How to Add Audio Narration to Your 3D Models
Transform your 3D scenes into immersive audio-guided virtual tours by adding voice narration and sound descriptions to points of interest.
What You'll Learn: This tutorial shows you how to upload audio files (MP3), attach them to points of interest in your 3D or panoramic scenes, and create engaging audio-guided presentations for museums, cultural heritage sites, educational content, and more.
Overview: Audio Guide Integration
Audio narration allows you to add voice guides, sound descriptions, and audio commentary to your interactive 3D presentations. This feature is perfect for creating:
- Virtual museum tours with curator commentary
- Cultural heritage presentations with historical explanations
- Educational 3D content with instructional narration
- Real estate virtual tours with property descriptions
- Accessible 3D content for visually impaired users
- Architectural presentations with design explanations
There are two types of audio narration in Kroscloud:
- Audio narration of the scene - Each scene (3D scene or panoramic scene) can have an audio narration that starts playing when user enters the scene, or click on the scene's audio button .
- Points of interest audio narration - Info point of interest can have an audio narration along the text information. The audio starts to play when user clicks and display the point's content
Audio File Requirements
Supported Audio Formats
- Format: MP3
- File Size: Maximum 10 MB per audio file (recommended: 2-5 MB at most for optimal loading)
Best Practice: Keep audio files under 5 MB for faster loading on mobile devices. Longer narrations should be split into multiple shorter segments attached to different points of interest.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Adding Audio to Your 3D Scene
Step 1Prepare Your Audio Files
Before uploading audio to Kroscloud, prepare your audio narration files:
- Record or create your audio narration:
- Use a good quality microphone for clear voice recording
- Record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise
- Speak clearly and at a moderate pace
- Consider your target audience (museum visitors, students, real estate clients, etc.)
- Edit your audio:
- Remove long pauses and silence at the beginning and end
- Normalize audio levels for consistent volume
- Remove background noise using audio editing software
- Add fade-in and fade-out effects for professional sound
- Export as MP3:
- Use 128-192 kbps bitrate for optimal quality/size balance
- Name files descriptively (e.g., "castle-history.mp3", "room-description.mp3")
- Keep file sizes under 5 MB when possible
Pro Tip: Audio Recording Tools
Free audio editing software: Audacity (desktop) or online tools like TwistedWave. For professional results, consider hiring voice-over talent for museum tours or heritage presentations.
Step 2Open Your Scene in the Editor
- Log in to your Kroscloud account
- Navigate to My Board
- Find the 3D scene or panoramic image where you want to add audio narration
- Click on the "Edit" button in the Scene's menu
Step 3Add scene's Audio narration
- In the editor, locate the "Information" menu on the top menu panel
- Click on the menu to expand it and see all supported language panels
- In each language panel, you will see "Attach audio" in the bottom of the language section (english by default)
- Click on the button - file dialog will appear, where you choose your prepared audio file and click open
- The Audio file will be uploaded and saved to your scene. No need to click on the Info menu Save button, as audio files are saved automatically
- An Audio panel will appear instead of the "Attach audio" button. You can verify the uploaded audio file by playing it, or remove it to replace it with different file
Step 4Add Audio narration to point(s) of interest
- In the editor, locate the "Points of Interest" menu on the top menu panel
- Click on the menu to expand it and see all existing points
- Create the new Info point of interest, if you do not have it already created
- Click on the point's menu button and choose "Edit point" option
- In the "Edit point of interest" dialog, look at the bottom of the language section (just above the Icon setting). There is a "Attach audio" button for each language variant.
- Click on the button - file dialog will appear, where you choose your prepared audio file and click open
- The Audio file will be uploaded and saved to your point. No need to click on the dialog Update button, as audio files are saved automatically
- An Audio panel will appear instead of the "Attach audio" button. You can verify the uploaded audio file by playing it, or remove it to replace it with different file
Accessibility Note: Always include a text description. This helps visually impaired users using screen readers and provides context for all users before they play the audio.
Adding Multiple Audio Tracks (Multilingual Support)
Create audio narration in multiple languages to reach a global audience. For each supported language of your Scene you can upload different audio file with the correct language audio.
Multilingual Audio Strategy
Recommended languages for different sectors:
- Museums & Heritage: English, local language, major tourist languages (Spanish, Chinese, German, French)
- Real Estate: Local language, English, languages of target markets
- Education: Language of instruction, English for international students
Best Practices for Audio-Guided Virtual Tours
Audio Recording
- Use professional voice talent for public-facing tours
- Script your narration before recording
- Keep each audio segment 30-90 seconds
- Use a warm, engaging tone
- Avoid reading in a monotone voice
Content Strategy
- Tell stories, don't just list facts
- Include interesting anecdotes
- Match audio to visual details
- Provide different depth levels (overview vs. detail)
- Update content regularly
Use Cases for Audio Narration in 3D Scenes
Application: Create immersive digital exhibitions with curator commentary
Audio Content Ideas:
- Historical context and significance of artifacts
- Artist or creator background and techniques
- Conservation stories and discoveries
- Cultural and social importance
- Interactive quiz elements for engagement
Example: "This ancient amphora dates to 450 BCE and was discovered in Athens in 1923. The red-figure painting technique shown here was revolutionary for its time..."
Application: Bring historical monuments and archaeological sites to life
Audio Content Ideas:
- Historical events that took place at the location
- Architectural features and construction techniques
- Daily life in different historical periods
- Stories of people who lived or worked there
- Changes and restorations over time
Example: "Standing before you is the great hall where knights gathered in the 14th century. Notice the vaulted ceiling - this architectural feature required incredible engineering skill..."
Application: Create interactive educational materials with instructional audio
Audio Content Ideas:
- Explain complex concepts with visual 3D models
- Provide step-by-step instructions
- Highlight key learning points
- Add pronunciation guides for language learning
- Include quizzes and knowledge checks
Example: "In this architectural cross-section, you can see how the foundation transfers the building's weight. The audio explains load-bearing principles used by engineers..."
Application: Offer personalized property tours with professional narration
Audio Content Ideas:
- Room features and dimensions
- Recent renovations and upgrades
- Neighborhood information and amenities
- Unique selling points
- Maintenance and utility information
Example: "Welcome to the master bedroom featuring 12-foot ceilings and newly installed hardwood floors. The large windows provide abundant natural light and overlook the private garden..."
Application: Make 3D content inclusive with detailed audio descriptions
Audio Content Ideas:
- Spatial relationships and object positions
- Visual characteristics (colors, textures, sizes)
- Navigation instructions within the scene
- Detailed object descriptions
- Contextual information about the environment
Example: "You are now facing north toward the main entrance. Three meters ahead stands a bronze statue, approximately 2 meters tall. The statue depicts a seated figure with hands raised..."
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Issue |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
| Audio file won't upload |
File too large or wrong format |
Ensure file is MP3 format and under 10 MB. Compress audio if needed. |
| Audio doesn't play |
Browser compatibility or file corruption |
Test in different browsers. Re-export audio file. Check file integrity. |
| Audio quality is poor |
Low bitrate or recording quality |
Re-record at higher quality. Use 192 kbps bitrate. Remove background noise. |
| Point not visible in scene |
Point positioned outside visible area |
Use rearrange mode to reposition. Check Z-axis position. View from different angles. |
| Audio loads slowly |
File too large |
Compress audio file. Split long narrations into shorter segments. Optimize bitrate. |
| Camera position not working |
Camera position not set or saved |
Re-set camera position. Ensure you clicked "Set Camera" button. Save changes. |
Tips for Professional Audio Production
Do's
- Use a quality microphone (USB condenser mic minimum)
- Record in a quiet, acoustically treated space
- Write and practice your script beforehand
- Use a pop filter to reduce plosives (p, b sounds)
- Maintain consistent distance from microphone
- Normalize audio levels in post-production
- Add subtle background music if appropriate
- Get feedback from test users
- Keep narration engaging and conversational
- Provide audio in multiple languages
Don'ts
- Don't use laptop built-in microphones
- Don't record in echoey or noisy rooms
- Don't read from script in monotone
- Don't record when tired or sick
- Don't make audio files too long (>3 minutes)
- Don't use copyrighted music without permission
- Don't over-compress audio (causes distortion)
- Don't skip the editing and cleanup phase
- Don't assume one take is enough
- Don't forget to test on actual devices
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same audio file for multiple points?
Currently, each point requires a separate audio upload. However, you can use the same audio file - just upload it to each point where you need it.
How many audio points can I add to one scene?
The number of points is not limited. Premium accounts have limitations 3 minutes of audio per scene and language (each language variant of the given scene can contain at most 3 minutes of audio narration (all audio clips combined)). Business accounts have no limitations.
Can users control audio playback (pause, restart)?
Yes, users have full control with standard audio playback controls including play/pause and restart.
Does audio work on mobile devices?
Yes, audio narration works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets with both iOS and Android operating systems.
Can I update or replace audio files after publishing?
Yes, you can edit any point of interest in the editor and upload a new audio file to replace the existing one.
Is there a storage limit for audio files?
Storage limits depend on your Kroscloud subscription plan. Check your account settings or pricing page for details about your storage allocation.
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