How to Add Narration to Slides in PowerPoint and Keynote;
How to Export Files in a Video Format; and How to Create a Separate, Stand-alone Audio File

  • This page explains how to add audio explanations (narration) to slides made with PowerPoint or Keynote and, then, how to export these files to a video format.
  • The methods of creating stand-alone audio files are also described.

Using PowerPoint for Windows

  • PowerPoint for Windows can record narration over your presentation.
  • To narrate a presentation, record your voice with the microphone built into your personal computer as you run through your slides.
  • Recorded narration is saved for each slide, and an audio icon appears on each recorded slide.

Procedure

  1. Select "Slide Show" > "Record Slide Show".
  2. Choose from the following two options to open the recording window.
    • "Record from Beginning" : recording starts from the beginning of a presentation.
    • "Record from Current Slide" : recording starts from a specific slide.
  3. Click the round, red button at the top left to start recording.
  4. Speak into the microphone to record your narration.
  • To move to the next slide, press Enter or the arrow key.
  • When the slide show finishes, the recording ends as well.
  • If you click "Stop", you go back to the first slide.
  • If you click "Pause", animation of the slide stops at that moment.
  • Save the data and export it as a video file (mp4 or wmv).
    • Save the data and check if all changes are reflected.
    • Click "File" > "Export" > "Create a Video". (Or, on the "Recording" tab of the ribbon, click "Export to Video".)
    • In the first drop-down box under the "Create a Video" heading, select the video quality you want.
    • Click "Create a Video" and enter a file name. Then, in the "Save as type" box, choose either "MPEG-4 Video" or "Windows Media Video" to complete saving.

    Please see the links below for further details :
    Record a presentation
    Record a slide show with narration and slide timings
    Turn your presentation into a video

    Using PowerPoint for Mac

    • PowerPoint for Mac 2016 is not able to export narrated videos.
    • In other versions of PowerPoint for Mac, the same procedure presented in "Using PowerPoint for Windows" above can be used through step 4, "Speak to the microphone to record your narration". To save data as an MP4 file on Mac, which is described in step 5 for Windows, please refer here.
    • If you use PowerPoint for Mac 2016, please try other versions of the software, or the methods for QuickTime or Keynote described below.

    Please see the link below for further details : Save a presentation as a movie file or MP4（Microsoft Office）

    Using QuickTime Player (Mac) to record the screen

    • QuickTime Player is a default application for Mac computers and can record the screen along with narration (audio).
    • To record PPT slides (or for other applications) start a slide show just after you begin recording, as described in the process below.
    • QuickTime Player is especially useful in cases where you need to record for applications other than slideshows.

    Procedure

    1. Start QuickTime player.
      • If a dialogue box for selecting a file opens, close the box.
    2. In the "File" menu, choose "New Screen Recording".
    3. Choose the internal microphone from the recording settings menu. Choose an external mic when you are using one.
      • Check if your voice is recorded. If properly recorded, the indicator above the Record button fluctuates.
    4. Select an area of the screen (entire or partial) to record.
      • If you wish to record a partial area, drag the mouse to select the area.
    5. After you select an area, screen recording begins.
      • When recording the entire screen, click any point on the screen to start the recording.
      • When recording a partial area of the screen, click the "Record" button that appears after the area is selected.
    6. When your narration is finished, click the Stop button in the menu bar to end the recording.
    7. Play the recorded video and check for errors.
    8. Choose "File" menu > "Save" and enter the name of the video.
      • Videos can be exported in mp4 format (H.264).

    Please see the links below for further details :
    How to record the screen on your Mac
    QuickTime Player User Guide (Apple)

    Using Keynote (Mac)

    The method for adding narration to slides in Keynote is explained here.

    Procedure

    1. Select the slide to begin narration.
    2. Click the "Document" button at the top right of the screen and go to the "Audio" tab.
    3. In the "Record Slideshow" section, click "Record".
    4. See the indicator on the bottom left of the screen to check if your voice is properly recorded.
    5. Click the Record button to start recording.
      • Recording begins after a countdown.
      • Record your narration as you move through the slides at your own time.
    6. When your narration is finished, click the Stop button in the menu bar to end the recording.


    After your slideshow is recorded, export it as a video file.

    1. Select "File" > "Export to" > "Movie".
    2. Default export settings can be used, but changes are needed for higher resolution.
    3. Click "Next" and save the file with a name.

    Creating separate slides and audio files

    • The methods for recording vocal explanations for slides as audio files are explained here. Students learn from slides while listening to audio files.
    • Please add the slide numbers to each slide so that students can easily recognize which one you're explaining.

    On Windows

    • By using Voice Recorder, a default application of Windows 10, you can record with the microphone built into your computer.

    Procedure

    1. Start Voice Recorder.
    2. To start recording, click the "Record" button in the center of the screen.
    3. To stop recording, click the "Stop" button in the center of the screen.
    4. Play the recorded audio file and check for errors.
    5. Click "Rename" in the bottom right and enter a file name.
      • Recorded files are saved in the "Sound recordings" folder in "Documents".
      • If you are not sure where files are saved, click the three dots at the bottom right and choose "Open file location". Here, you will see where the files are located.

    Please see the link below for further details :
    How to use Voice Recorder

    On Mac

    Procedure

    1. Start QuickTime player
      • If a dialogue box for selecting a file opens, close the box.
    2. In the "File" menu, choose "New Audio Recording".
    3. Choose the internal microphone from the recording settings menu. Choose an external mic when you are using one.
      • Check if your voice is recorded. If properly recorded, the indicator above the Record button fluctuates.
      • Check if the volume (slider below the Record button) is at zero while recording.
    4. To start recording, click the Record button.
    5. To stop recording, click the Stop button.
    6. Play the recorded audio file and check for errors.
    7. Choose "File" menu > "Save" and enter the name of the video.
      • Videos are saved in m4a format.

    Please see the link below for further details :
    QuickTime Player User Guide (Apple)

    Other methods

    • Commercial voice recorders can also be used to record audio files.