Powerpoint 2011 for Mac: Inserting & playing multiple audio files

Question

I am trying to add several songs (from iTunes) to a presentation so that song 1, for example, plays across several slides, then song 2 plays across the next several slides, etc.  I have been able to insert the audio files, but the first song continues when the next song starts.  How do I correctly designate which slides play for which audio clips?

What I want to do is to have the audio play automatically as follows:

Slides 1 - 10:  Song 1

Slides 11-20:  Song 2

Slides 21-30:  Song 3

Any help appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi affricat,

Here's an excerpt from the **Add audio or sound to your presentation** Help file:

PowerPoint can play a song across the number of slides that you specify and then play a new song starting on another slide.

1. On the slide that you want the first song to start — slide 1, for example — insert the first audio file.
2. Make sure that the audio icon on the slide is selected, and then on the Format Audio tab, under Audio Options, on the Start pop-up menu, click Play Across Slides.
3. With the audio icon still selected, click the Animations tab, and then, under Animation Options, click the Reorder button.
4. In the Custom Animation dialog box, select the song, and then toward the bottom of the Custom Animation dialog box, open the Media Options panel.
5. In the After box, change the number from 999 to the number of slides you want the song to play. For example, if you want the song to start on slide 1 and play through slide 4 and then start a new song on slide 5, you would enter 4 in the box because you want the music to play for 4 slides and then stop.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 to add other songs. For example, if you add a new song to slide 5, and want it to play across slides 5, 6, and 7 and then stop, you would set the Play Across Slides option, open the Custom Animation dialog box, and under Media Options, change the After box to 3 because you want the music to play for 3 slides.

Hope this answers your question!

Answer 2

This was so helpful.  The screen shots made all the difference as a friend had tried to explain this to me via email and I just couldn't figure it out.  Thank you thank you!!  You made my presentation to 300 high school students today much more fun for all because I inserted several music clips and it ran flawlessly!  

So rare to get such clear instructions.  Kudos!!

Answer 3

HOW?

I  cannot see how to place the music/audio files so that one plays after the other? Do I insert them all into the first slide and set the animation so that they play one after the other?  I do not see how to do this?  Or do I have to calculate how many slides each audio file is and place them accordingly?  Surely not?

Answer 4

Thanks! very clear and professional