Inserting a Voice Annotation in Your Worksheet

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 21, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Rather than adding notes to the cells in your worksheets, you can imbed audio files that serve as audible annotations. In order to do this, your computer must have sound capabilities (either built-in or through an added sound board) which are supported by Windows, along with a microphone. Then you can follow these steps:

  1. Position the insertion point where you want the message inserted.
  2. Choose Object from the Insert menu. You will see the Object dialog box.
  3. Make sure the Create New tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Create New tab of the Object dialog box.

  4. In the list of object types, look for a type of sound object. It may have a name such as Sound or Wave Sound. Select this option.
  5. Click on OK. The Sound Recorder (a Windows accessory) is displayed.
  6. Use the Sound Recorder to record your message.
  7. Close the Sound Recorder window.
  8. You may be asked if you want to update your workbook. If so, then click on Yes.
  9. An icon of a speaker appears in your workbook where the sound is inserted.

You can later listen to your message by simply double-clicking on the speaker icon.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2870) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Formatting Captions

When you add captions to elements in your document, Word allows you to modify how those captions are formatted. Here's ...

Discover More

Emoticons in Word

Like to add a smiley or two to your writing? Word makes it easy through creative use of the AutoCorrect feature.

Discover More

Default Formatting for PivotTables

Wish there was a way to define how you want PivotTables formatted before you actually create the PivotTable? You may be ...

Discover More

Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Using Data Forms

Lots of people prefer to enter information directly into Excel, but there is another way that may be helpful: Using data ...

Discover More

Creating Dependent Drop-Lists

Drop-down lists are handy in an Excel worksheet, and you they can be even more handy if a selection in one drop-down ...

Discover More

Goal Seeking

Excel provides a great tool that is helpful in figuring out what certain variables should be in your formulas. This tip ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 + 1?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.