Chapter 1: Multimedia Hardware

&Software

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 Intensive Work
• Multimedia projects involve working with lots
of different type of media
• Usually this will require faster or special
purpose hardware
• Not only in production, but rendering
(production the final presentation) can be very
intensive for a computer

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 Desktop vs Laptop
Dektop Laptop
Performance Faster, more options Lower power consumption

Portability Not really absolutely

Cost Excellent value for money Usually a premium price tag

Keyboard Easier to work with Designed for portability

Screen Multiple large screen The bigger the screen, the

options less battery time
Upgrading Swapping parts is easy Can be difficulty and costly

Generally, multimedia designers will usually have both a

desktop and a laptop. The desktop for designing and
their laptop for presenting
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Apple PC Vs Windows PC
• Apple has traditionally dominated content creation with
media
• Changed over time due to larger range of more powerful
options with Windows-based PC’s
• Apple platform still maintains strong presence due to
quality software (Final Cut, Logic Pro, etc.)not available on
Windows.

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CPU – Central processing Unit
• The brain of the computer
• It’s the component that does all the heavy lifting
(Computational work)
• The faster the processor, the faster the computer can work

• Two factor – speed or multi core

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CPU Speed

• Raw speed of a CPU, measured in Hertz

• Data cycles through the CPU, the higher the hertz, the fast
it travels
• Most of multimedia systems will have a CPU speed of over
3GHz

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Multicore / Multi-threded
• The are CPU’s that have more than one processor
built in
• Data is usually shared between them to reduce
computing time
•Therefore a slower multicore CPU can (in some
instances) perform better than a fast single core
• Application dependent: Software must work with
Multicore for the benefit
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What’s better for Multimedia?
• Multi-threaded systems tend to suit multimedia
project more as long as the software being used
supports it.
• Major applications: Adobe, autodesk, etc. All now
support multicore systems

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RAM : Random Access Memory
• Temporary storage area
• This is where projects you are working on reside until
you save to permanent storage
• Holds data for the CPU waiting for it to be processed

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How important is RAM?
• Very!
• The more RAM you have, the more applications
you can work on at the same time
• The faster your RAM is, the more your process
can do (latency and speed)
• Modern multimedia systems will generally have at
least 8GB of DDR3 RAM
Double Data Rate version 3. It is a crucial type of third-gen SDRAM (Synchronous
Dynamic Random Access Memory), mainly used as a type of system memory. The DDR3
can easily transfer data and info from one location to the other at a very high speed 10
GPU
• This is like CPU but designed for graphics
• The GPU will often determine how fast
images/graphics will move when animated
• Determines the computer maximum display
resolution
• Can have more than one core (just like a CPU)

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Graphics Cards
• Have a processor to move graphics (GPU)
• Have RAM to store data being worked on
• As they can process a lot, they usually require lots
of cooling
• Vital to any multimedia workstation

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The power of the GPU
• As GPU performance is now outpacing CPU
performance, many organisations are relying on GPU’s
for all their processing (GPGPU)
• Technologies, such as nVidia’s CUDA, allow
applications such as Autodesk 3D Studio Max and
Adobe premiere to use the GPU for more than just
moving graphics around
• CUDA has thousands of small cores that process data
at the same time (parallel computing) 13
Motherboard
• Sometimes called Mainboard
• Component that connects everything together
• Controllers for moving data around the
computer
• Processor brand/type specific : usually can’t
mix and match between architectures
• Some will contain built-in components such as
GPU or Sound Processor
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Sound Cards
• Needed so you can hear sound from your
computer
• Converts digital data into sound waves
• Most systems have sound controller built into
the Motherboard and use the CPU for processing
• Audiophiles and sound professionals will have a
dedicated DSP for this

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Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
• Is just like a GPU but for sound
• Music artists and multimedia designers will
usually have a dedicated card with a DSP to
handle sound processing
• Handle multiple channels simultaneously and
produce better quality audio

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Storage: hard disk Drive (HDD)
• HDD: traditional storage medium for nearly all
computers
• Mechanical disk made up of metal platters that
are magnetised to hold data

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Storage: Solid State Drive (SSD)
• A combination of a flash USB drive and a Hard
Disk Drive
• No moving parts
• Becoming far more common
• Popular with light weight, portable devices

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SSD vs HDD which is better?
SSD HDD
Performance So much faster that it’s Slowest component in a
not funny computer
Reliability Not quiet there yet but Tried, tested technology
improving that will last for years
Cost More expensive per GB Cheap as chips
Versatility Smaller, lighter, less Large device that doesn’t
powerconsumption like shock and runs hot

Both. Most multimedia workstations will have a SSD

for common applications for performance and use
HDD where lots of storage is required

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SSD vs HDD

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 Monitors
• Often overlooked but incredibly important
• A good quality monitor will represent colors
correctly. Cheap ones don’t
• Larger sizes are important as they will support higher
resolutions (fit more stuff on the screen)
• Most designers will usually have more than one
connected to their computer and have a large screen
capable of better than 1920x1080 resolution 21
 Keyboard & Mouse
• Vital input devices
• Don’t go cheap on these: Your hands won’t forgive
you
• A good quality mouse can make the difference
between clean, accurate designs and dodgy lines
• Keyboard types: traditional vs mechanical
• Mouse types : Optical vs laser

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 Other Components
• Chasis or case - box that holds all the parts of a
computer
• Power supply- divice that convert AC into DC for the
computer and powers all components
• Optical Drives – CD/DVD/Blu-Ray : input and output
mediums used for many multimedia projects

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 Other devices
• Drawing tablets : connect to your PC and allow you
to draw using a stylus/pen
• Headphones/speakers : essential with multimedia
presentations
• External storage : USB drivers, hard disk drivers, etc.
for backup

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Typical Multimedia Designer’s System
CPU Multicore, 3GHz + such as intel i7, Inter Xeon, or AMD FX
RAM At least 8 GB DDR3 (2x4GB)
GPU At least 1GB nVidia GeForce or nVidia Quattro
DSP Some form of dedicated sound card
Storage 1 x SSD for operating System and applications
1 x HDD for files and production work
Monitor 1 x 24 inch with at least 1920 x 1080 resolution, preferably
2560 x 1440
Others Good quality keyboard, mouse, drawing tablet, headphones,
optical drive
Chassis Large, quiet, cool case with a power supply big enough to run it
all (600 + watt)

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 Multimedia software
• The basic tool set for building a multimedia project can be
divided in to five categories:
 Painting and drawing tools
 3-D modeling and animation tools
 Image editing tools
 Sound editing tools
 Animation video and digital Movies tools

• The software in your multimedia toolkit and your ability to use

it will determine the quality of your multimedia work 26
 Programs used in Multimedia

• Developing a multimedia production require an array

of software to create, edit, and combine text, sounds
and images

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 Elements of Multimedia

• Different software is used to create the various

elements of multimedia. These elements are:
 Text
 Graphics and animation
 Sound or Audio
 Video

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 Programs for Managing text

• Text can be created with many programs

 Multimedia developers use word processing
software to include text in their projects and to
create documents about their projects.
 Full-featured words processors have text
formatting capabilities which set the appearance of
the text

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 Desktop Publishing Programs

• Desktop publishing programs are some time called

page layout programs
• They are better at handling the placement of
graphics and processing very large documents
 Ex: Adobe InDesign, QuarkXpress, Microsoft
Publisher

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 Programs for Graphics
• Graphics software is used for creating editing,
manipulating, and storing graphics
• Graphics software is also known as Image
management software
• It works with still and animated drawings, as well as
photographs

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 Programs for Sounds or Video
• Most of Operating Systems
have the capability of playing
sound and video files
 Audio or sound software
is used to create or edit
music or sounds files
 Video software is used to
edit video file

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 Creating Multimedia Production

• Different kind of
software are used to
combine the elements to Main Page
1. Video link
create a multimedia 2. Image link

production 3. Audio Link

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 Web Design Software
• Web pages are written in a markup language
such as HTML or XML
 Web design programs allow you to create web pages
without learning markup languages
 Many current word processing and desktop publishing
programs let you convert their files to HTML for use in
web page
 Web browser are needed to view and use web pages
on the internet

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 Multimedia Presentations
• Presentations are sequences of slides
that usually incorporate text sound,
graphics, and animation

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 Multimedia Authoring Software
• Authoring programs link Graphics,
text and other objects
• They are used to create
 Interactive tutorials
 Simulations
 Games

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 Web Design Software
• Web pages are written in a markup language
such as HTML or XML
 Web design programs allow you to create web pages
without learning markup languages
 Many current word processing and desktop publishing
programs let you convert their files to HTML for use in
web page
 Web browser are needed to view and use web pages
on the internet

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 Planning and Managing Projects
• There is also software for planning and managing
multimedia projects.
 Spreadsheet software is used to develop cost
estimates, budgets and reports
 Database software is used to control and retrieve
information used in projects
 Project Management software is used to coordinate
the work of people and tasks so that the projects are
completed on time

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Multimedia Software Suites
• A software suite is a group of
programs from the same company
sold in the single package
• Ex: Adobe premiere pro

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Utility Software for Multimedia
• Multimedia developer often need software for
specific tasks. These tasks might include:
 screen captures
 File compression
 Virus protection
 Optical character recognition (OCR)

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 Software that enables Multimedia
• System Software
• OS
• Utilities
• Networking
• Development Software
• Graphics
• Sound
• Text
• Web Developing
• Multimedia Authoring
• Delivery Software
• Stand-Alone Programs
• Players

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 System Software
• Written specifically to control its Platform (or
Processor Family)
• Often is unique to the platform
• Takes advantage of features of platform
• Upgrading may not be available (i.e. Win98 to
XP2)
• Alternatives for a platform may be limited

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 Painting and Drawing Tools
• Bitmap vs. Vector Images
• Painting Software (bitmap)
• PhotoShop, Photoshop Elements, iPhoto, Corel
PhotoPaint
• Drawing Software (vector)
• Adobe Illustrator, Acrobat, CorelDraw, AutoCAD
• Flash
• Fireworks

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 Image-editing Tools
• Specialized and powerful tools for enhancing and
retouching, existing bitmapped images
• PhotoShop, Elements, Corel Paintshop Pro
• Plug-ins
• Vertigos HotTEXT lets you turn text into 3-D
objects
• Alienskin / EyeCandy
• Kais Power Tools (Corel KPT Collection)
• Xaos Paint Alchemy
• Nix Software
• Many, many, many others!
• RawShooter, Adobe RAW, Capture1

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 3-D Modeling
• AutoDesks 3D Studio Max
• Bryce
• Poser
• Maya
• Strata 3D
• Carrara
• Defunct products might still be useful
• Macromedia Extreme 3D
• 3d/fx
• Infini-D
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 Sound Applications
• Sound Editing
• Sound Recorder
• Sound Forge
• SoundEdit Pro (Macromedia SoundEdit16 is defunct)
• GarageBand (Mac)
• MIDI
• Sound Playback
• Windows Media Player
• QuickTime
• Real Player
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• WinAmp
 Video and Digital Movie Tools
• Formats
• Microsoft AVI
• MPEG (1,2,4)
• Apple Quicktime
• Codecs (Compressor/Decompressor)
• MPEG, Divx, M-JPEG, Indeo (Intel), Cinepak,
others
• Editors
• Adobe Premiere, Pinnacle Studio, Avid, Final Cut

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 Linking Multimedia Objects
• DDE OLE
• Office suites
• Microsoft Office
• Open Office
• IWork
• Presentation tools
• PowerPoint
• Keynote (Mac)
• Impress (Open Office)

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 Web Development
• Authoring Tools
• Adobe (Macromedia) Dreamweaver
• Microsoft FrontPage
• Adobes GoLive
• Languages
• JavaScript
• Visual Basic (VBScript)
• PHP/Perl/Python/AJAX etc.
• Actionscript (Flash)

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 Helpful Accessories
• Screen Grabber
• PaintShop Pro
• Snag-it
• Graphics Workshop
• Text Editor
• TextPad
• Format Converter/Cataloger/Viewer
• Graphics Workshop
• IrfanView

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 System Software
• Written specifically to control its Platform (or
Processor Family)
• Often is unique to the platform
• Takes advantage of features of platform
• Upgrading may not be available (i.e. Win98 to
XP2)
• Alternatives for a platform may be limited

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 System Software
• Written specifically to control its Platform (or
Processor Family)
• Often is unique to the platform
• Takes advantage of features of platform
• Upgrading may not be available (i.e. Win98 to
XP2)
• Alternatives for a platform may be limited

52
 System Software
• Written specifically to control its Platform (or
Processor Family)
• Often is unique to the platform
• Takes advantage of features of platform
• Upgrading may not be available (i.e. Win98 to
XP2)
• Alternatives for a platform may be limited

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