Insert audio to PowerPoint

The big picture of inserting audio to PowerPoint presentations:
Usually, audio in WAV format will be embedded in PowerPoint while audio in MP3 or other file formats will be linked to PowerPoint. And more, sound files larger than 100 KB (i.e. anything but a short sound effect) will be linked to your presentation rather than embedded in it.

What is the difference between Linked and Embedded? Embedded means that when you move the PPT on your computer or e-mail it, audio will be moved together. When audio is linked, it will be lost if you move the PPT or e-mail it.

Sound files larger than 100 KB (i.e. anything but a short sound effect) will be linked to your presentation rather than embedded in it. This means that you need to copy your original media files whenever you burn the presentation to CD or even move it to a different folder on your own computer. To avoid problems, I highly recommend copying your chosen media file(s) to the folder containing your PowerPoint presentation before inserting any audio or video.
Then you can transfer this entire folder if you need to move or copy the presentation.
If your files are relatively small, it is also possible to increase the 100 KB default up to 5 MB in
PowerPoint->Tools->Options->General-> Link sounds with file size greater than ... kb


1. Insert a MP3 to PowerPoint
Usually, audio in WAV format will be inserted in PowerPoint and audio in MP3 will be linked to PowerPoint. Linked means that if you move your PowerPoint file, the audio will be lost.
There are two solutions for you.
A. put the music and the PowerPoint file in a same folder. Reinsert the MP3 to the file if you have onced inserted.
PowerPoint Insert - Movies and Sounds - Sound from File
Then move the whole folder to another computer.

B. Convert the mp3 music to a WAV file.
Download freeware CDex from
http://sourceforge.net/
Import the mp3 to the software and convert it as a RIFF file, which is MP3 music with a WAV header.
When converted, insert directly the file to PowerPoint.
PowerPoint Insert - Movies and Sounds - Sound from File

2. Insert WMA to PowerPoint
A WMA audio file is Windows Media Audio sound file.
How to insert WMA to PowerPoint?
PowerPoint Insert - Movies and Sounds - Sound from File

3. Insert WAV to PowerPoint
WAV sound is the format for you to insert audio to PowerPoint.
How to insert WAV to PowerPoint ?
PowerPoint Insert - Movies and Sounds - Sound from File

3. Insert music from itunes to powerpoint
There is not way to use itune music on a powerpoint.

The file format of itune music is acc and is protected by DRM and it can not be converted to other formats.
PowerPoint can only recognize wav/mp3 audio.

More ways to insert audio to PowerPoint
Insert sound to a slide
PowerPoint -> Insert (Menu) -> Movies and sounds ->...
Insert sound as transition
PowerPoint -> Slide Show -> Slide Transition -> Modify Transition (Right Panel) -> Sound -> Other Sound