How to Embed an MP3 in PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is a great way to present your ideas. The visual side of a presentation is very important, of course, but adding music or voice-overs can enhance the quality and impact on your audience. Typically, only WAV files can be embedded into a PowerPoint presentation. This can be problematic because WAV files tend to be quite large – up to 10 times larger than an MP3 file. Learn how to work around this problem and embed converted MP3 files into your PowerPoint presentations.
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Things You'll Need
- MP3 audio file
- Microsoft PowerPoint installed
- MP3-to-RiffWAV converter software
Instructions
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Download CDex from the SourceForge website and install the program on your computer. This freeware application allows you to add a RIFF-WAV header to any MP3 file. You will need to modify your MP3 file in this manner using CDex or a similar software application.
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Launch CDex and add a RIFF-WAV header to the MP3 file that you want to embed in PowerPoint. Refer to the documentation for the current software version for instructions. CDex simply replaces the MP3 on your audio file with a WAV header. Despite this change, the MP3 characteristics of the file remain, including smaller file size.
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Add animation to your presentation. To embed audio into PowerPoint, it must play with the animation. The advantage of embedding an audio file into PowerPoint is that it will be merged into a single file, which is convenient for your presentation. Using the "Insert Sound from File" option does not embed the audio; it only links to it. Likewise, simply inserting the sound means you’ll need both the PowerPoint file and the audio file for it to play properly. Thus, embedding is a more efficient approach.
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Embed your MP3 file (which is now labeled as a WAV file) once you have added animation to your presentation. Right-click the animation in the "Custom Animation" window and click on "Effect Options" from the submenu that opens.
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Click the drop-down menu next to “Sound” in the Effect Options window and select "Other Sound." A file browser window opens.
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Browse your hard drive for the audio file that you want to embed. PowerPoint will only show WAV files, so MP3s, WMAs and other audio files won’t display. However, since the MP3 file has been reconstituted to appear as a WAV file, PowerPoint will allow it to be embedded.
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Click “OK” when you locate your modified MP3 file. PowerPoint will embed the MP3 file into your presentation.
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Tips & Warnings
Within PowerPoint's custom animation menu, you can have PowerPoint play the MP3 file automatically or when your click the mouse. You can also add delays and other effects if needed.
References
Resources
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