

5. Adjust Playback Settings: Right-click the audio icon on the slide. From the contextual menu, you can choose when and how the audio should play, whether it loops, or other playback settings.

Editing Word/Excel/PowerPoint Files in WPS Office:

The flexibility and user-friendliness of WPS Office are evident in how seamlessly it allows you to edit various file formats. Here are the general steps:

1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application on your device.

2. Choose the Appropriate Module: Depending on the file type, select WPS Writer (for Word), WPS Spreadsheets (for Excel), or WPS Presentation (for PowerPoint).

3. Open Your File: Click on 'Open' or 'File' and navigate to the location of the document you wish to edit. Double-click to open.

4. Edit as Needed: The intuitive interface will provide you with all the necessary tools to edit your document. This includes text formatting, adding images or charts, adjusting layout, and more.

5. Save Your Changes: Once you are done editing, click on 'File' and choose 'Save' or 'Save As' to store your updated document.

1. What are some tips for promoting my voiceover presentations effectively?

To effectively promote your voiceover presentations, share them on platforms like LinkedIn, embed on your website, and utilize SEO for discoverability. Engage with industry influencers and host webinars to connect directly with your audience.

2. Can I edit my recorded presentation after finishing the recording process? 

Yes, you can edit your recorded voiceover in PowerPoint by adjusting timings, re-recording segments, or deleting parts. The "Narrating a PowerPoint" guide offers tutorials on these edits.

This article provided readers with a comprehensive guide on how to effectively add voiceovers to PowerPoint presentations, emphasizing the ease of use and functionality of the process. It outlined the significant advantages of using voiceovers, from easy editing to versatility in delivering presentations on both PC and Mac.

Moreover, the tutorial section offered step-by-step instructions tailored to different conditions, including recording for a single slide and entire presentations. The latter part of the article introduced WPS Office, a free and modernized office tool application suite.

This tool provides an alternative for editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. WPS Office's capabilities were underscored, with an emphasis on its free accessibility, making it a preferred choice for users seeking cost-effective yet powerful office tools.

• 1. How to Compress a Powerpoint Presentation for Email (Step-by-Step)
• 2. How to Make Hanging Indent in PowerPoint Using WPS Presentation (Step-by-Step)
• 3. Best PowerPoint Download - Microsoft PowerPoint & WPS Office Presentation
• 4. How to do a voiceover on powerpoint mac
• 5. 3 Effective Ways to Add Timer to PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step Guide)
• 6. How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)

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How to Add Voice Narration to a PowerPoint

Lee Stanton Lee Stanton is a versatile writer with a concentration on the software landscape, covering both mobile and desktop applications as well as online technologies. Read more December 11, 2020

When creating a PowerPoint presentation, voice narration can help to spice up your content and make it more engaging. This is especially true if you’re sending your presentation via email or when your audience is not in the same location as you.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to add voice narration to your PowerPoint presentation.

What’s PowerPoint Voice Narration?

PowerPoint’s voice narration is a feature that enables you to record and embed audio clips into your slide deck. You can then attach a narration icon on your slide, which plays when toggled. You can also set the audio to play automatically as the rest of the content is projected.

Preparation

Every successful and experienced PowerPoint enthusiast will tell you that the secret to making engaging and informative content lies in adequate preparation. To ensure that your presentation stands out, here are some tips:

Carefully Assemble Your Slide Deck

You should aim for a consistent presentation, where the content is presented in chronological order. You don’t want to end up with a presentation that is disorganized because that will make it difficult for your audience to follow. You’ll need to make sure that any audio clips you embed into your slide are not only in sync with the rest of the content but also form a clear and logical sequence of ideas in the minds of the audience.

Mental Preparation Is Key

After assembling all the necessary resources, ensure that you’re thoroughly familiar with the content. Only then can you project confidence into your voice narration. A good way to prepare is to scribble down the things you want to include in your narration well in advance. This helps you to come up with a mind map of the key points of your presentation.

Put the Mic to the test

Obviously, you need a microphone to record audio clips. Luckily, most modern computers come with an inbuilt microphone that needs minimal preparation. However, you’ll still want to make sure that you’re sufficiently audible. You can adjust things like volume by opening your computer’s settings and clicking on “Sound” in the menu on the left of your screen.

Quiet Environment

Non-ambient sounds can ruin even the best of presentations. Ensure that your room is nearly sound-proof before the recording starts. You should turn off things like fans and air conditioners.

How to Add Voice Narration to a PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re using any Microsoft package other than Office 365, here’s how you can add voice narration to your presentation:

PowerPoint automatically affixes a sound icon beneath every slide that has a voice narration. You’ll also notice that the time taken recording the slide is also included.

Once you’re done recording, it’s always a good idea to preview your slideshow. To do so, click on “Slide Show” on the Home tab in the menu bar. To listen to the audio you recorded for a particular slide, simply go to “Normal View” and click on the sound icon.

How to Add Voice Narration to PowerPoint Slides

Voice narration can be the difference between a presentation that impresses and one that truly stands out. Voice narration converts your presentation into a self-contained utility and provides your audience with a complete, self-teaching asset.

Here are the steps you should take to add voice narration to PowerPoint slides:

How to Insert Sound Effects in PowerPoint

Sound effects are a good way to make your slides more interesting to your audience. PowerPoint allows you to add a range of sounds to animations. What’s more, you have the option to play sounds every time you open a new slide during your presentation.

Before adding a sound, first, you have to create the animation effect. Here’s how you can add a sound effect to an animation:

How to Insert Music in PowerPoint

There can hardly be a better way to spice up your presentation than adding music. To play music across slides, here’s what you need to do:

And just like that, your music will start playing as soon as the slide is opened.

How to Add Voice Narration to PowerPoint on a Mac

If you own a Mac, adding voice narration to your PowerPoint presentation is straightforward.

• Click on “Slide Show” on the top menu.
• Select “Record Narration.” This will launch a new window.
• In the new window, specify the sound input device and input source.
• Click on “Record” to start recording. This launches the full-screen presentation mode.
• When done, press the escape key.
• Click on “Yes” when asked whether you’d like to save slide timings.
• PowerPoint automatically adds the speaker icon beneath each slide. To play the narration automatically every time the slide is opened, right-click on the speaker and select “Start Automatically.”

How to Add Voice Narration to PowerPoint on an iPad

You can add voice narration to a PowerPoint presentation on your iPad. Here’s how:

• Open the first slide of your presentation.
• Tap “Play.”
• Slide your finger down from the top right corner of your screen. This launches the Control Center. You’ll be able to see all recording options if you tap and hold the “Record” button.
• Tap the microphone button to turn it on.
• Select “Start Recording.” You’ll now have three seconds to prepare.
• Return to the Control center by tapping “Background.”
• Return to your presentation by tapping “Control Center Background.”
• Proceed to navigate through your slide deck as you add voice narration.
• When you’re done, slide your finger down from the top right corner of your screen to launch the Control Center. Then, tap the “Record” button.

Your recording will appear in the Photos app.

Additional FAQ

How do i add narration to powerpoint 365.

• Select “Slide Show.”

• You’ll be prompted to decide whether you want to start recording from the current slide or from the beginning. For best results, always start from the beginning. At this point, PowerPoint should automatically launch the slideshow mode.

• In the slideshow mode, you’ll notice a series of buttons on the top right corner. The first one, which appears in red, allows you to record. The second one stops the recording, while the third one allows you to play the audio recorded.

• The slide involving the recording is always on the main panel of the window. To begin recording a new slide, simply toggle the arrow on the right side of the window. To go back to the previous slide, toggle the arrow on the left. It’s important to note that PowerPoint automatically records the time spent on every slide.

• Use the buttons on the bottom right hand corner to toggle your mic and camera. If for some reason you want to repeat a part of the recording or all of it, PowerPoint will automatically delete the old recording and start you off on a clean slate. When you’re done recording, click on the middle, square-shaped button on the top left corner.

How Do I Voice Over a PowerPoint?

• Open the presentation and click on the “Slide Show” tab.

• Click on “Record Slide Show.”

• A dropdown menu will appear and prompt you to choose between starting recording from the beginning or from the current slide.

Create Engaging Content with Voice Narration

Voice narration may not be the most popular PowerPoint tool, but it presents a sure way to add an extra layer of quality to your presentations to make them more interesting and engaging. What’s your experience with the voice narration feature?

Let us know in the comments section.

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How to do a voice-over on PowerPoint

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to do a voice-over on PowerPoint for free.

Why use a voice-over on your PowerPoint presentation?

PowerPoint presentations are a powerful tool for delivering information to your audience. However, multiple slides containing only visual information can be dull. Adding a voice-over to your slides can make the presentation more engaging and easier to follow. An engaged audience is an audience that’s more likely to remember the information you present.

Reap the benefits of professional voice-over services

How to do a voice-over on powerpoint for free in 4 steps, step 1: write a script.

It’s helpful to write a script before you begin recording. The script will help you to stay on track, stick to timings, make sure that you cover all the essential points and avoid repeating yourself. The script should be concise and straightforward, using simple language that’s easy to understand.

It’s important to rehearse your script, speaking out loud. This is a good way of identifying any parts that don’t sound right. It also enables you to time yourself, and adjust your script if necessary, to keep to specified timings.

Remember, don’t just repeat what’s on your slides. Your voice-over adds value by providing extra information. For example, your slides might display bullet points and your voice-over can add further detail for each point. Find out more about writing voice-over scripts .

Download our voiceover script template

Find out what information needs to be included on your voice-over script and download our templates for video or slide presentation recording .

Step 2: Record your voice-over

To record your voice-over, you can use a built-in microphone on your computer, a smartphone or an external microphone .

Choose a quiet place without any background noise to make your recording. Speak clearly and slowly, maintaining a consistent pace. You can record directly from PowerPoint or you can use free software, such as Audacity or GarageBand (Mac only) to record and then edit your audio. Editing can be used post-production to add different qualities to your voice, such as a richer tone or a slight echo.

Step 3: Add the voice-over to your PowerPoint presentation

If you’ve recorded your voice-over outside of PowerPoint, when the recording and any necessary editing are finished you can add it to your PowerPoint presentation. Here's how:

• Open your presentation and go to the slide where you want to add the voice-over
• Click on the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Audio’
• Choose the audio file you want to add and click ‘OK’
• To set the audio to play automatically, go to the ‘Playback’ tab and select ‘Play in Background’ under ‘Audio Options’.

Step 4: Sync the audio with the slides

To ensure that your voice-over timings are right in the final presentation, you might need to sync the audio with the slides. Here's how:

• Click on the ‘Transitions’ tab
• In the ‘Timing’ group, check the box next to ‘After’ and set the duration for the slide to play
• In the ‘Sound’ dropdown, select the audio file you added to the slide
• Repeat this process for each slide in your presentation.

How to do a voice-over on PowerPoint with a different voice

If you don’t want to use your own voice for your audio recording, you could ask someone else to read your script. However, sometimes that isn’t possible. If you need a voice-over audio and want a different voice, PowerPoint has a solution.

You can use PowerPoint’s built-in Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature to create a voiceover that is generated by the software. Simply select the text on each slide, go to the ‘Review’ tab, then select ‘Read Aloud’. You can also adjust the speed and language of the TTS voice in the settings.

Professional voice-overs for PowerPoint presentations

Today’s software has features that enable you to easily produce your own voice-overs, but professional quality audio is tricky to achieve. If it’s important that your presentation has high-quality audio, or if you need a voice-over in a different language, we can help.

At Semantix, we create professional quality voice-overs in more than 200 languages. Whether you’re creating a presentation for marketing, social media, e-learning or something else, our experts can make sure that your voice is heard loud and clear in every language.

Need your video content to be understood by a global audience?

Get the templates.

With our template, you can easily create a script that meets your specific project needs and ensures a flawless voiceover performance. No more headaches or frustration – just a smooth and efficient process from start to finish.

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Table of contents, why is it important to nail your powerpoint presentation, how to add a voice over on a mac, how to add a voice over on a windows pc, make excellent voice overs with speechify, what is the first step to make a voice over on powerpoint.

• What is the difference between a voice over and dubbing?

What is a voice over?

What is the purpose of a voice over.

Here’s an in-depth guide on how to do a voice over in PowerPoint.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentations are essential for many professionals. The program has widespread uses and the software is becoming more refined by the day. One of the features that can make your projects more effective is  voice overs .

This article will tell you how to create a voice over for your PowerPoint presentations.

There are many ways to create presentations, but PowerPoint stands head and shoulders above the competition. Regardless of the version of PowerPoint you use, you enjoy incredible ease of use, whether you’re a student or teacher .

As a result, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to develop a stunning presentation. The interface is intuitive, allowing you to add formatting, fonts, and animation effects with just a few mouse clicks. All of which makes your work more creative.

Another admirable quality of PowerPoint is that it promotes customization. You’re in total control of all elements of your presentation. This allows you to customize the slide show according to the subject you’re working on and manipulate the features in various ways.

If you don’t want to create personalized templates, PowerPoint has you covered. You can select many ready-made templates from the web or the program itself.

PowerPoint has a host of other features that allow you to nail your presentations, but what exactly makes your presentations so important? There are several reasons, depending on your environment.

For example, if you’re a high school , university, or college student, a PowerPoint presentation can make up a large percentage of your grades. Your work must be easily understandable and convey relevant ideas to receive the highest marks.

Fortunately, PowerPoint lets you achieve your academic goals with various tools.

In high school, you can use basic templates and fonts to highlight key points of your presentations. In college, you can access tables, diagrams, and charts for serious discussion and support your arguments.

A high-quality PowerPoint presentation is also critical if you’re a business owner or employee. This software can streamline your ideas when describing them to your clients, team members, or partners.

Microsoft PowerPoint presentations help you optimize many other tasks too . The list includes training new staff, reporting financials, and conducting end-of-year summaries.

Adding a voice over to your presentations

In some cases, nailing your presentation requires you to introduce voice overs . Before you start, you’ll need to write a script and find a fully functional microphone. Whether the device is built into your computer or works separately, make sure it produces clear audio.

Once you’re ready, here’s how you can add voice overs to PowerPoint on a Mac:

• Open an existing or new presentation.
• Go to the upper toolbar and press “Insert.”
• Click “Audio” in the upper-right corner and hit the “Record” button.
• Name your audio file. 
• Select the circle symbol when you want to start your voice over narration.
• Press “End Show” when you’re done recording. You can now click the microphone symbol to listen to your voice over.

Adding a voice over to presentations is just as easy on your Windows PC. Let’s look at how you can do so for individual PowerPoint slides.

• Head to the “Insert” menu, followed by “Audio,” and “Record Audio.”
• Enter the name for your voice over and choose “Record.”
• Improvise your narration or read from a script.
• Hit the “Stop” button when the recording is over. The “Record Sound” box should now disappear, and an audio icon should appear in the middle of your slide. Click the indicator to review your recording and press “Play” to check the narration.
• If you’re happy with your audio, click any area outside your playback controls. Pressing the “Esc” button may also do the trick on some versions.
• Click “Save as” to accept your changes.

PowerPoint also allows you to add voice overs to entire presentations on a Windows PC. Here’s how to set up this feature:

• Press “View” and navigate to “Normal.”
• Choose the first slide in your presentation to record narration.
• Click “Slide Show,” followed by “Record Slide Show,” and “Record from Current Slide.”
• You’ll now see a recording window if you use PowerPoint 2019. If you have PPT 2016, you’ll see a “Record Slide Show” box that prompts further action.Here are your options.
• Animation and slide timing – PowerPoint automatically monitors the timing of your slide changes when recording, including any animations .
• Ink, laser pointer, and narrations – PowerPoint automatically monitors any laser printing, inking, or narration when recording.
• Check both options to make your presentation more impactful.
• Press “Record” or “Start Recording,” depending on your version. If necessary, hit the “Pause” button to catch your breath.
• If you want to fix a mistake during your narration, pick “Clear” and “Clear Recordings.”
• When your audio recording is finished on one slide, press “Advance” to proceed to the next slide. Another way to make the transition is to press “Space” on the keyboard.
• Upon finishing the entire narration, click “Stop” and close your recording window. This will return you to your presentation.

You may also decide to revisit your voice over. Here’s how to do so:

• Open a PowerPoint file and choose the specific slide with the narration you wish to hear.
• Select slide and press the recording symbol that either appears as a speaker icon or video screenshot.
• Hover over the symbol and click the Play button.

Another way to play with voice over functionality is to integrate with  text to speech  ( TTS ) apps like Speechify. Speechify provides 130+ immersive voices for your narration with an array of pitches, accents , and rates . Additionally, the platform is easy to use and incredibly immersive. Plus, users say the voices are indistinguishable from natural human voices , so the program can create realistic voice overs whether you’re trying to create video or PowerPoints.

Try it now for free to see how Speechify can meet your voice over Powerpoint needs.

The first step to making a voice over on PowerPoint is to turn on your microphone and go to the “Insert” menu.

What is the difference between a voice over and dubbing ?

Voice overs are original recordings, whereas dubbing requires you to replace the source audio with your narration.

A voice over is a voice recording of your script for different types of media, such as PowerPoint presentations.

The main purpose of a voice over is to narrate a story to make it easier to understand.

Ultimate guide to NaturalReader and reviews

Read Aloud: Transforming the Way We Experience Text

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

How to do a Voice Over on Powerpoint

In this blog, we will talk about the top reasons for using PowerPoint voice over recordings and the benefits of hiring professional voice talent for these recordings.

Then we will go over the mechanics of narrating a voice over for your PowerPoint presentations.

Whether you are delivering an educational lecture or trying to close a deal, presentation matters.

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The success of your presentation rests on the knowledge you impart and, more importantly, what your audience takes away from the encounter.

When you cannot meet in person or deliver a face-to-face presentation or lecture, Powerpoint voice over recording can be a valuable tool.

PowerPoint, a part of Microsoft Office, has an estimated 500 million users creating as many as 30 million presentations each day.

PowerPoint is a market leader in presentation software making it highly accesible. Recording a voice over for your PowerPoint presentation is relatively easy to do.

Still, whether it is because they are unaware of the feature or simply forget it is there, PowerPoint's voice over recording feature is not being used to its full capacity.

The PowerPoint voice over feature allows you to record and embed speech audio clips in your slides, which means that you can playback the entire presentation complete with voice narration solely on PowerPoint.

What are the advantages of using PowerPoint voice over recording?

Easy editing.

Pre-recording your presentation allows you to prepare, edit, practice, narrate, and, re-record until you have a seamless presentation.

Once you have the presentation the way you want it, you can replay it anytime you like, making the effort worthwhile in the long run.

It is easy to include visual materials

Good use of graphics is one way to keep your participants' interest. Depending on your topic, you can use images, charts, graphs, or word clouds for example.

By adding narration to PowerPoint slides with images, you can ensure that the graphic is interpreted the way you intend without dragging the presentation down with too much text.

The ability to share content

Since Microsoft PowerPoint is widely used the format is easy to share with students or participants.

Because you are sharing your presentation, the information will correctly reflect what you shared.

Better focus

Using the voice over feature makes you more focused on your presentation and enables you to deliver an authentic experience for participants.

Versatility

The process is similar for both PC and Mac users.

You don't need special equipment (although you might want to consider it if the sound quality or your recording space are less than ideal.

What You'll Need To Get Started:

A well-organized and quiet workspace with room for your script and no background noise is essential.

You will also need a well-functioning microphone, either the one that comes with your computer or a headset, to maximize the sound quality of your voice.

A script that is well-organized, clear, and concise - do not try to "wing it."

Scripting and Narration - Best Practices for Your presentation

Whether you intend to record your own voice over or hire a professional voice actor to perform the narration, you will need to keep a few things in mind.

Pace and Pronunciation

Be sure to enunciate every word clearly so that your audience can hear and understand your narration.

Speak in a natural pace, do not try to rush through your slides.

Rehearse your script to make sure that you are not simply reading.

The old cliché, "It's not what you said, It's how you said it" holds true in PowerPoint voiceover.

You need to find the right tone for your message and your target audience.

Avoid speaking in a monotone, rehearse the right times to use your voice tone and pitch for emphasis.

For example, if you are describing something very serious, your tone should reflect the gravity of the situation.

If you want to inject humor, make sure it is appropriate and that there is a change of tone in your voice to help your audience understand that this is a moment of levity.

When drafting your script, use italics to help you remember to use your voice to emphasize a point.

Use pauses to your advantage

Pepper your script with well timed moments of silence.

One way to do this is to give your audience a moment to read the material on a graph or think about a particular image.

Pauses can also be used to signal an important point and amplify the emphasis you have already indicated with tone - the silence says "let that sink in."

Voiceover Power Point Microphone

You need to have a good functioning microphone and may need an upgrade from the microphone that comes with your laptop or desktop.

Run a sound check to assess the sound quality.

How to Produce a PowerPoint Voice Over Recording

You have a good script and a well-crafted visual slide show.

You have checked for the sound quality and rehearsed your narration.

Now you need to make some decisions.

Do you want to record each slide on its own or would you rather narrate the entire presentation in one go?

In part, this decision will be based on the length of the presentation and your comfort and confidence.

Here we will go over the instructions for each option, beginning with basic steps for recording a voice over PowerPoint presentation, then we will look at recording one slide at a time, and then we will cover the instructions for recording the entire presentation in one session.

Voice Over Packages

Basic Steps:

1. set up your space and equipment:.

You need a working microphone, a quiet workspace, your script, and maybe a glass of water to keep your voice clear.

2. Create a New Folder and Presentation:

Create a folder dedicated to the presentation you intend to record and make sure that the folder name is descriptive and clear.

As you record your script , the sound files will be saved as part of the presentation, and having them all together in one folder will help you locate and manage them, especially if you elect to record one slide at a time.

3. 'Record Narration' tool:

Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the "Slideshow" command in the top navigation bar.

Select "Record Narration" from the menu.

4. Set Sound Levels and Properties:

In the "Record Narration" dialog box click the "Select Microphone Level" button.

Use the slider icon to adjust the microphone level to find your optimal recording quality.

5. Recording:

We will now go over the two basic options for recording: one slide at a time or narrating the entire presentation.

Recording Voice Over for Single Slides

Open the PowerPoint Presentation and select the slide that corresponds with the script you are about to record.

On the top menu, select "Insert Audio" and then "Record Audio."

Give your audio recording a descriptive title (something with a bit more information than "Slide 1").

Take a sip of water, grab your script, and select the icon with the read dot to begin recording your narration.

Deliver your narration and then click on the black square once you are done.

Click on the play button (a black forward pointing arrow icon) to listen to your recording, and if you are satisfied with the result, click on OK to add the audio file to your slide.

An icon will appear at the center of the slide, it is this icon that your audience will click on to play the audio when viewing the presentation.

How to record a voiceover for the entire presentation:

Open the appropriate PowerPoint presentation, have your script in hand.

Select "Slide show" tab and go to the "Set Up" group.

Click on "Record Slide Show" or "Record Narration" on the Slide Show menu.

Even though you have opted to record a voice over for the entire presentation, you can still record in sections.

In other words, selecting this method does not mean you need to record the entire narration in one sitting.

Just make sure that you start on the correct slide by following the prompts.

In the bottom left corner of the "Record Narration" window is a check box for "Link Narrations In" - click this box to check it on (you will need to do this each time you start recording a section of voice-over).

It is a good idea to playback your work after each recording session and remember that you can record over any portion that you are not happy with.

The new recording will replace the old content as long as you remember to save it, of course.

Once you are done recording a segment, hit the "Escape" key or stop icon.

You will be prompted with a query asking if you want to save the timings on the slides.

If you are happy with your work, select yes and remember to save your entire presentation after each completed segment.

Each time you sit down to record a voice over segment, you will need to select a starting point for your voice over recording.

Your options will be to start from the beginning or to start from the current slide, just make sure that you make the correct selection so that the narrative and visual slides align with one another.

It is a good idea to playback some of your presentation early on to ensure that the sound is good, check the tone, timing, and pace and so forth.

It might take more than one recording to get it right, so again, it is a good idea to playback small sections until you are comfortable with the procedure.

You might want to play around with different format options, such as MP4, or a web page, or the default PowerPoint slide show.

One feature of PowerPoint 2010 is that you can export your enhanced slide deck in WMA format which means your audience can view it as a video.

Maybe you don't have the time or inclination to record your own voice overs, or maybe you don't have access to a quiet space, or maybe, like many of us you are not happy with the sound of your own voice or your ability to maintain the correct tone and pace.

Then it is time to consider hiring professional voice talent and a professionally equipped sound studio to get the best, most engaging, and high-quality recording possible.

Consider Professional Voice Over Recording and Voice Talent Narration

If you have made a few attempts and have been less than satisfied with the results, you might realize that it takes a different skill set to get the tone and pace right when you are recording to a screen rather than deliver a lecture or presentation in a face-to-face venue.

Or maybe your recording equipment is not state of the art, or your recording environment is cluttered with white noise or other audio interruptions that are beyond your control.

One other issue is the amount of time you find yourself spending recording, editing, and re-recording.

In any of these situations, it is time to consider hiring a professional , so how do you choose?

What to look for

Look for a voice talent company that has experience.

Whether you are looking for Educational Audio for Schools, Universities, Colleges, Language/Business Institutes, or Corporate Training, or another type of presentation, you want a company that understands the needs of your specific audience.

You want a company with a roster of professional Voice Talents with years of experience recording voice overs for all types of platforms, that can achieve the correct clarity, tone, emphasis and pace that best suits any type of production.

It is important that the company you select is able to assist you in streamlining the production of your voice over PowerPoint narrations while leaving you with creative control over the process.

Besides voice talent, the company needs to have a solid team of audio specialists who can deliver a fine tuned and polished sound quality.

Get a voice over powerpoint quote now

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How to Video Record Yourself Presenting PowerPoint: Windows, Mac, iOS, Phones

Learn how to video record yourself in PowerPoint using your Windows pcs or laptops, Mac devices, iPhone or iPad, and Android phones or tablets. You can use EaseUS RecExperts or the built-in screen recorder to record yourself presenting presentations.

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Updated on Aug 17, 2024

Do you know how to record a presentation with your face and voice on Microsoft PowerPoint? Adding narration in a presentation helps enhance audience engagement and convey insights better for tutorials, lectures, and video creation.

This article will focus on how to video record yourself in PowerPoint and teach you to add your face, voice, and video easily when narrating a PPT.

How to Video Record Yourself Presenting PowerPoint on Windows/Mac with EaseUS Screen Recorder

One of the most important reasons why you need a professional screen recorder for presentation is that it simplifies your task and gives you the smoothest experience.

EaseUS RecExperts lets you record yourself doing a presentation on PowerPoint , Google Slides, Zoom, Keynote, and other presenting apps without lag and watermark.

It has both Windows and Mac versions, allowing you to record high-quality about-me presentations, self-presenting videos, and slideshows on multiple applications. The AI-empowered functions enable you to AI transcribe video to text , reduce background noise, and enhance video quality.

Download the EaseUS recording software on your Windows or Mac to record MS PowerPoint with your face and audio.

Let's see how to video record yourself in PowerPoint with EaseUS recording software.

(The stepwise guide applies to the Windows version; Mac users can find steps similar in the application.)

✅Preparations to do:

• Configure your microphone as the input audio device.
• Configure your camera as the input video device if you need to record PowerPoint presentation with webcam .
• Open the MS presentation in advance.
• Shut down other applications to avoid distraction.
• Practice your narration.

Step 1.  Launch EaseUS RecExperts on your computer. Choose a recording mode from  "Full Screen" or  "Region" . To record a part of the screen, select the recording area manually.

Step 2.  After selecting the recording mode, click on the camera sign on the interface. This will let the tool record your screen and the webcam at the same time.

Step 3.  You can also change the background with the AI Recognition ot green screen feature. Classroom, blur, studio, or your local images are supported. Just click "Webcam" > "Settings" > "Remove Background" to download and use these modules. Then, click the  "REC"  button to start recording.

Step 4.  After recording, the recording list window will open. Here you can view, split, delete, manage your recordings easily.

How to Record PowerPoint Presentation with Audio and Video on Windows/Mac with Internal Recorder

If you don't want to install additional software, use MS PowerPoint's built-in recording function. Both Windows and Mac users can screen record PowerPoint with audio .

Before you get started, there are some tips you need to pay attention to:

• The recording feature is only available on PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2019, and PowerPoint 365.
• You cannot go back to the previous slide when you are recording. Make sure you have covered everything on a slideshow before you go to the next one.
• MS PowerPoint cannot record full screen . It only captures the app area.
• The saved recording can be very large. Ensure that your laptops or desktops have enough capacity.
• Only support MP4 and WMV video types.

After reading these notes, follow the steps below to record a voice-over PowerPoint.

Step 1. Open the presentation on your Windows or Mac computer.

Step 2. Click Slide Show on the toolbar. Under the tab, click Record and select From Current Slide… or From Beginning….

Step 3. You will enter the recording page. Click SETTINGS in the upper-right corner to turn on the Microphone and Camera. Then, click the red RECORD button to start recording. A 3-second countdown timer will appear on the screen.

Step 4. During the process, you can:

• Use the RECORD, PAUSE, STOP, and REPLAY button at any time.
• Use the pen to take notes.
• Click CLEAR to clear recordings on the current side or all slides.
• Click the close button to quit recording.

Step 5. Go to File > Export > Create a video to export the PowerPoint presentation as a video. Here you can change the recording settings such as video quality, recorded timings and narrations, and even the seconds for every slide.

Step 6. Click Create Video again to select a location, file name, and file type (MP4 or WMV) for the recording. Click Save to close the window.

Spread this post out to help more people!

How to Record on PowerPoint on iOS/Android Mobile with Built-in Tools

Some narrators may need to record PowerPoint on the go to give a quick presentation. Both iOS and Android can install Microsoft PowerPoint on mobile phones and tablets to open, edit, and create presentations.

Although the app MS PowerPoint does not have a screen recording feature, iOS and Android users can record a video with their mobile phones' built-in screen recorders.

#1. Video record yourself in PowerPoint on iPhone/iPad

Step 1. Launch the PowerPoint app and open the PPT you want to add narration.

Step 2. Enable the screen recording feature on your iPhone and iPad. Navigate to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and tap the green plus icon next to Screen Recording. (It is usually enabled by default.)

Step 3. Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and scroll to click the screen recording button (a circle within a circle). A 3-second countdown will appear before the recording begins.

Step 4. Play the presentation while you are talking. You can see the red dot recording icon in the upper left corner of the screen, which means your recording is in progress.

Step 5. Tap the red dot recording icon again to stop recording. Click Stop in the popup to confirm operations.

Step 6. You can find the recording in the Photos app.

#2. Video record yourself in PowerPoint on Android phones and tablets

Step 2. Swipe down from the top of the phone screen to launch Quick Settings.

Step 3. Tap the Screen Record button from the list, give permission to track your activity if prompted, and click Start recording.

Step 4. When the 3-second countdown appears, play the presentation and start talking.

Step 5. If you want to stop recording, access Quick Settings and tap the Screen Record button again.

Step 6. You can find the recording in the Gallery app.

Final Words

Now, you have learned how to video record yourself in PowerPoint on different devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Capturing your face and audio in the presentation recording can be easy if you choose the proper method.

It is recommended that EaseUS RecExperts be used to screen record a presentation on Mac and Windows computers. Its intuitive interface and robust features let you easily record presentations on Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Zoom, and more platforms.

Download and use it to make your presentation narration smoother and more effective.

Record PowerPoint with Face FAQs

If you want more information on how to record a video of yourself in PowerPoint, continue reading.

1. How do I insert a voice recording into PowerPoint?

To add a voice-over to PowerPoint:

Step 1. If you have a computer, save this automated voice file. Open the presentation PPT and locate the slide where you want to add audio.

Step 2. Click Insert on the toolbar, tap Audio under the tab, and click Audio on my PC… to select an existing audio file or click Record Audio… to record audio immediately.

Step 3. Now, you can play and pause the audio on the slide.

2. Why don't I have a record button on PowerPoint?

You cannot find a record button because you have not activated this function in your PowerPoint 2016, 2019, or 365. To enable the recording feature in PowerPoint:

Step 1. Go to Files > Options > Customize Ribbon.

Step 2. Under Main Tab, scroll down to find Record, check the box, and click OK to save changes.

Step 3. Go back to the toolbar, and you will see the Record tab.

3. What is the shortcut to start a video in PowerPoint?

To start a video in PowerPoint, press Alt + P or Ctrl + spacebar.

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Here, Forbes Coaches Council members share invaluable tips and strategies to help you conquer your fear of public speaking and ensure that your next presentation or speech is a resounding success.

1. Be Confident

Be grounded and confident to be yourself and then tell great stories. Use your voice and the stage to bring the stories alive. Your audience will connect to the emotion of the story but make sure that it is relevant for your audience and related to the topic. - Cath Daley , Cath Daley Ltd

2. Find A Way To Actively Engage The Audience

Be prepared with ways to get your audience engaged and keep their focus. Whether that's relating to your audience, telling a joke or asking questions, actively driving engagement will make for a more effective presentation or speech. - Luke Feldmeier , Online Leadership Training - Career and Leadership Accelerator for Engineers

3. Create An Emotional Connection

Creating an emotional connection with the audience and involving them in your session fosters active participation, and ensures your audience stays engaged throughout. This also serves to enhance your presence and to create memories that stay with them long after your presentation ends. - Kristin Andree , Andree Group

4. Put Your Unique Take Front And Center

Do you have something unexpected to say about your topic? Something that goes against the mainstream opinion in your industry or is maybe even slightly provocative? If so, putting your unique take front and center in the title and the beginning of your talk and explaining or resolving it later keeps your audience engaged and interested. - Micha Goebig , Go Big Coaching & Communications, LLC

5. Remember That The Audience Doesn't Know Your Planned Speech

No one wants to see you fail as a speaker. Remember that the focus shouldn't be on whether or not you can recall verbatim every word of your planned speech. The focus should be on how to connect to your audience with a few key points using a combination of storytelling and facts. - Sheri Nasim , Center for Executive Excellence

6. Adapt Your Language To The Audience

Talk about something they are interested in or include elements that will keep them interested. Start by asking why your topic matters to each and every one of them. Use language adapted to the audience. Keep the key messages to two or three maximum. Show them what you think and why you care about the topic. - Isabelle Claus Teixeira , Business and Human Development Consulting Pte Ltd

7. Try To Incorporate An Element Of Surprise

Engagement is the key to keeping the audience's attention. Invite participation, tell stories, walk around, have visuals, include humor, raise your voice and ask questions. Think of a comedian who points at someone in the audience: "Hey, you with the red shirt?" Everyone pays attention. What element of surprise can you present? - Susan Jordan, MBA, MSODL, PCC , Sphereshift Coaching and Consulting

8. Know Your Audience

Doing research ahead of time to ensure you're providing the subject matter in a personalized manner will keep their attention. The topic will dictate the necessary vibe. Based on that, providing opportunities for the group to engage, such as shouting out a word, raising a hand, etc., will also help maintain their interest. - Lindsay Miller , Reverie Organizational Development Specialists

9. Use The Problem-Agitation-Solution Approach

Don't just give a presentation — share a story. It must be a story-audience fit though. Use the P.A.S. — problem-agitation-solution — approach. Start with introducing a problem, follow by agitating the problem via telling a relevant anecdote and conclude by offering a solution by giving an audience a clear, direct way to avoid the pain and learn the lesson. - Alla Adam , Alla Adam Coaching

10. Tell The Audience What They Need To Hear

Instead of trying to figure out what to say, figure out what the audience wants and needs to hear. This shift in perspective allows you to tailor your speech in a way that keeps audiences actively engaged because it's good content that they want to hear. - Robin Pou , The Confident Leader

11. Go All In

To command your audience's attention you have to get into the spirit of what you're teaching and go all in without second-guessing yourself. People want to be led, but they'll be unwilling to follow someone who isn't confident in what they are communicating. - Arash Vossoughi , Voss Coaching Co.

12. Use A Compelling Opening

Start your speech/presentation with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant story or a thought-provoking question. This initial engagement can help you establish a strong connection with the audience and set the stage for a captivating presentation. - Moza-Bella Tram , Moza-Bella LLC

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13. Be Authentic

Connect deeply with your essence and purpose. Radiate authenticity. When you're centered in genuine passion and truth others feel it, creating an unspoken bond. It's not about performing; it's about being present and real and offering value from the heart. That's magnetic. - Anna Yusim, MD , Yusim Psychiatry, Consulting & Executive Coaching

14. Let Your Audience Talk

There is nothing worse than stealing everyone's craving for autonomy and speaking the whole time. The person who does the talking does the learning. So, give some autonomy to the audience. Let them talk. Even if it's thinking time and talking to themselves, or to their neighbor or table group. This gains trust and they will lean into what you have to say even more. - Alex Draper , DX Learning Solutions

15. Leverage Non-Verbal Cues

My top tip is to engage your audience through storytelling. A compelling narrative captures attention, evokes emotion and makes complex ideas more relatable. Additionally, use body language and eye contact effectively. These non-verbal cues can significantly enhance your connection with the audience. - Peter Boolkah , The Transition Guy

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'Rob Peace' Review: Chiwetel Ejiofor Takes on a Compelling True Story

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The Big Picture

• Chiwetel Ejiofor excels in directing actors, but struggles with storytelling.
• Though the true story is compelling, the film's narrative feels like a PowerPoint presentation.
• A mawkish score hinders the emotional impact, making the film entirely predictable and didactic.

Author Jeff Hobbs wrote about his Yale University roommate of four years in the 2014 biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League . It chronicled the true story of an exceptional student who defied the odds to transcend his impoverished background yet still couldn't overcome the gravitational pull of a certain fate the book title alluded to. The bestseller now serves as the basis of Chiwetel Ejiofor 's sophomore directorial outing , Rob Peace , following the similarly real-life-based 2019 Netflix film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind . Many of the praises and criticisms conferred on his directorial debut still apply. He is adroit with directing actors, but his storytelling is pedestrian.

A politically charged montage in the opening, featuring imagery of police brutality and a neighborhood engulfed in flames, all accompanied by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "The Message," signals the film's scope and ambition. While it delivers on that premise, it does so with the approach of an after-school special.

The story of an inner-city Newark kid who attends Yale yet ultimately succumbs to harsh economic realities and the demons of his past.

What Is 'Rob Peace' About?

We first meet Robert DeShaun Peace ( Jelani Dacres ) in 1980's East Orange, N.J., at age 7. His dad, Skeet Douglas (Ejiofor), deadbeat and manipulative, accuses him of farting and ejects him from a car. But it turns out that the old man needs to retrieve a gun from the glove compartment and simply doesn't want the boy there when he does it. See, Skeet can be both considerate and traumatizing to his son . In the very next scene, he receives a life sentence for double murder.

DeShaun's mother, Jackie ( Mary J. Blige ), sees his brilliant mind as a ticket out of the hell hole that is Newark, and resolves to send him to St. Benedict's Prep School in three years. She tells him to go by the name Robert to avoid association with his convict dad; everyone around knows Skeet has a son named DeShaun. Even as the teenage Rob ( Chance K. Smith ) thrives academically and excels in water polo, he is preoccupied with securing Skeet's release. He works multiple jobs on top of school to raise funds for an appeal . As Yale-bound Rob ( Jay Will ) leaves Newark, Skeet remains very much on his mind even if he's worried about his roommate accidentally answering a collect call from prison. Skeet grows increasingly impatient, inadvertently steering Rob to take desperate measures – selling pot on campus – to raise money for the lawyer's retainer.

The story exposes the structural racism, exemplified in botched legal and economic systems, that can overwhelmingly oppress a people. While it's largely sympathetic to the characters' ordeals, it also holds them accountable for their choices. Skeet is shown as selfish, prioritizing his own freedom over Rob's future. Rob chooses to cut corners even when there are legitimate alternatives to raise funds.

'Rob Peace' Proves Ejiofor Is an Actors' Director

Ejiofor's strength as a filmmaker is clearly working with the performers , from young actors playing Rob at different ages to the outstanding supporting cast that includes Mare Winningham as a Yale professor. Dialogues embedded with molecular biophysics and biochemistry terminologies are delivered with the cadence of casual conversation, without any trace of inauthenticity. Even the bit roles are handled with unusual care, truly cementing Ejiofor as an actors' director.

That said, Will's voiceover narration throughout is inexplicably static and unemotive . It shows that storytelling is what Ejiofor struggles with. The actor-turned-writer-director is hyper-attuned to cultural currents but lacks the finesse to bring them to bear. The voiceover narration seems to approximate Scorsese , but neither Ejiofor's direction nor Will's delivery possesses the requisite panache.

Ejiofor's thoughtful observations on Rob's circumstances are scattered throughout. Anecdotes of microaggressions reveal how, upon arriving at Yale, his presence as a budding scholar is immediately questioned. One time while approaching the campus security entrance, he asks a fellow student who has just unlocked the gate to hold it open for him. Ordinarily a simple accommodation not requiring a second thought, in this instance Rob's identification is demanded. Similarly, a graduate student happening upon Rob doing research in a lab wants him to state his business. Conversely, nobody bats an eye when Rob assumes the role of resident dope dealer. Rob's girlfriend, Naya ( Camila Cabello ), points out this unconscious bias prevalent on campus, the delineation of acceptable roles and stereotypes for Black people. She is absolutely right of course, but you'd wish this didn't need to be spelled out to the audience so heavy-handedly .

'Rob Peace' Plays Like a PowerPoint Presentation of a Film

More often than not, Ejiofor bullet points the unfolding events rather than coalescing them into a dramatic arc. Structurally, the narrative is comparable to a PowerPoint presentation . The film covers Rob's childhood in Newark to his arrival in New Haven, Conn., in exactly half an hour. He enters his junior year at Yale at precisely the one-hour mark. Storytelling shouldn't be reduced to such a rote formula.

The most glaring flaw has to be Jeff Russo 's mawkish score. A conscious choice has been made with the film's title to excise the spoiler-y parts in Hobbs' book title, but Russo's score basically serves the same function. The music imbues an overall sense of dread. It is unbearably hokum; instead of showing respect to the real-life people or subtly foreshadowing the tragedy, it mostly browbeats the audience into feeling bad. The end result is insufferably predictable and didactic . Even the occasional Layzie Bone and Ludacris on the soundtrack doesn't liven things up in the slightest. Yes, Peace had a tough life, but he also had hard-fought wins worth celebrating.

Rob Peace has elements of a compelling true story at its core, but the execution of how it comes together doesn't do right by them.

• The cast does a good job of bring the story to life as Ejiofor proves to be a actors' director.
• The film offers perceptive insights on the cultural forces behind the real-life events.
• The experience is dominated by ham-fisted filmmaking.
• A mawkish score does the film no favors, ultimately making everything too didatic.
• Everything is too predictable, reducing a complicated life with much worth celebrating into a one-note film.

Rob Peace comes to theaters in U.S. theaters on August 16. Click below for showtimes near you.

Buy Tickets Now

• Movie Reviews
• Chiwetel Ejiofor

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Microsoft Copilot: Everything you need to know about Microsoft’s AI

Copilot is Microsoft’s take on productivity-boosting generative AI, and it continues to grow and expand with Microsoft’s AI ambitions. Today, there are around a dozen Copilot-branded products powering various capabilities in Microsoft software and services, like summarizations in Microsoft Outlook and transcriptions in Microsoft Teams.

That’s in addition to Microsoft-owned GitHub Copilot tool for generating code, and the Copilot that lives on Windows and the web, which serves more as a general-purpose assistant à la OpenAI’s ChatGPT than a point solution.

In this post, we explain the many Microsoft Copilots available and what they do, and we highlight the key differences between each.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot, previously known as Bing Chat , is built into Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, as well as Windows 10, Windows 11 and the Microsoft Edge sidebar . ( Newer PCs even have a dedicated keyboard key for launching Copilot.) There’s also stand-alone Copilot apps for Android and iOS and an in-app Telegram room .

Powered by fine-tuned versions of OpenAI’s models (OpenAI and Microsoft have a close working relationship ), Copilot can perform a range of tasks described in natural language, like writing poems and essays, as well as translating text into other languages and summarizing sources from around the web (albeit imperfectly ).

Copilot, like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini , can browse the web (in Copilot’s case, via Bing) for up-to-date information. It sometimes gets things wrong , but for timely queries, access to search results can give Copilot an advantage over offline bots such as Anthropic’s Claude .

Copilot can create images by tapping Image Creator , Microsoft’s image generator built on OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model . And it can generate songs via an integration with Suno , the AI music-generation platform. Typing something like “Create an image of a zebra” or “Generate a song with a jazz rhythm” in Copilot will pull up the relevant tool.

On the subject of integrations, Copilot supports plug-ins for third-party apps and websites. There’s plug-ins for Instacart (for meal planning and cooking-related questions), Kayak (for trip planning), OpenTable (for restaurant reservations) and Shopify, to name a few examples, with more being added on a semiregular basis.

Which Windows settings can Copilot control?

On Windows 11 ( but not necessarily Windows 10 ), Copilot can control certain settings and functions , acting as a digital concierge of sorts.

With Copilot, either by typing or using Windows 11’s speech recognition functionality, users can perform actions on a PC like turning the battery saver on or off, showing device and system information, launching live captions, displaying the PC’s IP address and emptying the recycle bin.

A toggle in the Copilot experience on Windows 11 switches between “Work” and “Web” mode, with the former bringing Copilot’s Microsoft 365 capabilities in the Windows interface. More on that later.

What is Copilot Pro?

Copilot Pro is Microsoft’s premium Copilot product , priced at $20 per month. It’s similar in some ways to rival generative AI chatbot plans like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and Google’s Google One AI Premium, but not exactly the same.

Copilot Pro customers get priority access to the most capable OpenAI models (e.g., GPT-4o ) during peak times. And select features of Copilot can only be accessed with a Pro subscription, such as higher-resolution images from Image Creator.

Copilot Pro also gives users access to generative AI functions across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. In Word and OneNote, Copilot can write, edit, summarize and generate text. Copilot in Excel and PowerPoint can turn natural language prompts into presentations and visualizations. And in Outlook, Copilot can help draft email responses with toggles for adjusting the length or tone.

For customers with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan, these functions work on the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote desktop apps. Those without are limited to the web versions of these Microsoft 365 apps.

Beyond the Microsoft 365 upgrades, Copilot Pro subscribers get 100 “boosts” per day in Image Creator (versus only 15 per day for free users) to speed up the image-generation process, plus landscape formatting options. 

Importantly, Copilot Pro does not come with Copilot in Teams, a Copilot feature in Microsoft Teams that provides real-time summaries and action items while handling tasks like identifying people for follow-ups and creating meeting agendas. Copilot in Teams is exclusive to enterprise Copilot customers, meaning those with an enterprise-class (or equivalent) Microsoft 365 license.

What is Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Separate and distinct from the consumer Copilot SKU is Copilot for Microsoft 365, a suite of generative AI add-ons to Microsoft 365 with an emphasis on business applications.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is priced at $30 per user per month and available only to customers with a Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard or Business Premium license. It delivers many of the same capabilities across the Microsoft 365 family of apps as Copilot Pro, but with the addition of “enterprise-grade data protection” and the Semantic Index, a back-end system that creates a map of the data and content in an organization to allow Copilot to deliver more personalized responses.

Microsoft recently launched Microsoft 365 Chat , for example, a Copilot for Microsoft 365 tool that pulls info from content across Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., Word docs, PowerPoint presentations) to answer questions. In Excel, meanwhile, Copilot for Microsoft 365 can format data, create graphs, generate pivot tables and guide users through creating formulas and macros.

There are many, many Copilots besides. Here’s a partial list of them and their “skills”:

• Copilot in Power Pages can generate text, forms, chatbots and web page layouts and can create and edit image and site design themes.
• Copilot for Sales can help write email responses to customers or perform sales-related tasks such as sending summaries of Teams meetings through Outlook.
• Copilot in Microsoft Supply Chain Center can proactively flag issues like weather, financials and geography that might impact supply chain processes.
• Copilot for Service can draft answers to customer queries via chat or email and provide a chat experience for customer service agents that draws from knowledge bases as well as case history. 
• Copilot for Azure can suggest configurations for Microsoft Azure-hosted apps and environments and help with troubleshooting by identifying potential issues and solutions.
• Copilot for Security aims to summarize and “make sense” of different forms of cyberthreat intelligence.
• Copilot in Fabric helps explore, integrate, transform, prepare and visualize data.
• Copilot in Intune helps manage security policies and settings and troubleshoot device issues.
• Team Copilot can help manage meeting agendas in Teams and extend to Loop and Planner to create and assign tasks, track deadlines and notify team members when their input’s needed.

Note that some of Microsoft’s Copilots, like Copilot in Business Central , are included in the base software licenses and don’t require paying an additional fee. Others, like Copilot for Sales and Copilot for Service, cost an extra $20 per user per month or $50 per user per month without a Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscription.

Copilot Studio

Copilot Studio is a dashboard that allows customers to give Copilot for Microsoft 365 access to data in their, or a third party’s, customer relationship management software, enterprise resource management systems, and other databases and repositories using prebuilt connectors or connectors they build themselves. Through Copilot Studio, customers can build guardrails for Copilots and create and publish their own custom-tailored “copilots.”

Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscribers can tap Copilot Studio to create their own copilot by describing it in natural language. Copilots can filter to specific datasets for particular teams or users, or connect to an automation, plug-in or third-party service to kick off actions or a workflow.

Copilot Studio is also where customers can craft what Microsoft calls “Copilot agents.” These AI bots leverage memory and knowledge of context to navigate different business workflows, learning from user feedback and asking for help when they encounter situations they don’t know how to handle.

What is GitHub Copilot?

Not to be confused with the other Copilots in Microsoft’s portfolio, GitHub Copilot is a set of tools for generating code and generally supporting programming work. GitHub Copilot can be installed as an extension for IDEs including Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, Neovim and JetBrains, or used in the cloud with  GitHub Codespaces .

The generative AI model underpinning GitHub Copilot has been trained on billions of lines of Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go and dozens of other programming languages — many of them hosted and available publicly on GitHub. When you’re writing code, GitHub Copilot suggests code as you type; you can cycle through suggestions and accept or reject them.

GitHub Copilot can also translate code into natural language descriptions, and Copilot Extensions allow developers to extend Copilot with third-party skills.

GitHub Copilot is available for free for students and for “verified” open source contributors and educators. For individuals, it’s $10 per month. For business customers, it’s $19 per month per user. And for enterprises , it’s $39 per user per month.

Individual, business and enterprise subscribers get Copilot Chat along with GitHub Copilot, a chatbot-like flow that’s aware of the entire context of the code they’re working on and can answer questions about that code. In addition to answering coding questions, Chat can help developers fix errors and bugs and address security issues through code analysis.

The enterprise and business GitHub Copilot plans include license management, IP indemnity , organization-wide policy management and added privacy features. Enterprise customers have the ability to customize for their codebases and knowledge bases and fine-tune the underlying models, as well as access Copilot through the Microsoft Copilot on the web and use Copilot Chat on GitHub.com.

In April, GitHub launched Copilot Workspace , a sort of take on AI-powered software engineering. Workspace provides a dev environment that taps AI-powered agents to help brainstorm, plan, build, test and run code in natural language.

Issues with Copilot

Owing to the complex and fraught nature of today’s generative AI tech, Microsoft’s Copilots have their issues.

The models occasionally  make mistakes when summarizing  or answering questions because of their tendency to  hallucinate , including while summarizing meetings. The Wall Street Journal cited an instance where, for one early adopter using Copilot for Team meetings, Copilot invented attendees and implied that calls were about subjects that were never actually discussed.

As for GitHub Copilot, GitHub itself warns that it can produce insecure coding patterns , bugs and references to outdated APIs, or idioms reflecting the less-than-perfect code in its training data. The code Copilot suggests might not always compile, run or even make sense because it doesn’t actually test the suggestions.

Security and privacy concerns loom large over Copilot as well, but perhaps the elephant in the room is the unresolved fair-use question.

Like most generative AI models, the models powering Microsoft’s Copilots were trained on public data, some of which is copyrighted or under a restrictive license. Microsoft — among others — argues that the  fair-use  doctrine shields it from copyright claims. But that hasn’t stopped data owners from  filing class action lawsuits against the company , GitHub, OpenAI and many more over what owners allege are clear licensing and IP violations.

Microsoft offers policies to protect certain customers from courtroom battles arising from fair use challenges — at least in narrow circumstances. That doesn’t resolve the ethical quandary of training models on data without permission, however, which may be more than some customers can swallow.

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A pair of Rocket Lab-made spacecraft are about to embark on a two-step journey. The first step is the 55-hour, 2,500-mile stretch from California to the launch site at Cape…