Add background music to your course by assigning playlists to one or more slides. In this user guide, you'll learn how to manage your library of playlists. (To learn how to add playlists to specific slides, see this user guide.)

Accessing Your Library of Playlists

To manage your playlists, open your library as follows:

  1. Go to the Articulate tab on the PowerPoint ribbon and click Slide Properties.
  2. When the Slide Properties window opens, click Library in the lower left corner.
  3. When the Library window opens, select the Playlists tab on the left side of the window.

Adding Playlists to Your Library

To add a playlist to your library:

  1. Click the New button.
  2. Enter a name for your new playlist and click OK.

When you create a new playlist, it'll be empty. See the next section for instructions on populating a playlist with audio tracks.

Adding Audio Tracks to a Playlist

To add audio files to a playlist:

  1. Create a new playlist or select an existing one from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Click Add on the right side of the window.
  3. Browse to the audio file you want to use and click Open. (Hold down your Ctrl key to select multiple audio files at the same time.)

Playlists support the following audio file types:

  • AAC
  • AIF
  • AIFF
  • M4A
  • MP3
  • OGG
  • WAV
  • WMA

Removing Audio Tracks from a Playlist

If you change your mind and need to remove an audio track from a playlist, do the following:

  1. Select the playlist you want to edit from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Select one or more tracks. (Hold down your Shift key to select multiple adjacent tracks.)
  3. Click Remove on the right side of the window.

Rearranging Audio Tracks in a Playlist

Audio tracks will play in the order listed. To rearrange them:

  1. Select the playlist you want to edit from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Select one or more tracks. (Hold down your Shift key to select multiple adjacent tracks.)
  3. Use the Up, Down, Top, and Bottom buttons to reorder the selected tracks.

Looping a Playlist

By default, a playlist will play each track one time and then stop. If you want it to loop continuously, do the following:

  1. Select the playlist you want to edit from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Mark the Loop Playlist box below the list of tracks.

Adjusting the Volume of a Playlist

By default, a playlist will play at full volume, but you can lower the volume level so it doesn't overpower the narration in your course. Here's how:

  1. Select the playlist you want to edit from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Enter a percentage in the Volume level relative to narration field at the bottom of the window. For example, if you want your background music (playlist) to be half as loud as your narration, enter 50.

Renaming Playlists

To change the name you’ve assigned to a playlist:

  1. Select the playlist you want to edit from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Click Rename.
  3. Enter a new name and click OK.

Deleting Playlists

To delete a playlist from your library:

  1. Select the playlist you want to delete from the Playlist drop-down.
  2. Click the Delete button.
  3. Confirm your deletion request.

Tip: Deleting a playlist from your library won't remove it from existing projects where it has already been assigned (though it will be removed from the project that’s currently open). It just won't be available for new presentations.

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