Sounds

[Debi]

Help! I added a song (mp3) to PP Prensentation. The song won't play at all
for the presentation, but when I press the "preview" under "options" it plays
the song - so I know it is attached or embedded - not sure of the
difference! I took a brief class on PP but we did not touch on sounds. My
presentation is complete but I need to add the music and have this done by
4/11. Anyone?
~Thanks~

 

[Echo S]

If it's an MP3, it's linked.

Which option did you choose for the sound when you inserted it? Did you opt
for "play automatically" or "when clicked"? This could be why it doesn't
play when you play the slide show. (You are testing in slide show view,
right?)

This doesn't sound like your problem, but in general, best practice is to
put the sound in the folder with the PPT file and then insert it. Also, long
path lengths can be an issue, so try putting the folder on the C:\ drive
directly -- like maybe in a folder called C:\test\ -- and then insert the
sound into the presentation. (Long path length could be your problem.)

Post back if you have more questions, and be sure to mention which version
of PPT you're using. A step-by-step of how you're inserting the sound file
and what you want it to do (play throughout the presentation, maybe?) would
be helpful as well.

 

[DEG]

If I can jump in here, I've got a sound question along the same lines. I
inserted an mp3 file in a presentation and it plays on my computer but not on
another computer. I suppose this means it's linked and not embedded. I've
tried to embed it following the help file with no success. I'm wondering if
it has to be a wav file to be embedded.

I'm using 2002 and want this file to play throughout the presentation. I'd
also like it to fade out during the last frame, if that's possible.

TIA,

Don

 

[David Marcovitz]

If I can jump in here, I've got a sound question along the same lines. I
inserted an mp3 file in a presentation and it plays on my computer but not on
another computer. I suppose this means it's linked and not embedded. I've
tried to embed it following the help file with no success. I'm wondering if
it has to be a wav file to be embedded.

I'm using 2002 and want this file to play throughout the presentation. I'd
also like it to fade out during the last frame, if that's possible.

TIA,

Don

In general, only WAV files can be embedded. There is a hack to fool
PowerPoint into thinking that an MP3 file is a WAV. You can get more
information here:

Sounds/Movies don't play, images disappear or links break when I move or
email a presentation
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00155.htm

--David
--
David M. Marcovitz
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.PowerfulPowerPoint.com/
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
Associate Professor, Loyola University Maryland

 

[Echo S]

Yup, what David said. Only WAVs can be embedded into PPT 2002, but you can
fool PPT into thinking your MP3 is a WAV.

As for the fade out, you'll need to do that using sound editing software.
(Audacity is a good free sound editor.) PPT doesn't offer that kind of fade
in/out option now. (PPT 2010 will, though. Yay!)

 

[DEG]

Thanks Dave,

After playing with this until 3AM last night I finally found my problem. I
had an extremely large wav file (over the 50000 limit). Compressed it a bit
and everything worked well. Now a follow up question.... I'd like the wav to
fade out in the last frame. The only way I can think of is to time the
presentation and edit the wav to that length and fade it out in CoolEdit.
Would be much easier if there was a method to do this within PP.

Thanks again for the help,

Don

 

[DEG]

WOW....quick reply....thank you very much. That's sort of the conclusion I
came to. As I mentioned I do have a sound editing tool that'll do what I
want and the frames in the presentation are timed so it should work fine.

Thanks for the quick reply.....

Don

Yup, what David said. Only WAVs can be embedded into PPT 2002, but you can
fool PPT into thinking your MP3 is a WAV.

As for the fade out, you'll need to do that using sound editing software.
(Audacity is a good free sound editor.) PPT doesn't offer that kind of fade
in/out option now. (PPT 2010 will, though. Yay!)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2010? http://www.echosvoice.com/2010.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

If I can jump in here, I've got a sound question along the same lines. I
inserted an mp3 file in a presentation and it plays on my computer but not
on
another computer. I suppose this means it's linked and not embedded.
I've
tried to embed it following the help file with no success. I'm wondering
if
it has to be a wav file to be embedded.

I'm using 2002 and want this file to play throughout the presentation.
I'd
also like it to fade out during the last frame, if that's possible.

TIA,

Don