PowerPoint 2007: Adding Voiceover Narration to Presentations Converted to Movies

by AJ George

Last week I detailed how to turn a PowerPoint 2007 presentation into a movie that could be uploaded to popular video sharing sites like YouTube. 

 

If you wanted to add voiceover narration to the movie, however, you may have run into a bit of a problem--there is only one row in the Windows Movie Maker timeline for audio. If there was a need to add background music to the presentation in addition to narration, you would be in a bit of a pickle.

 

This week, expanding upon the same method from last week, I will show you not only how to add voiceover narration, but how to have it play at the same time as background music.

1. Follow the instructions from last week to create a movie from your PowerPoint presentation with audio and save your movie as a .wmv file.
   
   Note (And this is important!): Once you have saved your PowerPoint presentation with the audio as a .wmv file in Windows Movie Maker you will not be able to adjust the length of each slide. Practice your narration before saving this original file so you can adjust the length of time each slide plays as necessary before continuing on to add narration.
    
2. Open the .wmv file in Windows Movie Maker.
    
    
3. If necessary, drag the .wmv file(s) down to the storyboard.
   
    
4. From just above the storyboard at the bottom of the screen, click Show Timeline.
   
   Since the audio you previously added is now a part of the imported video, you have a spot on your timeline to add more audio.
   
    
5. Click the Narrate Timeline tool. 
   
   
   
   Note: You can use the microphone built in to your computer for narration. However, if you are looking for better sound quality it is usually better to use an external microphone. We use and recommend the Sennheiser 350.
   
    
6. Drag the blue playback indicator directly before the slide for which you would like to begin narrating.
   
    
7. In the center of the screen where it now says Narrate Timeline, click the Show more options link.
   
   
   
    
8. Activate (put a check mark next to) Mute Speakers.
    
   Since you have previously added audio, this will prevent the microphone from picking up that audio in your narration and causing an echo effect.
   
    
9. Click the Start Narration button and record your narration.
   
    
10. Click Stop Narration when you are finished.
    
    The Save Windows Media file window will appear.
    
     
11. Give your narration a name and click Save.
    
     
12. Click the Done link when you have completed all narration recordings.
    
     
13. Drag your Narration recording(s) from the Collections area down to the Audio/Music portion of your timeline.
    
     
14. Save your video as covered last week.
    
    You are now ready to upload your movie to a video sharing site.

 

If you would like more tips on recording audio for eLearning voiceovers, consider taking our Audio Basics for eLearning live, online class.

 

 

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About the author: AJ George is IconLogic's lead Technical Writer and author of both "PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials" and "PowerPoint 2008 for the Macintosh: The Essentials."