1. Integrating Multimedia: Sound, Video and More
Lesson 11

2. In This Lesson
Create links to audio and video files so that visitors can download or play them
Use the object and embed elements to include sound and video files in web pages
Use some of the unique multimedia capabilities of Internet Explorer
Recognize the most popular multimedia file types and the plug-ins or helper applications they require

3. Media Files: Factors to Consider
Quality
Size
Number of plug-ins/players available
Availability of format
Sampling rate – number of times per second sound or video is sampled or measured. Represented in kilohertz (KHz). Faster the sample, closer the media will represent original recording, but file size also increases.
Bits – determines fidelity of sound. More bits used, closer you come to actual pitch of sound or color of video.
Channels – (audio) mono, stereo, and more. More channels, better quality, higher file size.

4. Obtaining Media Files
There are a number of ways to obtain media files:
Record your own sounds and video
Download sounds, videos, and music from a free site
Record music and video from a CD
Purchase a CD of sounds or video
You may only publish sounds or video that you have created yourself or that you have obtained the rights to.

5. Plug-ins and Helper Applications
run externally to your browser and open files your browser does not support.
Plug-In
A newer and more common method
Plug-ins run right in the browser window so that media objects can be integrated directly into the web page.

6. Commonly Used Plug-ins
Real Player
Windows Media Player
Apple Quicktime
Macromedia Flash Player

7. Common Audio File Formats
Name
Extension(s)
Description
MIDI
.mid .midi
Small file size, synthesized sound
WAV
.wav
Playable in most audio programs, often used to save CD-quality audio, large file sizes
MP3 (MPEG)
.mp3
Compressed audio format , provides near CD quality sound, most popular format on the Internet
RealAudio
.ra .ram
Designed for streaming, requires RealPlayer
Windows Media
.wma
Proprietary Windows format, excellent quality and compression
AAC
.m4 .aac
Compressed audio format similar to .MP3, default audio for Apple’s iTunes

8. Common Video File Formats
Name
Extension(s)
Description
Audio/Video Interleaved
.avi
Widely supported Windows format, uses less compression than .MPEG and .MOV, player must support AVI codec
MPEG
.mpeg .mpg
Popular for distributing video over the Internet
QuickTime
.mov .qt
Developed by Apple, cross-platform
Windows Media
.wmv
Proprietary Windows format, two schemes available for high-quality video or streaming
RealVideo
.rv
Designed for high compression and streaming, requires RealPlayer
Flash Video
.swf
Video embedded in Flash movies, plays in browsers that have the Flash plug-in installed
codec - encodes a stream or signal for transmission, storage or encryption and decodes it for viewing or editing.

9. The Old Standby: Linking (1)
When a user clicks on a link to a multimedia file one of two things will occur:
Browser automatically launches player and plays the file after downloading
User will be asked whether they want to save the file on the computer (occurs when user does not have necessary player to play file)

10. The Old Standby: Linking (2)
<a href=“beatles.mid"> Click here to play the Beatles </a>
Common technique is to link to the file, provide a thumbnail preview of the clip, a description, and the file size
Also should provide multiple types of multimedia to download

11. Embedding a Media File <embed> <object>
Not part of the W3C standard but commonly used and well-supported
<object>
Used to embed a variety of files (media files, applets, and ActiveX objects)
Part of the W3C standard, but…
Often shunned in favor of the better supported, but nonstandard embed element.

12. <embed> Attributes <embed src=“beatles.mid”/>
src – the location of the source file
autostart – true | false
height – pixels or %
width – pixels or %
hidden – true | false (“true” hides the controller)

13. <object> Attributes:
<object data="catch.wav " autostart="false" height="50" width="100" type="audio/wav" >
</object>
Attributes:
data
type
width
height
autostart
loop
hidden

14. <object> and <param>
<param> adds parameters to the <object> tag:
<object data=“movie.jpg” type=“video/mpeg”>
<param name=“height” value=“120” />
<param name=“width” value=“160” />
</object>

15. Combining <embed /> and <object>
Exists where <object> tag is not recognized by a browser
Place <embed> tag within <object> tag
<object data="cobra.mov" type="video/quicktime" height="311" width="253">
<embed src="cobra.mov" type="video/quicktime" height="311" width="253" />
</object>

16. Tips for Using Multimedia
When linking to multimedia, provide a variety of media formats to ensure that all users have access to formats they can use.
Include the file size in links to large multimedia files to notify users with low-bandwidth connections.
Do not embed multimedia clips in your Web pages unless you are sure that users will be accessing the pages through a high-speed connection.
Do not insert media clips unless you provide a method for users to turn off the clips. If the clip plays automatically, allow it to play only once.

17. Copyright Issues and Media Files(1)
It is very easy to copy and download an image, audio, or video file from a web site.
It may be very tempting to reuse a file in one of your own projects, but that may not be ethical or lawful.
Only publish web pages, images, and other media that you have personally created or have obtained the rights or license to use.
If another individual has created an image, sound, video, or document that you believe would be useful on your own web site, ask permission to use the material instead of simply “grabbing” it.

18. Copyright Issues and Media Files(2)
All work (web pages, images, sounds, videos, etc.) is copyrighted – even if there is no copyright symbol and date on the material.
Be aware that there are times when students and educators can use portions of other’s work and not be in violation of copyright law – this is called “fair use”.
"Fair use" is use of a copyrighted work for purposes such as criticism, reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

19. Copyright Issues and Media Files(3)
Criteria used to determine “fair use”:
The use must be educational and not commercial
The nature of the work
The amount copied must be as small of a portion of the work as possible.
The copy does not impede the marketability of the original work.

20. End of Presentation