2 Record Your Presentation Using PowerPoint (WINDOWS)
The following instructions explain how to add audio to your PowerPoint presentation on Windows 10 and export that PowerPoint as an MP4 video file.
- Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
NOTE: PowerPoint online does not support recording a slideshow. You must record in the desktop application. - Click the Slide Show tab.
- Select Record from Current Slide or Record from Beginning depending on your needs
NOTE: Any PowerPoint slide can be re-recorded by clicking Record Slide Show and Selecting Record from Current Slide.
- Click Record to start recording narration for a slide. PowerPoint will give a three-second countdown before it begins recording.
NOTE: If you are working with only one monitor (laptop with no external monitor connected), PowerPoint will go into full screen presentation mode. To view the notes section, click the “notes” option at the top center of the screen. If you are using more than one monitor, one monitor will display the presentation slide in full screen and the other will display the presentation screen in full screen.
- Record narration and avoid reading text on the slide out loud to viewers. Click the blue Replay button to listen to the recorded audio and ensure it was recording.
- Click the advance button, that reads Advance to the next animation or slide to record the narration for the next slide.
IMPORTANT: Stop speaking for a second to prevent the audio from cutting out.
- Press [Escape] or the ‘X’ button located in the top right of the screen when the audio recordings are finished. You will see a speaker icon on slides that have audio.
- Save the video by first clicking File. We recommend saving your file as a regular PowerPoint before following the next steps for exporting your PowerPoint.
- Steps 10-14 are shown in screenshot below.
- Select Export
- Select Create a Video. NOTE Optional: Select Full HD (1080p) for the video quality; it is unlikely a higher quality is needed.
- Select Use Recorded Timings and Narrations.
- Click Create Video.
- Follow the prompt/pop-up window to save the video in a memorable location.
- Monitor the progress indicator at the bottom of the screen to determine when the video is done exporting.
NOTE: PowerPoint does not give an indication of how long the video will take to export or a notification that it is done.
Elaboration on the Recording Features:
- Timing Feature – there is a rolling time feature for the individual slide and the overall presentation. Allows the speaker/presenter to monitor how long they are talking.
- Microphone Feature – Click on Settings and select Microphone and then the specific device to set up before recording.
- Replay Feature – Use to check that the audio is recording properly before starting additional slides.
- Clear Feature – Select Clear to delete/re-record audio.
- Don’t set the camera to record – Make sure this button has a diagonal slash through it to avoid the problem.
- Seconds spent on each slide feature – Used for when a slide does not have audio, therefore it’s recommended to have audio on each slide.
