2. 2 © 2004, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. IT Essentials I v. 3 Module 8 Multimedia Capabilities

3. Module 8 Multimedia Capabilities 8.1 – Introduction to Multimedia 8.2 – Upgrading Video with Video Acceleration Board 8.3 – Adding Audio Capabilities with a Sound Card 8.4 - Overview of CD-RW and DVD 8.5 – Digitizing Video

4. Introduction to Multimedia

5. Basic Hardware Required for Multimedia Upgrades Multimedia is a term typically used to mean the combination of text, sound, and motion video. Multimedia has been described as the addition of animated images as in an animated GIF on the web. Multimedia is distinguished from traditional motion pictures or movies both by the scale of the production (multimedia is usually smaller and less expensive) and by the addition of audience participation or interactive multimedia.

6. Basic Hardware Required for Multimedia Upgrades The types of computer hardware and software necessary to develop multimedia on the PC vary. The minimum hardware requirements include a computer monitor, video accelerator card, and sound adapter card with attached speakers.

7. The Video Adapter A video adapter is an integrated circuit card in a computer that provides digital- to-analog conversion, video RAM, and a video controller so that data can be sent to a computer display. Almost all displays and video adapters adhere to the standard Video Graphics Array (VGA). VGA is how data is passed between the computer and the display.

8. The Video Adapter A display or monitor is a computer output surface and projecting mechanism that shows text and often graphic images. Most computer monitors use analog signals to display the image. This requirement and the need to continually refresh the displayed image means that the computer also needs a display or video adapter.

9. Characterizing Computer Displays The Visual Graphics Array (VGA) mode is the lowest common denominator of display modes. Depending on the resolution setting, it can provide up to 256 colors.

10. Characterizing Computer Displays Dot pitch is the size of an individual beam that gets through to light up a point of phosphor on the screen. Computer video displays can be characterized according to the following criteria: –Color capability –Sharpness and viewability –The size of the screen –The projection technology

11. Sound Cards and Speaker Systems The output of the sound card requires additional amplification if external speakers are used. Sound cards do have the capability of directly driving low-power headphones. The system internal speaker can also produce audio output, or it can be amplified through external audio amplifier systems for applications such as "Surround Sound".

12. Common Media File Formats Used in Multimedia Applications Two data-compression standards are commonly used with digitized video. 1.Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) 2.Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression standards

13. MPEG Hardware Versus Software Although JPEG provides enough compression to allow single-frame digitized images to fit on disk drives, full- motion pictures need much greater compression to be useful on current technology. The MPEG format was developed with a compression algorithm that delivers compression ratios up to 200:1, with high-quality video and audio.

14. Upgrading Video with a Video Acceleration Board

15. PCI and AGP Types Examined Newer Pentium systems include an advanced Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) interface for video graphics. The AGP interface is a variation of the PCI bus design that has been modified to handle data throughput associated with 3-dimensional graphics. The AGP standard provides for a direct channel between the AGP graphic controller and the computer system main memory.

16. All in One One of the popular file formats for video is the Microsoft Audio Visual Interface (AVI) format Video capture cards are responsible for converting video signals from different sources into digital signals that can be manipulated by the computer. The video card samples the incoming video signal by feeding it through an A-to-D (analog-to- digital) converter.

17. All in One The video capture card converts the YUV format into an RGB VGA-compatible signal. The YUV color model is used for encoding video. Y is the luminosity of the black and white signal. U and V are color difference signals. U is red minus Y (R-Y), and V is blue minus Y (B-Y). YUV is a video encoding format that is different than RGB. An encoding circuit samples the incoming analog signal, and then performs an operation on it that is known as Color Space Conversion. Color space conversion is the process of converting the YUV signal into the RGB format acceptable to the VGA card screen memory.

18. Installing and Configuring the Video Card Driver and Software The Windows 9x operating systems should detect the video card, start the system with basic VGA video drivers, and ask whether to install the manufacturer video drivers. The Windows 2000 operating system will detect the new video card, tell the user that it has found the new card, and then automatically load its video drivers.

19. Understanding RAMDAC and Video Memory The RAMDAC chip reads the video memory content, converts it to analog, and sends it over a cable to the video monitor. The quality of this chip impacts the quality of the image, speed of the refresh rate, and maximum resolution capability. Refresh rate refers to the number of times per second that the video display screen can be redrawn.

20. Understanding RAMDAC and Video Memory The video chip set relies on video memory to render the image requested. The basic element of every video image is a dot (or pixel). Many dots comprise what is displayed on the monitor. Every dot has a location reserved in video memory. The maximum number of dots that can be displayed relates to the resolution. Resolution is commonly expressed as a pair of numbers. Each pair of numbers represents the maximum possible number of dots on a horizontal axis and the maximum possible number dots on a vertical axis.

21. Flashing the Video Board with BIOS Updates How the image is to be displayed is the responsibility of the video BIOS. The video BIOS provides the set of video functions that can be used by the software programs to access the video hardware. The video BIOS allows software to interface with the video chipset in much the same way as the system.

22. Adding Audio Capabilities with a Sound Card

23. Sound Card Operation A sound card is a device (either in the form of an expansion card or a chipset) that allows the computer to handle audio information. Basic responsibility of a sound card is the input, processing, and output of audio information.

24. Sound Card Operation Even though there are many types of sound cards available for different applications, every sound card has the following basic components: –Processor –Converters –Memory –Ports Sound cards produce audio (synthesize) using three distinct methods. These include Frequency Modulation (FM), Wavetable, and Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI).

25. USB, PCI, and Built-in Sound USB is a hot-swappable interface that can be used to connect many different types of peripherals to a PC. A PCI sound card is an adapter card with an audio processor that connects to a motherboard using a PCI slot. Many motherboard manufacturers integrate both video and audio options into their products. The built-in sound has an audio processor physically located on a motherboard in the form of a single chip or chipset.

26. Removing or Disabling Outdated Sound Cards Before adding a more capable sound card, older sound cards should be removed. Removing or disabling outdated sound cards frees up resources such as IRQs and expansion slots. Use the proper uninstall procedures to remove hardware, related software, specific drivers and files that could slow the system down and to free up resources.

27. Physical Installation of Sound Cards Installing a sound card is similar to installing any other adapter card. Refer to the user guide to determine what hardware configuration settings should be made before inserting the card into the system.

28. Physical Installation of Sound Cards 1.Make sure the PC has no power and that all external devices are disconnected. 2.Remove the cover from the computer case. 3.Locate an available PCI slot to accommodate the sound card and remove the corresponding slot cover making sure to save the screw connecting the cover to the frame. 4.While wearing the anti-static wrist strap, align the tabs on the bottom side of the sound card with the open PCI slot and firmly press the card into the slot keeping even pressure along the side of the card. 5.Replace the cover slot screw to secure the sound card to the frame.

29. Connecting the CD-ROM or DVD Player to the Sound Card A common connection is cabling the CD-ROM or DVDROM drive to the sound card to produce digital audio. All CD-ROM drives have an analog audio out connector for connecting to a sound card. Most DVDROM drives offer a digital audio out connection. DVDs are capable of audio streams containing multiple channels.

30. Sound Card Driver and Software Installation and Configuration A sound card driver is the software that allows the computer operating system to communicate with the hardware. Faulty drivers can cause either distorted audio output, no audio output, or can adversely affect the performance of a computer. Most sound card manufacturers include a disk or CD with their product.Once the sound card is installed, the driver can be installed, changed, or updated by using the Device Manager.

31. MIDI and External-Audio Source Connection Common external-audio source connections include: MIDI port – Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) used to connect musical devices. Microphones can be connected to a sound card using the female 3.5mm mini jack port on the face of the sound card.

32. MIDI and External-Audio Source Connection The microphone in port is to be used with non-amplified sources. The line in port is used to capture audio from amplified sources with line out options. Manufacturers are adding external digital audio source capture components. The major advantage of using the digital in option is that there is no analog to digital conversion necessary to capture the audio information.

33. Overview of CD-RW and DVD

34. Drives Compact Disk, Read Only Memory (CD-ROMs) are a very popular type of removable media. CD-ROM drives are categorized by their case type, bus type, and read speed. The CD-ROM drive needs to be connected to a 40-pin IDE cable that is then connected to the IDE controller. An internal CD-ROM drive uses the standard Molex power connector that supplies 12 volts to other devices inside a PC.

35. Recording CDs with CD-R and CD-RW CD recorders allow users to "burn" their own CDs containing music, data, video, or any combination thereof. Currently there are two major types of CD recorders: 1.CD-R - stands for Compact Disc - Recordable 2.CD-RW stands for Compact Disc – Rewritable It is recommended to be aware of copyright or licensing limitations when copying any type of CD.

36. Digital Audio Extraction Explained Digital Audio Extraction (DAE) is the process of copying audio from a CD to another medium while keeping the audio in its original digital state. Also known as "ripping", most users use DAE techniques to pull tracks (songs) from an audio CD to a computer's hard drive and then to a recordable CD.

37. DVD Players DVDs share the same physical size of a CD-ROM but can handle a much greater amount of information. DVDs are used for movies and audio, as well as data. Computer DVD drives can also play movies and music as well as read data discs. Manufacturers can now place their entire program on a single DVD instead of multiple lower capacity CDs. A DVD drive can read DVDs and CDs while a CD-ROM drive can only read CDs.

38. Recordable DVD There are four different methods of DVD recording. 1.DVD-R (recordable) is similar to CD-R technology in that it allows the media to be written one time only 2.DVD-RAM – Using the Random Access Memory (RAM) technology allows users to write and overwrite discs 100,000 times 3.The DVD-RW (re-writable) is a technology designed to address compatibility and re-recording issues 4.DVD+RW - has the ability to use a variable bit-rate when encoding certain types of media

39. CD Recording Formats A logical standard defines the way information is stored on the media. Physical standards define where the information is placed on a CD. Most formats fall within the "Color Books.

40. DVD Layering and Formats DVD layering is the process in which the read laser of a drive is able to focus at different "layers" inside the disc. DVD physical formats define the structure of the disc and the areas to which data is recorded. Currently, there are three types of DVDs and four physical formats.

41. Digitizing Video

42. Digital Cameras and Video Cameras A digital camera has a series of lenses that focus light to create an image of a scene just like a conventional film camera. It focuses light onto a semiconductor device that records the light electronically instead of focusing this light onto a piece of film. Many digital cameras use an LCD screen and fixed storage connected to the computer to download the images. Digital camera and docking station for transferring pictures to the computer.

43. Digital Cameras and Video Cameras There are two types of video cameras: analog and digital. Analog camcorders record video and audio signals as an analog track on video tape. Digital recorders record information digitally, as bytes. This allows the image to be reproduced without losing any image or audio quality. Digital video can be downloaded to a computer, where it can be edited or posted on the Internet. Digital video camera

44. Hardware and Software Video Capture Depending on the compression methods used, the video clip can be played back from the Windows AVI structure or through the capture card. Sources for video capture normally include VCRs and camcorders. The output from these video- producing devices tends to be composite TV or analog S-video signals. A video decoder circuit is used to convert the analog signal into a stream of digital signals.

45. Hardware and Software Video Capture The digitized output from the A-to-D converter is applied to a video compression (ASIC. T) The compression chip reduces the size of the file by removing redundant information from consecutive frames. When the digitized video is recalled for output purposes, the file is reapplied to the compression chip, which restores the redundant information to the frames. The analog signals are converted back into the proper VGA format and are applied to the video-out connector at the back plate of the card.

46. Installing and Configuring a Video Capture Board Install the video capture card in one of the unit adapter slots. This requires that the outer cover of the system unit be removed. Inside the unit, remove the expansion slot cover of a compatible expansion slot. Make sure the slot can handle the physical dimension of the card. Connect the capture card to the VGA card as directed by the manufacturer installation guide. Install any antennas that must be connected to the card for the intended application. Most capture card software provides a preview window that enables the user to view the video coming from the video source.