HOW TO ADD MUSIC CLIPS TO YOUR POWERPOINT! Part III (SOFTWARE)

4. MUSIC SOFTWARE

SOURCES OF MUSIC: There are 2 major sources of music: an original CD and everywhere else, which is the Internet. The latter source has become extremely popular in recent years. Once a piece of music is downloaded into your file or you stick a CD into your PC, you can extract the 8.79 sec or 1.34 min clip you need for your animated title on your PowerPoint slide.

SOFTWARE ISSUES: Here are a few key questions that you should be asking me:

a. Why do you need software? The music from the above sources is in the form of complete tracks and may not be in a format compatible with PowerPoint. You may need only a tiny clip. The software allows you to extract that clip and convert it to wav or another appropriate format.
b. How expensive is the software? Ones I’ve used range from free to $50. The cost is minimal.
c. Once you pick the music, how long does it take to extract the clip, convert it (if necessary), and insert it into your PowerPoint slide? Once you learn the process, it can take 5 min.

SOFTWARE OPTIONS: (NOTE: Mac users may not need the software described below.) As a nontechie, I taught myself how to use one software program 4 years ago and have been using it ever since. It is (drum roll, please):

Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio 8 or 9

It is fairly easy to use, extremely dependable, and cheap. I recommend the cheapest and simplest version available now.

Other options that are free include:

Audacity
AVS Audio Editor

These programs are similar to the Sony program and have been recommended by several IT colleagues. However, I could not locate manuals for these freebies.

In order to learn how to use these programs, I suggest cornering someone in your IT department, a computer science student, one of your students, or your own kid. I can also walk you through the Sony program.

Once you have completed your 1st music clip insert, you will enter a whole new world. Your animated slides will be changed forever and your conference audience or students will be very appreciative. Go for it.

My next blog will up the ante to video clips.

COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC