Slide audio and Presentation audio are available only on paid plans. Sound effects are available on all plans.
How Audio Works
On AhaSlides, you can set audio to play on each slide as you present (Slide audio) or throughout the entire presentation (Presentation audio). Slide audio is added from the music-notes icon in the Content tab of the right-hand editing panel, while Presentation audio and the sound-effect toggles sit in the Music & sound tab of your presentation Settings. Slide audio can play on participants’ devices, but Presentation audio cannot. Presentation audio autoplays only on the presenter’s device for the duration of the presentation. While you present, move your mouse to reveal the presenting controls in the top-left corner of the slide. The Speaker icon there is the volume control for everything you hear on the presenter screen — Slide audio, Presentation audio, and sound effects:- Click the icon to mute or unmute.
- Hover over the icon to reveal a slider and set the volume level.
The quiz Lobby screen always has its own music. You can only silence it with the volume control described above. You cannot set up audio on the Spinner Wheel, YouTube slide, or QR Code slide.
How to Set Up Slide Audio
On the original Content slide, the editor prompts you to create a Content v2 slide before you can add slide audio. Content v2 and interactive slides support slide audio directly (except the Spinner Wheel, YouTube, and QR Code slides).
1
Open the audio menu
Select the slide you want to play audio on and open the Content tab in the right-hand editing panel. Click the music-notes icon to open the audio menu.
2
Choose or upload a track
Pick a track from the AhaSlides audio library, or click Upload audio to add your own. Uploads must be mp3 format with a maximum size of 15 MB.
3
Configure playback settings
Once a track is set, click the Audio settings button next to the music-notes icon to open the playback settings:
- Auto-play: the audio plays immediately when you arrive at the slide. This is off by default — turn it on if you want the track to start on its own while you present.
- Repeat: the audio plays again automatically when it finishes.
- Play on audience devices: the audio plays through the audience’s devices as well as the presenter’s. When on, a Show media controls option lets the audience play, pause, and adjust the volume on their own devices.
Some devices prevent audio from playing automatically. On those devices, the participant sees a prompt to press the play button.
How to Set Up Presentation Audio
1
Open presentation Settings
Open your presentation Settings, then go to the Music & sound tab.
2
Choose a track
Under Presentation audio, select a song from the dropdown.
You cannot upload your own audio file as Presentation audio yet. Presentation audio does not play on slides that already have Slide audio.
How Sound Effects Work
Sound effects can play on both the presenter screen and participants’ devices, depending on the interaction. On the presenter screen, sound effects help guide the flow of the presentation:- Micro-interactions: button clicks and answer reveals
- Transitions: moving to the next slide, a QR code appearing, submissions closing
- High-impact moments: countdowns, drumrolls, leaderboard reveals
- Atmosphere: background music as participants join, from start to finish
- When submitting answers on quiz slides
- Result notifications, including correct or incorrect answers, time’s up, and answer streaks
How to Enable or Disable Sound Effects
1
Open presentation Settings
Open your presentation Settings, then go to the Music & sound tab.
2
Toggle sound effects
Under Sound effects, use the toggles next to On the presenting screen or On participants’ devices to enable or disable them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Slide audio and Presentation audio?
What is the difference between Slide audio and Presentation audio?
Slide audio plays on a single slide and can play on participants’ devices. Presentation audio plays across the whole presentation but autoplays only on the presenter’s device.
How do I add audio to a single slide on AhaSlides?
How do I add audio to a single slide on AhaSlides?
Open the Content tab, click the music-notes icon, and choose a track from the library or click Upload audio to add your own mp3 (up to 15 MB). The Audio settings button next to the icon then holds Auto-play, Repeat, and Play on audience devices.
My slide audio doesn't play when I present. Why?
My slide audio doesn't play when I present. Why?
The most common cause is that Auto-play is off — it’s off by default. Open the slide’s Audio settings (the button next to the music-notes icon in the Content tab) and turn on Auto-play so the track starts when you reach the slide. To have the audience hear it on their own phones too, turn on Play on audience devices.
What happens when a slide has both Slide audio and Presentation audio?
What happens when a slide has both Slide audio and Presentation audio?
Slide audio takes priority on the slides that have it. Any slide without Slide audio reverts to playing the Presentation audio.
How do I turn sound effects on or off?
How do I turn sound effects on or off?
Open your presentation Settings, go to the Music & sound tab, and under Sound effects use the toggles for On the presenting screen and On participants’ devices.
Which plans include Slide and Presentation audio?
Which plans include Slide and Presentation audio?
Slide audio and Presentation audio are available only on paid plans. Sound effects are available on all plans.