Introduction

Most presentations are made up of visuals and bullet points. While this is effective, it can be a little monotonous for audiences. Audio adds an extra layer to your presentation that can captivate your audience. If you’re looking to make your Google Slides presentations more dynamic, you’ll want to add audio. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to help you add audio to your Google Slides.

How to Add Audio to Google Slides

There are several ways to add audio to your Google Slides presentations. Here is a guide:

Method 1: Uploading an Audio File

This is the easiest way to add audio to your presentation if you have a pre-recorded file that you want to incorporate. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Click on the slide where you want to add the audio file.
3. Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Audio”.
4. Select “Upload from computer” and choose your file. Your audio file will be inserted onto the slide.

Your audio file will now play when you come to this slide during your presentation.

Method 2: Recording Audio in Google Slides

If you don’t have a pre-recorded audio file, you can record audio directly in Google Slides. Here is how:

1. Click on the slide where you want to add the audio.
2. Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Audio”.
3. Select “Record audio” and follow the prompts to enable your microphone.
4. Click the red button to start recording, and begin speaking when prompted.
5. Click the blue square button to stop recording.
6. Preview your recording by clicking the “Play” button.
7. If you’re satisfied with your recording, click “Insert”. If not, you can record again from the beginning.

Your recording will now be added to the slide, and you can drag and drop it to any position on the slide.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Tools

There are also a variety of third-party tools that allow you to add audio to your Google Slides. Some examples include:

• AudioBlocks
• VideoBlocks
• Mixkit Sound Effects
• ZapSplat

While these resources are a great way to add high-quality audio to your presentation, they typically require a subscription or fee.

Best Practices for Using Audio in Google Slides

Now that you’ve learned how to add audio to your Google Slides, next, let’s discuss some best practices in using audio in your presentations:

Choose the Right Audio File

It’s important to choose an audio file that is appropriate for your audience and free of copyright restrictions. You can find a wide variety of free audio files online, but you’ll want to make sure they’re copyright-free. Alternatively, you can create your own recordings if possible.

Trim Audio Files and Adjust Volume

You can trim your audio files to make them shorter or to remove unwanted portions. To trim audio in Google Slides, click on the audio file and choose “Format options” from the menu. Under “Audio playback,” drag the blue handles to trim your audio. You can also adjust the volume to ensure that it’s audible to your audience.

Strategically Use Audio in Google Slides

Don’t overwhelm your audience with too much audio in your presentation. Use audio selectively to emphasize important points, or to add a bit of emphasis to your presentation. It’s also recommended to utilize different types of audio and switch it up in your presentation. You can use sound effects, music, voiceovers, and more.

Audio Troubleshooting

Audio can sometimes be finicky, and problems can arise. Here are some common audio issues you might encounter and how to troubleshoot them:

No Sound

If your audio isn’t playing, it could be that your computer’s sound is muted. Check that your device’s sound is on and not muted.

Wrong File Format

If your audio file isn’t supported by Google Slides, it won’t play. You’ll want to make sure that your audio file is in a format that Google Slides supports (MP3 or WAV).

Unwanted Audio

If you have multiple audio files in your presentation, you might want to remove one. To get rid of unwanted audio, click on the audio file and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.

Conclusion

Adding audio to your Google Slides presentation allows you to create a more engaging and dynamic presentation, which can help to captivate your audience. You learned about the different methods for adding audio to your Google Slides presentation, including uploading an audio file, recording audio directly in Google Slides, and using third-party tools. Additionally, you learned some best practices for using audio in Google Slides.