How to Record a Slide Show in PowerPoint 2016

Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 offers a great feature that allows you to record your presentations, making it easier to share your ideas with an audience that can't attend your presentation in person. By recording your slideshow, you can capture not only the slides but also your voiceover and any physical movements that guide your narration. This walkthrough aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to record a slideshow in PowerPoint 2016, making it very easy to follow with step-by-step instructions.

Set up your presentation

Before you start recording, make sure your presentation is completely ready. This includes arranging your slides in the correct order and inserting all the textual and graphical content you want to include in the presentation. Having your slides ready means that during the recording process, you will focus only on the narration and timing, without having to worry about missing any content or rearranging slides.

• Review slides: Go through your presentation several times to make sure all slides are complete. Make sure no slides, images, or text are missing.
• Finalize the sequence: Check that the sequence of slides reflects the flow of the presentation as expected.
• Check the graphics: Verify that all images, graphs, and animations are inserted correctly and are working properly.

Prepare your details

The next step is to prepare your voiceover script. Your narration should be consistent with the visual content on each slide. Practicing what you are going to say will make the process easier and reduce the need for multiple takes. Consider writing a brief script or at least jotting down the main points for each slide.

• Write your script: Optionally write a complete script to describe the presentation. Aim for clarity and conciseness.
• Practice: Practice speaking your voice out loud to determine timing and appropriateness.
• Adjust the timing: When practicing, have an idea of how much time you'll spend on each slide to maintain a consistent pace.

Access the recording tools

Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 has a built-in recording feature that is easy to use. To access this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open your PowerPoint 2016 presentation.
2. Go to the Slide Show tab on the ribbon at the top of the window.
3. In the Slide Show tab, locate the group called Set Up.
4. Click on Record Slide Show. You will see two options:
   • Start recording from the beginning: To record the entire presentation.
   • Start recording from current slide: To start recording from the currently selected slide.

Set recording options

Once you click Record Slide Show, a dialog box will appear with recording options. It is important to select the options that suit your presentation goals. These options may include:

• Slide and animation timing: This option allows PowerPoint to keep track of the length of time each slide is displayed. This is useful when you want to use the recorded timing to repeat the same motion during an automated slide show.
• Narration, Ink, and Laser Pointer: This enables you to record your voiceover narration, as well as any narration made with the ink or laser pointer tool during the presentation.

Make sure the options you need are checked. For a full recording, you will usually need to activate both of these options.

Record your slideshow

Once you have set your recording options and are ready to begin, click the Start Recording button on the dialog box. As soon as the recording begins, PowerPoint will launch the presentation in slide show mode. Here's how to handle the recording:

• Speak clearly: No matter how enjoyable your voiceover narration is, don't forget to maintain a steady pace and speak clearly into your microphone.
• Navigating slides: Use the arrow keys or mouse to move through the slides and advance your narrative.
• Use Pause/Resume: If you need to take a break or collect your thoughts, the PowerPoint recording toolbar provides a Pause button that can be used without having to restart.
• Stop recording: When the recording is finished, click the square Stop button in the upper-left corner of the screen to end the recording session.

Review your recording

After you've completed the recording, it's important to review your presentation to make sure it was captured as desired. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Exit slide show mode and return to normal view.
2. Go to the Slide Show tab.
3. Select From start to play the recorded slide show from the beginning.
4. Listen and watch carefully to make sure everything is correct, including the narration, timing, and animation.

If you find an error or want to correct part of the recording, you can re-record individual slides or part of the presentation without having to recreate the entire slide show.

Re-recording parts of a slide show

PowerPoint 2016 allows you to re-record any part of your presentation. This is especially useful when you make a mistake or want to improve a previous recording. Here's how you can re-record:

1. Select the slide from which you want to start recording again.
2. Access the Slide Show tab and click Record Slide Show.
3. Select Start recording from current slide to restart from the desired slide.
4. Once you've finished re-recording, make sure the new parts align well with the previously recorded parts.

Save your recorded presentation

Once you're satisfied with your recorded presentation, it's time to save it. Save it in a way that won't overwrite your original file if you need to make any further adjustments:

1. Click File in the top left corner.
2. Select Save As and choose a location on your computer or cloud service.
3. Name your presentation accordingly, possibly adding "Recorded" to the file name.
4. Select the preferred file format (usually .pptx).
5. Finalize the save by clicking on the Save button.

Exporting your slideshow as a video

One of the features of recording a slide show in PowerPoint 2016 is that the presentation can be exported as a video, making it easier to share and access across multiple platforms. To export a presentation as a video, do the following:

1. Go to the File tab.
2. Select Export from the side menu.
3. Click Create Video.
4. Set the video quality (Full HD is recommended for most uses).
5. Make sure the time and narration settings are correct based on the recording or set manually.
6. Click Create Video and select the destination folder.
7. Enter the file name you want and select the .mp4 or .wmv format.
8. Click Save to start the video creation process.

Conclusion

Recording a slide show in PowerPoint 2016 is a simple but powerful tool that extends the reach of your presentations. By carefully preparing your presentation, considering your script and pace, and using PowerPoint 2016's intuitive recording features, you can produce engaging recorded presentations. When reviewing the recording, focus on areas that could benefit from improvement. Re-recording specific slides ensures that your final product resonates with clarity and professionalism. Once you've exported your recorded presentation as a video, your ideas can be easily shared, whether you're aiming for an educational platform or a corporate setting.

Enjoy presenting and recording with PowerPoint 2016!

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