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PowerPoint presentations are a common and effective way to communicate information in a visually engaging manner. While slides with text and images can be powerful on their own, adding music in the background can further enhance the audience’s experience. Whether you’re creating a presentation for a business meeting, educational seminar, or creative project, incorporating music can help set the mood, evoke emotions, and grab the attention of your audience. In this blog post, we will explore various methods to add music as background sound to your PowerPoint presentations.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to Add Music in the Background of A PowerPoint

There are several reasons why you should consider adding music as background sound in your PowerPoint presentations:

1. Create an Engaging Atmosphere: Music has the power to create an immersive experience for your audience. By carefully selecting appropriate music tracks, you can set the tone and mood of your presentation, making it more engaging and memorable.

2. Enhance Emotional Impact: Music is known to evoke emotions. By incorporating suitable music in your PowerPoint presentation, you can enhance the emotional impact of your message, making it more relatable and persuasive.

3. Grab Attention: Background music can help capture the attention of your audience right from the start. It can create a sense of intrigue and captivate their interest, ensuring that they stay engaged throughout your presentation.

4. Reinforce Key Points: By syncing relevant music with specific slides, you can reinforce your key points and make them more memorable for your audience. The combination of visual information and auditory stimulation can improve information retention.

Now that we understand the importance of adding music in the background of a PowerPoint presentation, let’s explore various methods to accomplish this:

Method 1: Using Audio Files on Local Storage

Adding music from audio files stored on your local storage is a straightforward way to include background sound in your PowerPoint presentation.

1. Choose the slide where you want the music to start playing.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
3. Click on the "Audio" button and select "Audio on My PC."
4. Browse your computer and select the desired audio file.
5. Once inserted, you can resize and reposition the audio icon on the slide as needed.
6. Right-click on the audio icon and select "Playback Settings."
7. In the "Playback" tab, choose whether you want the music to play automatically or on a click.
8. Set additional playback options such as looping, volume, and fade duration.
9. Preview the slide to ensure the music plays as intended.
10. Repeat the process for any additional slides where you want to add background music.

Pros:
1. Gives you full control over the selection of music tracks.
2. Allows you to use royalty-free or licensed music for professional presentations.
3. Works even without an internet connection.
4. Compatible with most versions of PowerPoint.
5. The audio file can be easily shared along with the presentation.

Cons:
1. Large audio files may increase the size of the PowerPoint presentation.
2. You need to ensure the audio file is properly saved and transferred along with the presentation to avoid broken links.

Method 2: Via YouTube Videos

YouTube is a vast resource of music and other audio content. You can easily add music from YouTube videos as background sound to your PowerPoint presentation.

1. Find the YouTube video that contains the music you want to use in your presentation.
2. Copy the URL of the YouTube video.
3. Go to the slide where you want the music to start playing.
4. Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
5. Click on the "Video" button and select "Online Video."
6. Paste the copied YouTube video URL into the search box.
7. Click on the desired YouTube video from the search results and click the "Insert" button.
8. Resize and reposition the video on the slide as needed.
9. Right-click on the video and select "Video Options."
10. In the "Playback" tab, choose whether you want the video to play automatically or on a click.
11. Adjust the start and end timings if necessary.
12. Set additional playback options such as looping, volume, and fade duration.
13. Preview the slide to ensure the music plays as intended.
14. Repeat the process for any additional slides where you want to add background music.

Pros:
1. Provides access to an extensive library of music and audio tracks.
2. No need to download or transfer audio files separately.
3. Allows you to use popular and trending music tracks.
4. YouTube videos can be easily embedded in PowerPoint presentations.
5. A wide range of playback settings and controls available.

Cons:
1. Requires an internet connection to play the videos and load the music.
2. Relies on the availability of the video content on YouTube.
3. You may encounter ads or unrelated content if using YouTube videos.

Method 3: Using Royalty-Free Music Websites

There are several websites that offer royalty-free music, which you can use without worrying about copyright issues. These websites provide a vast collection of music tracks specifically created for use in various media projects, including presentations.

1. Browse through reputable royalty-free music websites like Epidemic Sound, AudioJungle, or Bensound.
2. Search or browse for the type of music that suits your presentation.
3. Once you find a suitable track, check its licensing terms and download the audio file.
4. Save the downloaded audio file to your computer.
5. Choose the slide where you want the music to start playing.
6. Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
7. Click on the "Audio" button and select "Audio on My PC."
8. Browse your computer and select the downloaded audio file.
9. Adjust the audio icon’s size and position on the slide as desired.
10. Right-click on the audio icon and select "Playback Settings."
11. Choose whether you want the music to play automatically or on a click.
12. Set additional playback options such as looping, volume, and fade duration.
13. Preview the slide to ensure the music plays as intended.
14. Repeat the process for any additional slides where you want to add background music.

Pros:
1. Offers a wide variety of music genres and styles.
2. Provides high-quality tracks specifically designed for use in presentations.
3. Ensures compliance with copyright regulations.
4. Usually includes licensing options for personal and commercial use.
5. Allows you to download the audio files and use them offline.

Cons:
1. May require a subscription or purchasing individual tracks.
2. Limited selection of free music tracks compared to paid options.
3. Some royalty-free music websites may have complex licensing terms.

Method 4: Using PowerPoint’s Built-in Music Library

PowerPoint offers a built-in music library where you can choose from a selection of pre-installed soundtracks. This method is convenient when you don’t have access to external audio files or need quick access to background music.

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Choose the slide where you want the music to start playing.
3. Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
4. Click on the "Audio" button and select "Audio on My PC."
5. In the file selection dialog, change the file type to "Music" or "Soundtracks."
6. Scroll through the available options and select the desired music track.
7. Adjust the audio icon’s size and position on the slide as desired.
8. Right-click on the audio icon and select "Playback Settings."
9. Choose whether you want the music to play automatically or on a click.
10. Set additional playback options such as looping, volume, and fade duration.
11. Preview the slide to ensure the music plays as intended.
12. Repeat the process for any additional slides where you want to add background music.

Pros:
1. Quick access to a variety of music tracks without searching or downloading external files.
2. Convenient when you need royalty-free music instantly.
3. Saves time and effort compared to sourcing music from other platforms.
4. Can be easily shared along with the presentation without worrying about broken links.

Cons:
1. Limited selection of music tracks compared to external sources.
2. The built-in music library may not have specific or niche music genres.
3. May not offer customization options like external methods.

What to Do If You Can’t Add Music in The Background of A PowerPoint

If you encounter difficulties adding music as background sound to your PowerPoint presentation, here are some possible fixes:

1. Check PowerPoint Version: Ensure that you are using a version of PowerPoint that supports background music. Older versions may not have this feature.

2. Enable Media Playback: Confirm that your PowerPoint settings allow media playback. Go to the "File" menu, click on "Options," select "Advanced," and make sure the "Show media controls" option is checked.

3. Check Audio Format Compatibility: If you are using an audio file, ensure that it is in a compatible format. PowerPoint supports commonly used audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and WMA.

4. Trim or Convert Audio Files: If your audio file is too long or in an unsupported format, consider trimming it to the desired length or converting it to a compatible format using a free online audio editor or converter.

5. Test the Presentation on Another Device: Sometimes, background music may not play on a specific device or computer due to settings or compatibility issues. Test the presentation on different devices to identify any device-specific issues.

Bonus Tips

Here are some bonus tips to maximize the impact of background music in your PowerPoint presentations:

1. Choose Appropriate Music: Select music that aligns with the theme, topic, and intended emotions of your presentation. Consider the tempo, genre, and mood that will best complement your content.

2. Use Music Sparingly: Avoid overpowering your presentation with continuous music. Use music strategically for specific slides, transitions, or key moments to maintain audience interest and prevent distraction.

3. Adjust the Volume: Ensure that the music volume is suitable and balanced with your speaking voice. You want the music to enhance the presentation, not drown out your narration or distract the audience.

5 FAQs

Q1: Can I insert multiple background music tracks in a single PowerPoint presentation?

A: No, PowerPoint allows inserting only one background music track per presentation. If you need to use different music tracks for different slides, you can set the audio playback settings accordingly.

Q2: Can I add music to specific slides rather than the entire presentation?

A: Yes, you can add music to specific slides by following the methods mentioned earlier. Customize the audio playback settings for each slide to control when the music starts and stops.

Q3: Can I adjust the volume of the background music during the presentation?

A: Yes, you can adjust the volume of the background music during the presentation. Right-click on the audio icon, select "Playback Settings," and use the volume slider to modify the music’s volume.

Q4: Can I trim or fade the background music within PowerPoint?

A: PowerPoint does not provide built-in options to trim or fade the background music. You can consider using external audio editing software to make adjustments to the audio file before inserting it into PowerPoint.

Q5: Can I export my PowerPoint presentation with embedded background music?

A: Yes, you can export your PowerPoint presentation with embedded background music. Ensure that you save the presentation as a PowerPoint file format (PPTX or PPT) to retain the embedded audio when sharing or presenting.

Final Thoughts

Adding music in the background of a PowerPoint presentation can significantly enhance its impact and engage your audience on a deeper level. By following the methods outlined in this blog post, you can confidently incorporate background music that suits your presentation’s theme and objectives. Remember to choose appropriate music, use it sparingly, adjust the volume as needed, and make any necessary tweaks to ensure a seamless and captivating audiovisual experience for your audience.