PowerPoint Narration - Presenter Tip

Test Your Presentation Skills with PowerPoint Narration Feature

Do the ultimate test for yourself before the big day. Record your voice while you run through your whole presentation. Then play it back to hear how you would sound to the audience. Once you are satisfied with your performance, simply delete the narration.

Things to Consider During the Playback:

• Note voice inflection for emphasis -- was it enough and appropriate?
• Did you pause long enough at an important point?
• Is it possible that a question might arise at a specific slide, and are you prepared to stop your presentation to answer it?

Steps to Record Narration

1. Make sure there is a microphone attached to your computer, (or you may plan to use the built in microphone if your computer has that feature).
2. Click on the Slide Show tab of the ribbon.
3. Click the Record Narration button.
4. Optional - Check/change your microphone settings by clicking those appropriate buttons.
5. Click the OK button. Your slide show will appear in full screen on your computer. Narrate your presentation as if you were speaking before a live audience, clicking the mouse when needed to advance the slides.
6. When you are finished, click the Esc button to stop the slide show.
7. A dialog box will appear stating that the narrations have been saved with each slide and asking whether you wish to save the timings as well. Click on Save or Don't Save as the case may be.
8. Press the F5 key on your keyboard to watch the slide show with your narration. You can then evaluate where you might need to improve your performance.

Remove the Narration from the Slide Show

On the first slide of the presentation, you will see a sound icon, likely in the bottom right corner of the slide. Click on this icon and press the Delete key on the keyboard to remove this narration from the slide show.

See Also
• Record Narration or Sounds in PowerPoint 2010
• Record Sounds or Narration in PowerPoint 2007