how do i add audio to keynote on the ipad?

According to the Keynote (iOS) Help File (found under the Tools Menu (wrench)

"To add an audio file to your presentation, you must first import the presentation that contains the audio file you want to use, and then copy and paste the audio file to any slide or presentation on your iPad."

That really is the easiest way. You can load up a "dummy" presentation with audio clips, export to your iOS Keynote via iTunes and then use the file as a library of sound files for copy/paste.

I have had limited luck with importing audio files via Dropbox -they must be the right kinds - .mp3, .aiff, .m4a, .wav, can be opened in Dropbox, but not all can be then use the Dropbox "Open In..." feature to get them to an application that will allow you to insert them into Keynote. I was able to take an Apple Loop from GarageBand and open it in iMovie (iOS) on iPad then save the clip to the Camera Roll. The file could then be placed on a Keynote Slide. The downside - you get a black rectangle (movie player) object on your slide that would need to be hidden behind something.

Another possibility is to use some of the loops and sounds in the libraries provided with GarageBand or iMovie (iOS) and, again route them through iMovie - not a pretty option.

A search for audio utilities apps for iPad that would do some of the heavy lifting to convert files into a copy and paste-able clip or embed the files into the Camera Roll just don't seem to be there yet. The Media Browser for iOS apps is missing the audio part.

If you'd like to let the folks at Apple know that you'd like something better, give them some feedback:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Good Luck.

I had the same question, but the audio I want to add is basically a voiceover of the presentation, not music or any old audio. It's me talking you through the presentation.

So basically I need to create the presentation on my Mac, before I can use the audio file on the iPad. Which kind of defeats the object of having the app on my iPad.

*** are Apple thinking this time??? Adding a voiceover to a presentation on the Mac app is so easy. Why can't the same feature be on the iPad app? I assumed it would be when I downloaded it.

Not exactly what you were asking for, but you can make a movie from a Keynote (or PowerPoint) of you giving the presentation with Profcast. You get your voice over whatever is displayed on the screen at the time. It's pretty sweet. (and they have awesome discounts if you're a teacher)

You can take screen shots of your slides and put them into and Educreations slide show (free and awesome app) where you can then add audio.