Edit Audio in Adobe Presenter

After recording a narration and syncing the audio and animation timings, you may want to edit the recorded narration. Although there are many audio applications with which you can edit the recorded audio file, including Adobe's Audition, you may not have to venture that far for basic edits. Adobe Presenter provided a built-in audio editor which makes your task more easier.

Assuming you are working with your presentation, save it again. Then access the Adobe Presenter tab of the Ribbon, and click the Edit button (highlighted in red within Figure 1).


Figure 1: Edit button

This opens the Edit Audio window, as shown in Figure 2, below. Note that a waveform displays the audio -- do note that by default, Adobe Presenter displays one large waveform for sound across multiple slides. You can ascertain which part of the waveform is used for a given slide through the slide number markers placed below the waveform (highlighted in red within Figure 2, below).

Figure 2: Edit Audio in Adobe Presenter

Also, you can click the Slides button (highlighted in blue within Figure 2, above) to access the Slides drop-down menu to explore the slides within your presentation, as shown in Figure 3, below. Note that once you click on any slide within this drop-down menu, the editing bar is placed right before the audio for that slide.


Figure 3: Choose the slide to edit it's audio content

Let us now learn more about the various options within the Edit Audio window, marked in Figure 4, below.


Figure 4: Edit Audio window

A. Import

Replace the current audio file by importing any other audio file. The option is explained in our Record Audio in Adobe Presenter tutorial.

B.Undo / Redo

Undo or Redo previous actions.

C. Cut / Copy/ Paste/ Delete

Select a portion of the audio file (waveform) and thereafter Cut, Copy, Paste, or Delete it. Remember that to use these options, you must select part of the waveform first.

D. Insert Silence

Adds a period of silence to any audio file. Make sure you click the exact location within an audio file, on the waveform to which you want to add the silent period. Clicking the button will open the Insert Silence dialog box, as shown in Figure 5. Here you can enter a number specifying the duration of the silence, in seconds. You can also specify where to add silence: options include Cursor Position (default), Start of Slide, or End of Slide


Figure 5: Insert Silence dialog box

E. Markers

Here you get two markers buttons:

1. Move next marker to current location: First select a location on the audio waveform, and then click this button. This will change the position of the next marker on the waverform to the location you selected.
2. Insert Marker: This opens the Insert Command dialog box, as shown in Figure 6. Here you can choose from either the Wait for User (useful in interactions) or the Goto slide (jump to the required slide) options.
   
   
   Figure 6: Insert Command dialog box

F. Adjust Volume

Brings up the Adjust Volume dialog box, as shown in Figure 7 -- you'll find a volume slider, plus options to Normalize sound across all slides. This is helpful if some slides are softer than other louder slides. You can also choose Dynamics to reduce sudden loud areas. Click the OK button when done.


Figure 7: Adjust Volume dialog box

G. Preview Presentation

Click this button to preview the presentation from within the Edit Audio dialog box.

H. Slides

Click to bring up a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 3, previously on this page. Thereafter choose the slide you need to work with.

I. Zoom

The zoom slider enables you to zoom in on an area of the waveform.

J. Slide Divider / Red Marker Lines

These red lines work as slide dividers.

K. Waveform

Adobe Presenter displays any audio files incorporated into the presentation as a waveform.

L. Record Over button

This opens the Record dialog box, As shown in Figure 8. Here you can record and replace the previous narration.


Figure 8: Record dialog box

M. Play

Click this button to play the audio.

To save the changes you made click the Save button.