How to Add Narration to a PowerPoint Presentation (Mac)

To narrate an entire presentation:

1. Plug in your microphone (if necessary) and open up your PowerPoint presentation.
2. On the top menu click, Slide Show > Record Narration.

3. Set the sound input device and the input source.

• If you are using the built-in microphone, select the sound input device as Built-in Audio and the input source as Line In.
• If you are using an external device, such as a headset, select the name of the device from the list for both the sound input device and input source.

4. Under the Linked Narration heading ensure that “Link narrations” is unchecked.

5. When ready to start recording narration, click Record. This full screens the presentation and stars the recording. Mouse click or hit spacebar to advance to the next slide.

6. When you come to the last slide in your presentation and finish your recording, wait 5 seconds to ensure the audio file is not clipped. Press the escape key.

7. When prompted: “The narrations have been saved with each slide. Do you want to save the slide timing as well?" click Yes if you want to save the timings and No if you don’t.

8. If you clicked yes, when prompted: “Do you want to review timings in slide sorter view?” click Yes if you want to review the timings and No if you do not.

Narration cannot be stopped on a particular slide. If you exit a narration and then go to Slide Show > Record Narration it will always start at the beginning of the presentation.

To re-record a single slide:

1. Navigate to the slide that you would like to rerecord. Select the audio icon and press delete.
2. Click the Transitions tab, then Options. Under Advance Slide, uncheck “Automatically after … seconds”. Click Apply.

3. Click Insert > Sound and Music > Record Sound…

4. Set the sound input device and the input source.

• If you are using the built-in microphone, select the sound input device as Built-in Audio and the input source as Line In.
• If you are using an external device, such as a headset, select the name of the device from the list for both the sound input device and input source.

5. Click the Record button to begin recording. Use either Pause or Stop to end your recording.

6. To play back your recording, click Play.

7. When the recording is complete, in the Name field, type a name for your recording and click Save.

8. To sync the sound with the slide, right click on the speaker icon and go to Slideshow > Custom Animation. Click on the Add Media Actions icon and select Play. From the Start drop-down list, select With Previous.