Adding audio to your Google Slides presentations can be a great way to add more interest and excitement to your content. There are a few different ways to do this, and each has its own set of pros and cons. Here are four methods for adding audio to your slides:
- Use Google Slides’ built-in audio player: This is the simplest way to add audio, and it works with most presentations. Just insert an MP3 or WAV file into your presentation, and Google Slides will automatically play it when someone clicks on the slide. However, this method has two drawbacks: first, it’s not very versatile; you can only use MP3 or WAV files, and second, it can be difficult to find the right file if you don’t have it already handy.
- Use a third-party audio player: If you want more flexibility than Google Slides’ built-in player offers, you can use a third-party audio player like SoundCloud or iTunes U. This approach is more versatile because you can add both MP3 and WAV files, but it also has some disadvantages. For example, third-party players tend to be more expensive than Google Slides’ built-in player, and they may not work with all presentations formats (like PDFs).
- Use online tools: If you don’t have anyMP3 or WAV files lying around but you do have access to an online tool like YouTube or Vimeo, that’s also an option for adding audio to your slides. Just paste in the URL of the video clip that you want to use, and Google Slides will automatically play it when someone clicks on the slide. This method has two advantages over using MP3 or WAV files: first, it works with more types of presentations than just those that use Google Slides as their underlying platform; second, there is no need ..
Adding audio to your presentation, whether it’s gentle background music for a wedding slideshow or a voice recording for a remote learning session, can keep your audience interested, engaged, and entertained. Here’s how to do it with Google Slides.
How Inserting Audio in Google Slides Works
Though a seemingly simple feature, inserting audio in Google Slides hasn’t always been an option. Previously, the only way to insert audio in your Google Slides presentation was by inserting a video or linking to a site like Spotify—just inserting the audio file alone wasn’t possible. Thankfully, now you can.
The caveat here is you can’t upload the files directly from your local machine. You can only upload them from Google Drive. So unlike PowerPoint where you can record your audio directly in the application, you’ll need to record your audio separately for Google Slides, upload the audio to Google Drive, and then add it to your presentation from there.
This obviously isn’t limited to audio recordings. As long as the audio files are MP3 or WAV, you can upload any type of audio you like, including music.
RELATED: How to Convert a WAV File to MP3
Uploading Audio to Google Drive
If you don’t already have your audio file uploaded to Google Drive, head over to your Google Drive account and click the “New” button in the top-left corner of the window.
Next, click “File Upload” in the menu that appears.
File Explorer (or Finder on Mac) will open. Locate and select the file you want to upload and then click “Open.”
How to Import Audio to Google Slides
Once the audio file is uploaded, open your Google Slides presentation that you’d like to add the audio to, click “Insert” in the menu bar, and then click “Audio.”
The “Insert Audio” window will appear. In the “My Drive” tab, select the file you’d like to upload by clicking it.
Next, click the blue “Select” button in the bottom-left corner of the window.
A speaker icon in a grey circle will appear on the slide. You can resize the icon by clicking and dragging the handles that appear when selected. You can also rearrange the position of the icon by clicking and dragging it to the new location.
Underneath the icon, you’ll find the play/pause and volume options.
You can also choose how and when the audio plays during the presentation. When you click the icon, the “Format Options” pane appears on the right-hand side of the window. You’ll automatically be in the “Audio Playback” group.
Under “Start Playing,” you can decide if you want the audio to play when you click the audio icon or if you want it to play automatically when you make it to the slide.
You can also pre-set the volume of the audio during the presentation. Click and drag the slider under “Volume When Presenting” to adjust it.
Underneath the slider, you’ll see these three options:
Hide Icon When Presenting – This option, as the name implies, hides the icon when you’re presenting. This option is only available if you selected the option for the audio to start playing automatically. Loop Audio – Once your audio reaches the end, it will start over. This is ideal for background music during a wedding or graduation ceremony. Stop on Slide Change – Once you move to the next slide, the audio will end.
That’s all there is to it. Adjust the playback options to fit the atmosphere of your presentation.
Now that you know how to add audio, try mastering other basic functions to create the ultimate slideshow.
RELATED: The Beginner’s Guide to Google Slides
