With the release of SlideRocket’s audio recording features now is the perfect time to talk about best practices and techniques for creating great audio for your slides.

Creating pre-recorded content is perfect for allowing your prospects and customers to view your content at a time that’s convenient for them. It’s also less stressful for you and gives you the chance to refine your message and delivery until you get it just right. Hey, even the pros do more than one take. Here are some surefire ways to help you capture the best possible audio in your recordings:

1. Minimize Background Noise

Microphones and other devices have come along way in the past decade.  In fact, some are so sensitive that they’ll pick up even the slightest sound.  So, choose a nice, quiet place to record your presentation, and make sure you turn off your cell phone and disable email notifications and other noisy alerts on your PC or laptop.  You may even want to condense your notes onto a single page, since the microphone will likely pick up the sound as you flip through paper or note cards.

2. Smile!

Famous radio host Casey Kasem always smiles when he speaks on air.  It’s a technique that’s helped him create his unique sound and made him a household name.  Smiling expands your facial and neck muscles, and opens up your vocal cords.  So, if you smile while you’re recording your audio, you’ll sound happier and more convincing, and your audience will more readily embrace what you’re saying.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

Pauses, “ums”, and “ahs” are far more noticeable in pre-recorded presentations than they are in live ones.  The more familiar you are with your material, the fewer there will be.  Script your presentation in advance, and practice thoroughly to avoid these types of grammar glitches.  If necessary, edit them out.

4. Use Strong Voice Inflection

When a presentation has been pre-recorded, audience members can’t see the speaker’s hand gestures or facial expressions.  Therefore, presenters must rely more heavily on tone and inflection to draw attention to specific details or emphasize key points.

5. Record It All at the Same Time

Weather and other environmental conditions, as well as diet, can significantly affect a person’s voice.  Because your speech may sound noticeably different from one day to the next, try to record your entire session at one time.

6.  Watch What You Eat

It may sound strange, but what you eat in the moments beforehand will have a big affect on how your audio sounds.  For example, coffee and sugary drinks increase saliva production, forcing you to pause and swallow more often.  On the other hand, the pectin in an apple will reduce excess mouth noises.  And, always take a drink of water before you start recording, so your throat doesn’t dry out as you’re speaking.

Want more valuable tips on effective presentation creation and delivery?  Want more valuable information on effective presentation creation and delivery?  Check the SlideRocket blog every week for a new presentation tip and let us know what else you’d like to hear about.