HOW TO RECORD AUDIO/NARRATION
Please use this method to record narration/audio by itself (outside of PowerPoint). This will create an MP3 file
which Learning will use to build the online module. This is much faster and easier than doing it inside PowerPoint.
STEP 1: Click on the Start button (bottom left hand corner)
STEP 2: In the Search box, type “Sound Recorder”
STEP 3: Sound Recorder should appear at the top of the list; click on Sound Recorder.
STEP 4: The sound recorder program will open up; it will appear as a small box on your screen (as shown below).
When ready, click Start Recording. The program will begin recording your audio. When done, click Stop Recording.
STEP 5: When you click Stop Recording, a “Save As” window will open. Name the file and save it as desired.
Can I record the slides individually?
Yes! This is an easier method for some people. If your presentation has 20 slides, you may record
the audio for each slide individually. Record the first slide, then save that audio file as “1” or “slide
1”. Then do the same with the remaining slides (“slide 2”, etc.). At the end you should have 20 small
audio files. This also makes it easy to redo slides if necessary, just overwrite the file. If preferred,
you can record the whole presentation at once or in chunks.
Questions or need some guidance? Contact Karen Kaye @ [email protected] or 949-698-9499
HOW TO RECORD AUDIO/NARRATION
TALKING TIPS
•
Talk slightly slower than usual – be mindful of your pace from start to finish.
•
Use short sentences. Speak conversationally, using words and sentences that are easy to read.
•
Take extra care to fully enunciate each word.
•
Record while standing up or sitting up straight. Keep your chin out (don’t let it drop to your chest).
•
Smile while you are talking. Your voice will sound “brighter” and more energetic.
RECORDING TIPS
•
Always do a short demo first to check sound quality, mic settings, background noise, etc.
•
Record in a small, quiet room. The smaller the better. A walk in closet is ideal (it buffers sound).
•
Turn off or unplug anything that makes noise (i.e., printers). Or use blankets, pillows or coats to muffle
sounds from noisy objects. Mics pick up more than you realize. Put your phone on silent!
•
Eliminate noise: Use a chair that does not have moving parts; remove noisy jewelry.
•
Close your email program so you don’t get any sound alerts during your recording.
•
Use headphones to eliminate the echo when recording.
•
Keep the microphone 6-12 inches away from you. Do not get too close to the mic.
•
Once you begin recording, wait 2-3 seconds before you begin to speak. When you finish speaking, wait at
least 3 seconds before you stop recording. We can trim it later.
•
Listen to the playback using headphones. This will give you a better idea of the quality of the recording.
SLIDE CONTENT & SCRIPTS
Narration provides additional context to the content on the slides. If you realize that the narration will only include
reading what is on the slide, we can probably skip the narration and just create a job aid from the material or have
the user read through the slides self-paced without any audio.
•
Please touch on each bullet point on the slide in the order they are listed. Each bullet will appear in sync
with the narration, so please don’t skip bullets or speak to bullets out of order if possible. 
•
Wordsmith slides so only the key words appear. Don’t read the slide word for word. People read faster
than they listen. Your narration will provide the context for the information on the slides.
•
If you tend to ramble… create a script – and stick to it! This will keep your narration focused.
•
Narrate from a printed script. This allows you to maintain good posture (i.e., keeps your head and neck
lifted) which improves the quality of your voice.
Questions or need some guidance? Contact Karen Kaye @ [email protected] or 949-698-9499