If you haven’t tried Google Slides before, you’re missing out. To make jaw-dropping presentations with this platform, you have to learn how to add voice over to Google Slides.

First launched in 2006, Google Slides is an alternative to other office tools. It is a cloud-based platform that supports real-time collaboration. Google Slides is also free for all people who have a Google account. 

Why Should You Try Google Slides?

Everyone needs to make presentations at some point in their life – whether it’s public speakers, students, employees, or business owners. Presentation skills are also very important to achieve career success.

Google Slides is a free tool that can help you, especially if you’re short on budget. It’s the best option out there for those who do not give presentations constantly and cannot justify splurging on presentation software that can cost up to $120. Just like other Google tools, Google Slides is equipped with many functions. Anyone with an internet connection can access their presentations on whatever device they are using. This makes Google Slides an amazing choice for teams.

Google Slides also allows you to insert a voice over done by a voice actor to make your presentation appear more professional.

How to Add Audio to Google Slides

Google Slides is easy to use, but it packs a lot of features. Adding a voice-over is one of these valuable functions. Knowing how to add voice over to google slides is an amazing way to turn your presentation into stand-alone content. It’s also helpful because over 73 percent of people are afraid of public speaking, so it would save them from anxiety.

Adding a voice over to your Google Slides presentation is very easy, and even beginners can do it. It can transform your presentation from something plain to a self-contained asset that can be used by others to self-teach. Here are the steps in how to add a voice over to google slides.

Set up your Google Slides

If you do not have MS-PowerPoint or you want to test a new platform to make presentations, this is an amazing alternative. If you have a Google account, you already have access to Google Slides.

Simply sign in to your Gmail account or create an account on Google.com. It’s possible to link any existing email to this account even if it’s not on Gmail. You can also create your own Gmail account only for this purpose if that’s all you want to do on the platform. After this, you will see an icon with nine tiny squares that look like a grid. This will be in the upper right corner of your browser window. Select this icon to access all Google Tools. Then, click Google Slides.

It is recommended to finish your slides before you make the audio. However, you can also do it the opposite way. Having the audio first and using it as a guide while you are making the slides can be helpful.

Adding the audio file

Once you have your audio file, upload it on your Google Drive so it can be stored in the cloud and available to use for your Google Slides.

To do this, select the triangular icon from the Google Tools menu and select new. Then, click on File Upload and choose the audio file you want to put on your Google Slides. Wait for it to finish uploading before using the file.

Next, you need to share the file. Right-click on the file name on Google Drive and select Share. Make sure you allow access to everyone with its link so restrictions on access can be removed. This step will allow the audio file to be accessed by those who want to view your Google Slides. Never miss this step since it can make or break your presentation. When you share your Google Slides presentation without doing this, your viewers would not hear anything.

how to add voice over to google slides

Insert the file

In this step, open your Google Slides presentation and choose the slide where you want to place the audio file. Then, select Insert on the Menu choices and scroll down to Audio. Click the file you want to insert.

After you’ve done this, you will notice a speaker icon on your slide. You can play the audio you have added once you click this icon. It is also possible to change the placement of the icon by simply dragging it to a different position on your slide.

Make adjustments

Adjusting the audio on Google Slides is very easy. Select the audio and click Format options on the Toolbar. You will be presented with default settings, as well as the adjustments you can make, including the volume of the file.

Here, you can also choose if you want the audio to immediately play or if someone needs to click on it before it starts. If you choose the play automatically option, you can hide the speaker icon because it won’t be necessary anymore.

Google Slides also gives you the freedom to loop the audio if you want it to repeat. Stopping the audio for every slide change can also be done. This is helpful if you only want the audio file to be played for just one slide. If you do not select this option, the audio will continue to play whether the slide changes or not.

Preview

Part of knowing how to add voice over to Google Slides is to preview the presentation. This process is similar to proofreading. You need to preview the audio by selecting the speaker icon and clicking play.

How to Give Instructions to Voice Over Talent

Your voice over talent will determine how interesting your presentation will be. But before you choose a voice over talent, make sure you already have your script with you. Do not pass on the script to the voice over actor if you have not read it out loud yourself. Note some of the tricky words in the script, as well as uncommon words and names. Reading it aloud will also help you catch errors if you were not able to hire a proofreader.

To make the script direction more effective, use brackets to indicate the direction. If there are parts of the script that require a specific emotion or tone, keep those in brackets. Remember to keep the instructions specific.

Voice over actors must receive clear directions before they start recording. Regardless of what direction you are giving the professional, always stay away from contradicting and ambiguous words. Too much direction can also lead to confusion and frustration on the client and professional voice actor.

To help you identify what you need in a voice-over, we’ve compiled this guide below.

Identify their role

Do you want the voice over actor to sound young? Or maybe you need a German voice actor? Some may prefer voice over actors that sound like a casual friend talking to the viewer. Whatever role you want them to play, figure it out and convey it to them in a clear manner. Voice over talents must have these instructions to get into your preferred role and execute it in the best way possible.

Be very descriptive when telling the voice over actor how you want them to sound. Some words you can use include warm, emotionless, serious, sassy, friendly, and quirky. Do not give them instructions such as narrating in a flat or nice way since it’s too general. Even though voice over talents already have an idea where to start and what to sound like, they are not mind readers. There are also many levels of vague instruction that will not fit the sound type you have in your head.

Talk about timing

If the Google Slide audio needs to be timed, pass on this instruction to the professional. This will allow them to time their performance. A lot of voice actors have a stopwatch so they can be aware of how to fit the script into your instructed time frame. However, be realistic. There’s no way you can fit four pages of script in a 2-minute recording. It’s frustrating to the talent when they only have a one-minute spot, but the script is far too long to accommodate this restriction.

If you have a long presentation and the pace is guided by the viewer, break up the voice recording into chunks or have a different audio file on each slide. However, make sure the sound and voice qualities remain consistent.

Tell them who your audience is

Do you already know what your presentation will be used for or where it will be played? Although these things may be obvious to you, it’s not always as obvious to the talent. A voice over for a kid’s toy presentation would sound different compared to a voice over that is geared towards engineering students. These factors may also play a part in the pricing, so it needs to be discussed before the recording session.

Have examples ready

Listen to the voice talent’s audio portfolio so you can reference specific performances and samples that you like. You can also give them a link to a video or audio that has the desired sound you prefer. This will make it easier for them to know how exactly to deliver your voice over.

Knowing How to Add Voice Over to Google Slides Is Easy 

Even if it’s your first time making a presentation, you can still ace it if you know how to add voice over to Google Slides. With some practice, you will become more confident in your presentation-making skills. Want to have the best voice over for your presentation?

 Submit your voice project today.