What You’ll Learn
PPT to Video
Convert PowerPoint files to video automatically
Speaker Notes
Use speaker notes for voice-over narration
AI Voice-Over
Generate professional narration from notes
Flexible Narration
Choose between slide text or speaker notes
Before You Begin
Make sure you have:- A Pictory API key (get one here)
- Node.js or Python installed on your machine
- PowerPoint file with speaker notes accessible via public URL
- Basic understanding of PowerPoint speaker notes
How Speaker Notes Narration Works
When you use speaker notes for narration:- File Processing - Your PPT file is accessed and parsed
- Slide Extraction - Each slide becomes a video scene
- Notes Extraction - Speaker notes are extracted from each slide
- Visual Preservation - Slide designs remain intact as scene backgrounds
- Voice Generation - AI creates narration from speaker notes, not slide text
- Video Rendering - Final video combines slides with notes-based narration
Speaker notes provide more natural, conversational narration compared to reading slide bullet points. This is ideal for presentations designed for visual impact where notes contain the full explanation.
Complete Example
Understanding the Parameters
Main Request Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
videoName | string | Yes | A descriptive name for your video project |
url | string | Yes | Public URL to the PowerPoint file |
useSpeakerNotes | boolean | No | Set to true to use speaker notes for narration (default: false = uses slide text) |
voiceOver | object | No | Voice-over configuration |
Voice-Over Configuration
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
enabled | boolean | Yes | Set to true to enable voice-over |
aiVoices | array | Yes | Array of AI voice configurations |
speaker | string | Yes | AI voice name |
speed | number | No | Voice speed 50-200 (default: 100) |
amplificationLevel | number | No | Volume level -1 to 1 (default: 0) |
Speaker Notes vs Slide Text
| Configuration | Narration Source | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
useSpeakerNotes: false (default) | Visible slide text | Slides with complete sentences, text-heavy presentations |
useSpeakerNotes: true | Speaker notes | Visual-heavy slides, bullet points only, conversational narration |
Common Use Cases
Training Videos with Detailed Explanations
Visual-Heavy Presentations
Webinar Content
Best Practices
When to Use Speaker Notes
When to Use Speaker Notes
Choose speaker notes narration when:
- Visual Slides: Slides contain mainly images, charts, or diagrams
- Bullet Points: Slides have brief bullet points needing elaboration
- Conversational Tone: You want natural, flowing narration
- Detailed Explanations: Notes contain the full explanation
- Professional Format: Slides designed for visual impact, not reading
When to Use Slide Text
When to Use Slide Text
Use slide text narration (
useSpeakerNotes: false) when:- Complete Sentences: Slides contain full text meant to be read
- No Notes: Speaker notes are empty or minimal
- Simple Content: Text on slides is self-explanatory
- Quote-Based: Slides contain quotes or specific text to emphasize
Write Effective Speaker Notes
Write Effective Speaker Notes
Optimize your speaker notes for AI narration:
- Conversational Style: Write as you would speak, not formal bullets
- Complete Sentences: Use full sentences with proper punctuation
- Natural Flow: Ensure smooth transitions between ideas
- Appropriate Length: 2-4 sentences per slide (30-60 seconds narration)
- Clear Pronunciation: Spell out acronyms and difficult terms
Prepare Your PowerPoint File
Prepare Your PowerPoint File
Set up your presentation for speaker notes conversion:
- Add Notes to All Slides: Every slide should have speaker notes
- Consistent Length: Keep notes roughly similar in length for pacing
- Test Notes: Read notes aloud to ensure they sound natural
- Avoid Redundancy: Don’t repeat exactly what’s on the slide
- Link Slides: Notes should transition smoothly between slides
Balance Visual and Verbal Content
Balance Visual and Verbal Content
Create effective slide-notes combinations:
- Slides: Show key points, visuals, data
- Notes: Provide context, explanations, details
- Complement: Notes should expand on visuals, not duplicate them
- Focus: Keep slides visual, notes verbal
- Engagement: Use notes to tell the story behind the visuals
Troubleshooting
Some slides have no narration
Some slides have no narration
Problem: Certain slides play with no voice-over.Solution:
- Check that those slides have speaker notes in PowerPoint
- Speaker notes must contain actual text (not be empty)
- View → Notes Page in PowerPoint to verify notes exist
- Add speaker notes to all slides before conversion
- If you want some slides silent, add a note like “[pause]” or “[music only]”
Narration doesn't match what I wrote in notes
Narration doesn't match what I wrote in notes
Problem: The voice-over seems different from your speaker notes.Solution:
- Verify you set
useSpeakerNotes: truein your request - Check that PowerPoint notes are in the Notes section, not text boxes on slides
- Ensure notes weren’t accidentally placed in slide master or layout
- Re-save PowerPoint file and try again
- Use PowerPoint’s Notes Page view to verify notes are properly saved
Speaker notes text is being cut off
Speaker notes text is being cut off
Problem: Long speaker notes seem truncated in narration.Solution:
- Very long notes (500+ words per slide) may be shortened
- Break long presentations into multiple videos
- Keep speaker notes to 30-60 seconds of narration per slide
- Distribute content across more slides if needed
- Aim for 50-150 words per slide’s notes
Voice-over sounds unnatural
Voice-over sounds unnatural
Problem: AI narration doesn’t flow smoothly.Solution:
- Write speaker notes in a conversational, natural tone
- Use complete sentences with proper punctuation
- Avoid abbreviations, acronyms, or technical shorthand
- Read notes aloud before conversion to check flow
- Adjust voice speed (95-105) for more natural pacing
- Try different AI voices to find the best match
Can't find speaker notes in PowerPoint
Can't find speaker notes in PowerPoint
Problem: Not sure how to add or view speaker notes.Solution:
- Add Notes: In PowerPoint, click in the Notes section below each slide
- View Notes: Go to View → Notes Page for full editor
- Normal View: Notes appear in bottom panel in Normal view
- Slide Sorter: Switch to Normal view to see/edit notes
- Mac Users: View → Normal, notes panel is below slide
- Save: Always save PowerPoint file after adding notes
Next Steps
Enhance your speaker notes videos with these features:Standard PPT Narration
Use slide text instead of speaker notes
Background Music
Add music to complement narration
Brand Settings
Apply consistent branding to videos
Multi-Level Voice-Over
Use different voices for different scenes
API Reference
For complete technical details, see:- Render Storyboard Video - Full API specification
- Get Voiceover Tracks - List available AI voices
- Get Job Status - Monitor job status and progress
