Have you ever found yourself needing to create a presentation but not having the voice to do it? Maybe you're feeling under the weather, or perhaps you want to add a unique flair to your slides without using your voice. Or maybe you want to include multiple voices in your slide. If so, adding text-to-speech audio to your PowerPoint presentations might be just what you need!

This guide will show you how to add text-to-speech audio to your PPT slides, making your presentations more dynamic and accessible.

What Is Text-to-Speech (TTS)?

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a technology that converts written text into spoken words. It’s widely used for:

Accessibility: Helping visually impaired individuals or those with reading difficulties.

Learning: Assisting language learners or multitaskers who prefer listening over reading.

Productivity: Reading documents, emails, or textbooks aloud while you focus on other tasks.

TTS is available on most devices (Windows, Mac, smartphones) and can be customized with different voices, languages, and speeds.

Why Use Text-to-Speech in PowerPoint?

There are many reasons to use text-to-speech. It can improve accessibility, simplify proofreading, and create more engaging presentations.

Enhanced Accessibility

Text-to-speech makes presentations accessible to people with visual impairments or reading difficulties. By having the text read aloud, everyone can understand the content, regardless of their abilities. This is crucial for ADA compliance and creating an inclusive environment. Presentations should be available to everyone, shouldn't they?

Proofreading Made Easy

Listening to your text read aloud can help you catch errors you might miss when reading. It allows you to hear the flow and rhythm of your sentences, making it easier to identify awkward phrasing, typos, and grammatical mistakes. It's like having a fresh pair of eyes (or ears!) on your work.

Dynamic Presentations

You can use text-to-speech to add narration or create interactive elements in your slides. Imagine having a character read quotes or instructions aloud. This adds a layer of engagement that keeps your audience interested. How could you make your presentations more fun?

Multitasking

Listening to the presentation content while doing other tasks, like reviewing notes, is possible with text-to-speech. This can save time and increase productivity. You can prepare in the car, while doing chores, or on a walk.

How to Insert Text-to-Speech in PowerPoint​?

Ready to give it a try? Here's how to enable the text-to-speech feature in PowerPoint using the Speak command.

Step 1: Accessing the "Customize Quick Access Toolbar"

1. Open PowerPoint and look for the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in the top-left corner of the window.

2. Click the small dropdown arrow next to the QAT to open the customization menu.

3. If you don’t see the dropdown arrow, go to the Home tab and check again.

Step 2: Navigating to "More Commands"

1. From the dropdown menu, select "More Commands...".

2. This will open the PowerPoint Options window, where you can customize various settings.

Step 3: Selecting "All Commands"

1. In the "Choose commands from" dropdown menu, select "All Commands".

2. This will display a comprehensive list of all available PowerPoint commands. Don’t worry—we’ll help you find the right one!

Step 4: Finding and Adding the "Speak" Command

1. Scroll down the list of commands (they are in alphabetical order) until you find the "Speak" command.

2. Select the "Speak" command, then click the "Add >>" button to move it to the right-hand list.

3. The "Speak" command will now appear in your Quick Access Toolbar.

Step 5: Completing the Setup

1. Click "OK" to close the PowerPoint Options window.

2. You should now see a speech bubble icon (the "Speak" command) in your Quick Access Toolbar.

Step 6: Using the "Speak" Command

1. Highlight the text you want to convert to speech in your PowerPoint slide.

2. Click the "Speak" icon in the Quick Access Toolbar.

3. PowerPoint will read the selected text aloud using your system’s default text-to-speech voice.

Use An Online Text-To-Speech Tool

Use an online tool such as All Voice Lab Text-to-Speech.

Generate audio

1. Access the tool: Open the online text-to-speech tool of your choice (such as All Voice Lab Text-to-Speech).

2. Input text: Paste the text you want to convert into the tool's input box.

3. Select the gender of the voice (e.g., male, female).

4. Select the language (We support six major languages: English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean).

5. Generate audio: Click the "Generate" button, and the tool will generate an audio file (we support MP3 or WAV format). But make sure the generated audio file format is MP3, and is compatible with PowerPoint.

Insert audio into PowerPoint

1. Save the audio file: Download the generated audio file to your computer.

2. Open PowerPoint: Open your presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to insert the audio.

Insert audio:

1. Go to the "Insert" tab.

2. Click "Audio" > "Audio File".

3. Select the audio file you downloaded and insert it.

4. Adjust audio settings:

5. Drag the audio icon outside the slide so it is not visible while playing.

6. In the Playback tab, set the audio to play automatically or on click.

Conclusion

Converting text to speech in PowerPoint is a simple way to enhance your presentations. It improves accessibility, helps with proofreading, and adds a dynamic element to your slides. Try using this feature in your next presentation and see how it enhances your audience's experience! It's a small change that can make a big impact.

FAQ

How to Add Voice to PowerPoint?

You can add voice to PowerPoint in several ways:

Record Your Voice:

1. Go to the “Insert” tab and select “Audio” > “Record Audio.”

2. Use your microphone to record narration for each slide.

3. Insert Pre-Recorded Audio:

4. Save your audio file (e.g., MP3 or WAV).

5. Go to “Insert” > “Audio” > “Audio on My PC” and select the file.

Use Text-to-Speech (TTS):

Use third-party TTS tools (e.g., All Voice Lab) to generate audio from text. Insert the generated audio file into your PowerPoint slides.

Can I Use Voice Commands to Control PowerPoint During a Presentation?

Yes! During a slide show, you can use voice commands like:

“Next Slide” or “Go Forward” to advance.

“Previous Slide” or “Go Back” to return to the previous slide.

“Start Slide Show” to begin the presentation.

To use these commands, ensure your device’s speech recognition is enabled and calibrated.

Can I Implement Text-To-Speech in My Textbooks?

Yes, you can use text-to-speech (TTS) technology to convert textbook content to audio. Here's how:

Using All Voice Lab TTS online: Type or copy the textbook, and TTS will read the text aloud.

Using built-in features:

On Windows: Use Narrator (Win + Ctrl + Enter) to read the text.

On Mac: Use VoiceOver (Cmd + F5) to read the selected text.

Electronic textbooks: Many digital textbooks (e.g, Kindle, PDF) have built-in TTS features.

Learn more: The Best Text-to-Speech APIs