Fun with Multimedia
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Fun with Multimedia
T
his chapter lets you make full use of all the
multimedia features of your computer in having fun
and excitement during work or leisure. You will learn
how to mix and match the built-in sound system, play
CD via the Audio DJ without powering on the
computer, use CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or CD-RW in
creating an exciting full multimedia presentation.
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otebook User Guide
4.1 Notebook Multimedia Features
Your notebook computer is rich in multimedia features that make your
computing fun, comfortable, exciting and easy. Exceeding the specification set
for the Multimedia Personal Computer or MPC, your computer is well able to
perform all multimedia tasks through the following:
• Intel Pentium III/Intel Celeron or VIA Cyrix microprocessor.
• 64/128/256 MB RAM or more.
• 24X or above speed CD-ROM Drive, 8X speed DVD-ROM Drive, or 8X
speed CD-RW.
• AGP 4X VGA Graphics Controller.
• 16-bit Plug-and-Play Audio Sound System with built-in speaker, woofer
and microphone.
• Audio DJ panel that can play CD without powering on the computer.
4.2 Audio Sound System Features
Your computer has a built-in 16-bit stereo sound controller that allows you to
record, store, and playback voice, music and other sound effects with built-in
mixer controls. An integrated full-duplex microphone and twin mini-speakers
with woofer are also built-in into your computer to allow you to record and
playback sound anytime and anywhere.
On the right side of your computer, you will find the audio ports that include
the following:
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Fun with Multimedia
• External 1/8-inch microphone jack that connects external microphone for
recording purpose.
• Earphone or headphone jack with SPDIF for personal listening.
• External thumb-wheel volume control.
4.3 Setting Up the Audio Driver
Properties
Before you can start using the audio capabilities of your computer, you need
first to setup properly the audio driver after installing Windows. If you bought
your computer with Windows pre-installed, it is most likely that your dealer
have configured the sound driver for you. If not, you must refer to Chapter 2
on how to setup the sound drivers for Windows.
4.4 Windows Multimedia Programs
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Windows provides several multimedia programs that you can run with the
built-in features of your computer. Pointing the Start button and clicking the
right-mouse button to select Open option, when Start Menu box appears,
double-click Programs, Accessories, then Entertainment, you will find the
Multimedia programs group.
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otebook User Guide
The standard multimedia components are as follows:
• Windows Media Player - for playing sound, video and animation files
• Sound Recorder - for recording sounds and playback
Figure 4-1 Entertainment Programs Group
• Volume Control - for adjusting the volume of mixer
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For more information on how to operate these multimedia components, run
the program and click on the Help menu.
4.5 Recording Sounds
Your computer allows you to record voice and other sounds in several ways
and stores them as files on your hard disk. These voice or sound files can then
be played back through the internal speaker or earphone jack using an external
speaker, headphone, or earphone set. You can also use the files as voice
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Fun with Multimedia
annotations on many applications for more real presentation. This section will
describe briefly how you can record sounds under Windows operating system.
To record sounds, you need to run the Sound Recorder program from the
Multimedia program groups. The control buttons of the Sound Recorder are
simple to understand which comprise of the Fast Rewind, Fast Forward, Play,
Stop, and Record buttons. Click the Help menu on how to operate the Sound
Recorder.
Figure 4-2 Sound Recorder
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The Sound Recorder also allows you to record sound from different input
audio source like the following:
• From the built-in microphone
• From the external microphone
• From the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive
Since you could record sound from different input sources, you must first set
the proper audio input recording device under the Recording Control panel. To
do this:
1. Double-click on the Volume Control on the taskbar or click Start button,
then point to Programs, Accessories, Entertainment and then click on
Volume Control.
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otebook User Guide
2. Click Properties in the Options main menu.
3. Click the round button for Recording and tick off each component that list
in the "Shows the following Volume Controls" box.
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Figure 4-3 Audio Properties
4. Click OK and the Recording Control dialog box will appear. Here, you will
select the input device for the recording source. The default is the
microphone that will record sound from the microphone only. If you want
to record from the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive with audio
music, you must click on CD Audio.
Fun with Multimedia
Figure 4-4 Recording Volume Control
U
SING THE BUILT-IN MICROPHONE
You would normally use the microphone for recording voice and save the file
for voice annotations in your application programs. Your computer comes with
a built-in microphone located on the lower right corner of your keyboard.
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To start recording from the built-in microphone:
1. Enable microphone volume on the Recording Control as discussed
previously.
2. Run the Sound Recorder program and press the Record button.
3. Start to speak towards the built-in microphone and press the Stop button
when you want to stop recording.
4. Press the Play button to hear what you have recorded.
5. To save to file, click Save from the File menu.
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otebook User Guide
U
SING AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE
Your computer also allows you to connect an external microphone for higher
quality recording. The external microphone jack is found on the right side of
your computer and automatically disables the built-in microphone when
connected. Use only microphone with 1/8-inch mini-jack connector. Follow
the same procedure for recording voice.
U
SING THE BUILT-IN
D
RIVE
You would normally use the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive for
recording audio music from the Audio CD. Follow these steps:
1. Activate CD Audio volume on the Recording Control as discussed earlier.
2. Run the Sound Recorder program.
3. Insert the audio CD into the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive.
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Unless you have disabled the CD auto-insertion notification for supporting
Suspend mode, the CD Player should automatically run after you have
inserted an audio compact disc and will start playing the audio CD.
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4. Click on the Windows media player (use WinMe as an example) as shown
in following figure, then press the CD Audio.
Fun with Multimedia
Figure 4-5 Windows Media Player
5. Select the starting point where you want to start recording.
6. Switch to the Sound Recorder and press the Record button.
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7. Switch immediately to the Windows Media Player and press the Play
button. You can adjust the volume control so you can also hear the music
while in recording.
4.6 Playing Audio and Sound
Your computer has built-in twin speakers with woofer to playback audio and
sound. You can also adjust the volume manually by adjusting the thumb-wheel
volume control found on the right side of your computer.
For more quality sound output, you can choose to connect an external
amplified speaker or earphone from headphone jack. This audio jack provides
high quality SPDIF connection. Please refer to the manual that comes with
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otebook User Guide
your audio device. Always minimize the volume first before placing the phone
set to your ear.
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SING THE WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER
The easiest way to playback multimedia media files is to run the Windows
Media Player. Follow these steps:
1. Click on Start, point to Programs, Accessories, and then Entertainment.
2. Click on Windows Media Player to start program.
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Figure 4-6 Windows Media Player
3. Click on the File menu and select the file you want to play.
4. When the file is recognized and open, click on the Play button to start
playback.
Fun with Multimedia
4.7 Playing Video and MPEG Files
Your computer is capable of running video motion files as well as MPEG
(Motion Picture Expert Group) files on CD, DVD, or CD-RW. By using
software MPEG program, you can watch real full-motion picture on your
computer. You can also run the Windows Media Player under the
Entertainment programs group as well to show all media device programs.
4.8 Using DVD
DVD is the breakthrough in superb full-motion picture playback. One disc can
contain at least 4.7GB of information, capable of holding one full-length movie
with soundtracks, subtitles, and different languages. Much more, the DVD-
ROM drive of your computer is backward compatible with CD-ROM drive so
it allows you to use any CD as well. It also works the same as the CD-ROM.
To playback DVD titles, you would need a software MPEG-2 program and the
optional DVD-ROM Device Pack.
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For software MPEG-2 program, the performance in media playing will be
implemented successfully only when this computer is complied with Intel
Pentium II - 266MHz or above CPU with compatible graphic accelerator.
Otherwise, any computer that equipped under Intel Pentium II - 266MHz CPU
cannot guarantee the performance in media playing.
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otebook User Guide
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For best DVD playback, please enable some settings to attain the best
performance. First, set the Frame Buffer Size from BIOS setting to at least
16MB. For details, please refer to chapter 6 on how to change this setting.
Second, enable the DMA function of this notebook, for how to enable the
DMA channel on both CD-ROM and Hard Disk, please refer to driver
installation on section 5 of chapter 2. Moreover, you can enable Hardware
Accelerator if the software MPEG-2 player you are using has supported this
function.
4.9 Using CD-RW
CD-RW drive is a device that can write digital data to CD-RW and CD-R
compact disk (CD). With this device, you can backup your own data to CD-R
or CD-RW disc for mass data storage and safely retaining. The CD-R disc can
be written several times until the CD-R is full; the CD-RW disc, furthermore,
can write and erase data repeatedly. Please refer to the related user manual
about the CD-RW software.
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Please pay attention to the copyright of the software or data you want to
backup. Backup or distribute the software or data might be illegal according
the restriction of the law.
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FUN WITH MULTIMEDIA
Fun with Multimedia
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4.1 N
4.2 A
4.3 S
4.4 W
4.5 R
4.6 P
4.7 P
4.8 U
OTEBOOK MULTIMEDIA FEATURES
UDIO SOUND SYSTEM FEATURES
ETTING UP THE AUDIO DRIVER PROPERTIES
INDOWS MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS
ECORDING SOUNDS
Using the Built-in Microphone ....................................................................................7
Using an External Microphone ....................................................................................8
Using the Built-in CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW Drive ..............................................8
LAYING AUDIO AND SOUND
Using the Windows Media Player ..............................................................................10
LAYING VIDEO AND
SING
DVD ........................................................................................................11
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MPEG F
.....................................................................2
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.......................................................3
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................................................................................9
ILES
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