How to Play Music in a PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

Introduction

Adding music to a PowerPoint presentation can help make it more engaging and memorable. It can also be used to create an atmosphere of suspense or excitement. In this article, we will explore different ways to add music to your presentation, from using the Insert Music feature to incorporating audio clips into text slides.

Utilizing the Insert Music Feature

The most basic way to add music to your presentation is to use the Insert Music feature. This feature allows you to select a song from your computer, or from an online source such as YouTube or SoundCloud, and insert it into your presentation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To use the Insert Music feature, follow these steps:

• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Click the “Insert” tab at the top of the window.
• Click the “Audio” button in the Media group.
• Select either “Online Audio” or “My Computer” from the drop-down menu.
• If you choose “Online Audio”, enter the URL of the song you want to insert.
• If you choose “My Computer”, navigate to the file containing the song you want to insert.
• Once you have selected the song, click “Insert” to add it to your presentation.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Insert Music feature:

• Make sure the song you choose is appropriate for the content of your presentation.
• Test the song before you insert it to make sure it plays correctly.
• If the song is too long, you can edit it using a free audio editing program like Audacity.
• You can adjust the volume of the song by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the song in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Embedding a YouTube Video

Another way to add music to your presentation is to embed a YouTube video. This is a great option if you want to include a popular song or a music video in your presentation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To embed a YouTube video, follow these steps:

• Find the YouTube video you want to embed.
• Click the “Share” button beneath the video.
• Click the “Embed” button.
• Copy the embed code provided.
• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Click the “Insert” tab at the top of the window.
• Click the “Video” button in the Media group.
• Select “Online Video” from the drop-down menu.
• Paste the embed code into the box.
• Click “Insert” to add the video to your presentation.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Embed YouTube Video feature:

• Make sure the video you choose is appropriate for the content of your presentation.
• Test the video before you insert it to make sure it plays correctly.
• You can adjust the volume of the video by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the video in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Adding Audio Files

If you have an audio file that you want to add to your presentation, such as a sound effect or a voiceover, you can do so by adding it as an audio file.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To add an audio file, follow these steps:

• Find the audio file you want to add.
• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Click the “Insert” tab at the top of the window.
• Click the “Audio” button in the Media group.
• Select “Audio from File” from the drop-down menu.
• Navigate to the file containing the audio file you want to add.
• Select the file and click “Insert” to add it to your presentation.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Add Audio File feature:

• Make sure the audio file you choose is appropriate for the content of your presentation.
• Test the audio file before you insert it to make sure it plays correctly.
• If the audio file is too long, you can edit it using a free audio editing program like Audacity.
• You can adjust the volume of the audio file by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the audio file in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Creating Slides with Animations and Triggered Sounds

You can also create slides that contain animations and triggered sounds. This is a great way to add emphasis or drama to your presentation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To create a slide with animations and triggered sounds, follow these steps:

• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Create a new slide.
• Add the objects you want to animate (e.g. text, images, shapes).
• Click the “Animations” tab at the top of the window.
• Select the animation you want to apply to each object.
• Click the “Timing” tab at the top of the window.
• Set the timing for each animation.
• Click the “Sound” button in the Timing group.
• Select the sound you want to trigger when the animation occurs.
• Click “OK” to save your changes.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Create Slides with Animations and Triggered Sounds feature:

• Make sure the sound you choose is appropriate for the animation and the content of your presentation.
• Test the animation and sound before you insert them to make sure they play correctly.
• You can adjust the volume of the sound by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the sound in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Setting Up Background Music

You can also set up background music for your entire presentation. This is a great way to create a consistent atmosphere throughout your presentation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To set up background music, follow these steps:

• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Click the “Slide Show” tab at the top of the window.
• Click the “Set Up Slide Show” button in the Set Up group.
• Check the “Play music across slides” box.
• Click the “Browse” button and select the song you want to play.
• Click “OK” to save your changes.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Set Up Background Music feature:

• Make sure the song you choose is appropriate for the content of your presentation.
• Test the song before you set it up to make sure it plays correctly.
• If the song is too long, you can edit it using a free audio editing program like Audacity.
• You can adjust the volume of the song by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the song in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Incorporating Audio Clips into Text Slides

Finally, you can incorporate audio clips into text slides. This is a great way to add emphasis or clarity to your presentation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To incorporate an audio clip into a text slide, follow these steps:

• Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to edit.
• Create a new slide.
• Type the text you want to include in the slide.
• Highlight the text you want to emphasize.
• Click the “Insert” tab at the top of the window.
• Click the “Audio” button in the Media group.
• Select “Audio from File” from the drop-down menu.
• Navigate to the file containing the audio clip you want to add.
• Select the file and click “Insert” to add it to your presentation.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the Incorporate Audio Clips into Text Slides feature:

• Make sure the audio clip you choose is appropriate for the content of your presentation.
• Test the audio clip before you insert it to make sure it plays correctly.
• If the audio clip is too long, you can edit it using a free audio editing program like Audacity.
• You can adjust the volume of the audio clip by right-clicking it and selecting “Volume”.
• You can fade the audio clip in or out by right-clicking it and selecting “Fade In/Out”.

Conclusion

Adding music to a PowerPoint presentation can help make it more engaging and memorable. Whether you use the Insert Music feature, embed a YouTube video, add audio files, create slides with animations and triggered sounds, or incorporate audio clips into text slides, there are plenty of options to make your presentation stand out.