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Microsoft PowerPoint 2008

Using Sounds and Video

After you have learned the basics of PowerPoint 2008, you can add a little zip to your presentation. To increase its attractiveness, try adding sounds, music, videos, and narration. Having some of these effects in your presentation can capture and focus the audience's attention and enhance the overall effectiveness.

return to topAbout Inserting Sounds and Video

In PowerPoint 2008, you can use sound files from other sources, e.g., the Web, CD-ROMs of sound clips, and sound clips that you create. For information on capturing media from the Internet, refer to Capturing Images, Sounds, and Movies.

When you insert sounds or video effects, you will be inserting them one slide at a time. In order to insert the sound or video, make sure you are viewing the appropriate slide in the Normal view. 

NOTE: After inserting the selected sound or video, an icon appears on the slide. If you do not choose to let PowerPoint automatically start the sound or video, clicking the icon will commence the operation.

  1. To view your slide in the Normal view, from the View menu, select Normal

return to topInserting Sounds

Sounds can make your presentation more interesting and surprising. If you decide to insert sounds, make sure they are appropriate and do not distract the audience. For sound clip resources or for instructions on saving sound clips from the Web, refer to Capturing Images, Sounds, and Movies: Capturing Sound Clips from the Web.

Inserting Sounds: From File

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert menu, select Sound and Music » From File...
     The Insert Sound dialog box appears.

  3. From the Insert Sound dialog box, navigate to and select the desired sound

  4. Click INSERT
    An alert box appears asking how you want your sound to start.

  5. To play your sound automatically, click AUTOMATIC
     To start your sound by clicking the mouse, click WHEN CLOSED
     A sound icon Sound iconappears on your slide.

Inserting Sounds: Recording Sounds

NOTE: This option will only work if you have a microphone on your computer. 

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert menu, select Sound and Music » Record Sound...
         The Record Sound dialog box appears.

  3. In the Name text box, type an appropriate name

  4. Click RECORDRecord button

  5. Record the sound

  6. When you are finished recording, click STOPStop button

  7. Click PLAYPlay buttonto hear your recording

  8. Click SAVE
    A sound icon appears on the slide.

return to topInserting Music

While presenting, PowerPoint allows you to play music from a CD. After choosing which slide(s) you want to add music to, you can choose to have the music play automatically or by clicking the mouse. You can also set the track number and specify the length you want the track to play. 

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert menu, select Sound and Music » Play CD Audio Track...
         The Play Options dialog box appears.
    Play Options dialog box

  3. To start music at a specific track, under Start, in the Track text box, type the appropriate track number

  4. To start at a specific time within the starting track, under Start, in the At text box, type the desired starting time

  5. To end at a specific track, under End, in the Track text box, type the appropriate track number

  6. To end at a specific time within the ending track, under End, in the At text box, type the desired ending time

  7. To have your clip selection play repeatedly from beginning to end, select Loop until stopped

  8. When you are done setting the sound options, click OK
    An alert box appears asking how you want your sound to start.

  9. To play your sound automatically, click YES
     To start your sound by clicking the mouse, click NO
    A sound icon Sound iconappears on your slide.
    NOTE: For the CD to play during your presentation, it must be in the CD-ROM drive of the computer you are presenting on.

return to topInserting Videos

When inserting movies into your presentation, you can choose a movie from your own file. Motion clips are like clip art except the images include animation. This animation can be seen when you run the slide show.

NOTE: For resources on finding movies or to learn how to save movies from the Internet, refer to Capturing Video Clips from the Web.

Inserting Videos: From File

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert menu, select Movie...
     The Insert Movie dialog box appears.

  3. From Insert Movie dialog box, navigate to and select the desired movie

  4. Click CHOOSE
     The movie appears on your slide.

return to topInserting Narration 

Perhaps you would like narration inserted into the presentation. With PowerPoint 2008, you can record your own narration and select the slide to which you want the narration applied.

NOTE: In order to record narration, you must have a microphone. 

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Slide Show menu, select Record Narration...
     The Record Narration dialog box appears.

  3. To begin recording, from the Record Narration dialog box, click RECORD
    The slide show automatically starts at the selected slide.

  4. As you go through each slide, add appropriate narration
    NOTE: At the end of the show an alert box appears asking if you want to save slide timings.

  5. To save the slide timings, click YES
     To save only the narration, click NO

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