Combine several audio clips with audacity and use as background sound in PPT 2019

In earlier versions of PPT one could use a Windows Media Player playlist to use as background music for a presentation. Starting with version 2016 this is no longer possible. See my previous article:

Use a WMP playlist in PPT

Here's an alternative using the free audio editing app Audacity. There are several ways to do this in Audacity this is just what I use.

Start Audacity
Click File, Import and select your audio clips. Use ctrl+click to select several. Click Open.
Both clips are neatly arranged one below the other.

Press CTRL+A to select both clips and click Tracks and choose Align tracks and then Align End to End.

Both clips are now aligned.

 

Finally go to File again and choose Export, Export as MP3 or another format of your choice. Select the folder and give the file a new name. Click Save.

A warning dialog appears reminding you that both clips will be mixed and saved as one clip. Click OK.

Change the metadata if needed and click OK.

When you open the new file in Audacity you will see that both clips are now just one clip.

Now you can use the mixed clips as one clip in your PPT presentation.

If you want guidance to do this see this article:

Play audio across slides