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Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Using Sounds and Video

After you have learned the basics of PowerPoint 2007, 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

PowerPoint 2007 includes a variety of sounds and videos in the Clip Gallery that are free to use. However, you can also 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 videos, 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 on the icon will play the clip.

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 from your presentation content. 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 the Clip Organizer

  1. View the appropriate slide

  2. From the Insert tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow SOUNDSound button» select Sound from Clip Organizer...
    The Clip Art task pane appears with all choices displayed.

  3. To search for clips by keyword,
    1. In the Search for text box, type the desired search criteria
    2. Under Results should be, ensure that only Sounds is selected

    3. Click GO
      Matching results appear.

  4. Hover your mouse over the appropriate sound
    The menu arrow appears.

  5. Click theArrowfor the sound » select Insert
    An alert box appears asking how you want your sound to start.

  6. To play this sound automatically, click AUTOMATICALLY
    OR
     To start your sound by clicking the mouse, click WHEN CLICKED
    A sound icon appears on your slideSound icon.

Inserting Sounds: From a File

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow SOUNDSound button» select Sound from File...
     The Insert Sound dialog box appears.

  3. From the Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the desired sound

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

  5. To play the sound automatically, click AUTOMATICALLY
    OR
     To start your sound by clicking the mouse, click WHEN CLICKED
    A sound icon appears on your slideSound icon.

Inserting Sounds: Recording Sounds

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

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow SOUNDSound button» select Record Sound...
         The Record Sound dialog box appears.

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

  4. Click RECORDRecord buttonand record the sound

  5. When finished recording, click STOPStop button

  6. To hear your recording, click PLAYPlay button

  7. Click OK
    A sound icon appears on the slideSound icon.

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 tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow SOUNDSound button» select Play CD Audio Track...
         The Insert CD Audio dialog box appears.
    Insert CD Audio dialog box

  3. To start music at a specific track, in the Clip selection section, in the Start at track text box, type the appropriate track number
    OR
    Use the nudge buttons to select the appropriate track number

  4. To start at a specific time within the starting track, in the time...seconds text box, type the time you want the track to start
    OR
    Use the nudge buttons to select the appropriate time

  5. To stop music at a specific track, in the Clip selection section, in the End at track text box, type the appropriate track number
    OR
    Use the nudge buttons to select the appropriate track number

  6. To end at a specific time within the ending track, in the time...seconds text box, type the appropriate time you want the track to end
    OR
    Use the nudge buttons to select the appropriate time

  7. To have your clip selection play repeatedly from beginning to end, in the Play Options section, select Loop until stopped

  8. To adjust the volume at which the music will play, click SOUND VOLUMESound Volume button» use the slider bar to select the appropriate volume

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

  10. If you want your sound to play automatically, click AUTOMATICALLY
    OR
     If you want to start your sound by clicking the mouse, click WHEN CLICKED
    A CD audio icon appears in your presentationCD Audio icon.
    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 have two choices. You can choose a movie from your own file, or you can insert a movie or motion clip from the Clip Gallery. PowerPoint automatically has motion clips in the Clip Gallery. 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 Movies: From the Clip Organizer

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow MOVIEMovie button» select Movie from Clip Organizer...
    The Clip Art task pane appears with all choices displayed.

  3. To search for clips by keyword,
    1. In the Search for text box, type the desired search criteria
    2. Under Results should be, ensure that only Movies is selected

    3. Click GO
      Matching results appear.

  4. Select the appropriate movie
     The movie appears on your slide.

Inserting Movies: From File

  1. View the appropriate slide in Normal view

  2. From the Insert tab, in the Media Clips group, click theArrow buttonbelow MOVIEMovie button» select Movie from File...
     The Insert Movie dialog box appears.

  3. From Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the desired movie

  4. Click OK
    The movie appears on your slide.

return to topInserting Narration 

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 tab, in the Set Up group, click RECORD NARRATIONRecord Narration button
     The Record Narration dialog box appears.

  3. If this is the first time you are recording narration, click SET MICROPHONE LEVEL...
    The Microphone Check dialog box appears.

  4. Follow the directions on the Microphone Check dialog box and click OK

  5. To begin recording, from the Record Narration dialog box, click OK
    A slide selection dialog box appears.

  6. To have the recording start on the current slide, click CURRENT SLIDE
    OR
    To have the recording start at the first slide, click FIRST SLIDE
    The slide show automatically starts at the selected slide.

  7. Add appropriate narration

  8. To advance to the next slide, click the mouse

  9. Repeat steps 7-8 until all narration is complete
    At the end of the show an alert box appears asking if you want to save slide timings.

  10. To save the slide timings, click SAVE
    OR
     To save only the narration, click DON'T SAVE

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