You can record audio as a voiceover narrative or soundtrack for an individual slide or for your entire presentation. A voiceover narration is a synchronized recording of yourself talking about each slide, which is especially useful when your presentation plays unattended in a kiosk setting.

Record audio

  1. Click the Media menu button in the toolbar, then choose Record Audio.

    Note: After you record, you insert the recording wherever you want in the presentation.

  2. To begin recording, click the Record button; to stop recording, click the Stop button.

    To rerecord from a specific point, position your pointer over the recording, swipe left or right to position the black line (or drag the scroll bar), then click the Record button.

    While you record, you can continue editing your presentation.

  3. To preview your recording, click Preview.

    To play from a specific point, position your pointer over the recording, swipe left or right to position the black line (or drag the scroll bar), then click Preview.

  4. To edit your recording, click Edit, then do any of the following:

    • Rerecord a section: Drag the blue handles to select the section. Click the Record button to record over that section.

      Controls for editing recorded audio. Handles indicate the selected section of the recording, and Preview, Record, Trim, Delete, and Edit Mode buttons are below.

    • Trim: Drag the blue handles to define the section you want to keep. Click the Trim button to delete everything outside of the handles.

    • Delete all or part of the recording: Drag the blue handles to define the section you want to delete. Click the Delete button to delete everything inside the handles.

  5. When you’re done editing, click Done.

  6. On the slide where you want to add the recording, click Insert or Save, then drag the recording to position it.

    Recorded audio appears as an object on the slide when you’re editing the presentation but isn’t visible when you present.

  7. To play your recording on the slide, click the Audio button.

You can also share your recording as an audio file. Control-click the recording on the slide, choose Share Recording, then choose a method to send it.

To learn more about timing video and audio in your presentation, see Edit video and audio in Keynote on Mac.

Record a voiceover narration

To record a voiceover narration, you advance through the presentation at your natural speed as you talk. As you advance through each slide or build, your voice and timing are recorded and preserved for playback.

Screenshot of voice recording mode on the presenter display. The current and next slide, the current time, and the presenter display controls are visible. The control to start and end the recording and the control to delete the recording appear near the bottom of the display.

  1. Click to select the slide where you want the recording to start.

  2. Click the Document radio button in the toolbar, then click the Audio tab at the top of the sidebar on the right.

  3. Click Record in the sidebar.

    The recording window appears.

  4. To start recording your presentation, click the Start Recording Audio toggle button at the bottom of the window.

    The timer counts down from 3 before recording begins.

  5. Speak clearly into the microphone to begin your narration.

  6. To advance to the next slide, click the slide in the recording window, or press the Right Arrow key on your keyboard.

    You can pause the recording at any time by clicking the Pause button. Click the Start Recording Audio toggle button to resume recording.

  7. To stop recording, click the Start Recording Audio toggle button.

  8. Press Esc (Escape) to save the recording and exit the presentation.

To listen to your narration, play your slides.