week 7-sarah,samuel,daniel

An authoring tool is a tool used write hypertext or multimedia applications to link different elements of multimedia together in order to create a final multimedia project or product. It is necessary in multimedia to organize and edit the elements of a multimedia project, in designing multimedia interactivity and interface, assembling multimedia elements into a single cohesive project, and presenting a project on screen.

Card or Page-based authoring tools arranges and organizes its elements as either pages of a book or as a stack of cards. These pages are linked to form organized sequences. The system is object-oriented. These objects are graphic, buttons, text fields, pages, and cards. They each have properties that are able to enhance the functionality of an application.

Icon authoring tools provides visual approach in developing multimedia applications. The user can build structures and flow charts of data by dragging the suitable icon from the pre-set “library” of authoring tools. This type of authoring tool is convenient as the user is able to develop multimedia applications without having to learn the usual programming language. Therefore it is useful in computer-based training and software assistance.

Time-based authoring tools use a visual timeline for sequencing your multimedia elements often in a multimedia presentation. It displays layers of various media elements or events alongside the scale in precise timing as precise as one second.

Object-oriented authoring systems provides an object-oriented environment whereby the objects such as images, animations, videos; texts and sounds are assigned properties. These properties respond to external events, send messages to one another while inheriting behaviour from each other.

week 7- kalai, dinesh, kokila

Authoring tools used different metaphors for sequencing and organising multimedia elements and events. On this basis they can be classified into five categories:

· card- and page-based tools

· Icon-based tools

· Time-based tools

· object-oriented tools

Card- and page-based tools

In these authoring systems, elements are organised as pages of a book or a stack of cards. The authoring system lets you link these pages or cards into organised sequences. You can jump, on command, to any page you wish to in a structured navigation pattern. Card- and page-based systems allow you to play audio, video and animations.

Some examples of card- and page-based systems include:

· HyperCard (Macintosh)

· SuperCard (Macintosh)

· ToolBook (Windows)

· Visual BASIC (Windows)

Card- and page-based systems are best suited to applications where the bulk of the content consists of elements that can be viewed individually.

Icon-based authoring tools

In these authoring systems, multimedia elements and interaction cues or events are organised as objects in a structural framework. CO32004 Multimedia Development Methods Unit 8: Multimedia Authoring Version c Page 2 ©2001 Napier University Icon based, event driven tools simplify the organisation of a project and typically display flow diagrams of activities along branching paths.

Some examples of icon-based systems include:

· Authorware Professional (Windows)

· IconAuthor (Windows)

Icon-based, event-driven systems are suited to a wide range of applications and offer a

high level of support when developing packages with complex navigation structures.

Time-based authoring tools

In these authoring systems, elements are organised along a time line with resolutions as high as 1/30th second. Sequential organised graphic frames are played back at a speed you can set. Other elements, such as audio events, are triggered at a given time or location in the sequence of events.

Some examples of time-based systems include:

· Macromedia Director (Macintosh and Windows)

· Macromedia Flash (Macintosh and Windows)

Time Based systems are best suited to applications which have a message with a beginning and an end. Some of the more powerful time based systems allow the program to jump or branch to a specific location, thereby offering interactivity and navigational control.

Object-0riented tools

In these authoring systems, multimedia elements and events become objects that live in a hierarchical order of parent and child relationships. Messages passed among these objects order them to do things according to the properties or modifiers assigned to them. Object-oriented tools are particularly useful for games that contain many components with many ‘personalities’ and for simulating real-life situations, events, and their constituent objects.

Some examples of object-oriented systems include:

· mTropolis (Macintosh/Windows)

· QuarkImmedia (Macintosh/Windows)

JAVA is also an object-oriented programming environment.

Increasingly Lingo, the scripting language used in Director is taking an object-oriented

approach.

week 7- adriel, amanda, nicole

Card or page-based authoring tools are basically the objects used in a multimedia projects like buttons, text fields, graphic objects, backgrounds, pages or cards, and even the project itself. With this tool, users are guided by objects as they each contain its own programming script that is usually descrptive of that very object. Once clicked upon by users, they are then guided and led to an event like a page that is relative to the object clicked upon. These events are usually in an order that is actually in a hierarchy. This then can be liken to when you read a book or go through a deck of cards.

One example of the usage of such a tool would be an assessment test for students. A question for example is given in the test and students are given a question that asks them to sort something in order. Students then will have to use objects and place them in the order they believe is the right answer. When they have done that, they can then move on to the next page to answer the next question.

Icon authoring tools are icon based event-tools which provides visual interaction and are organized in objects in a structural framework or process.

The tool simplifies the organization diagram and display a workflow of activities along branching points. These icons includes graphic images, sound and programming computations.

The time-based authoring tools is part of the authoring tools system and this tool is very time oriented as the elements and contents are organized along a stream of time line. This time line used come along with resolutions as high as 1/30th second.

Examples of this tool includes Macromedia Flash. The time based authoring tool allows contents along tracks that stretch across individual frames to be controlled by user; making it easier to run concurrent media.

The other authoring tool is the Object-Oriented authoring tools. This tool is very object focused as in elements and contents are organized in a hierarchical and orderly manner in the form of parent and children relationships.

This system or toll provides an environment where all subjects, elements, categories, images, etc are classified as properties and objects. An example of this tool would be Quark mTropolis. This tool is an exception from most authoring tools because there are no time lines or stack of cards to form a core authoring paradigm.

week 7- sim pin, alvin, canaan

Therre are many multimedia authoring tools on the market and these are constantly being improved and upgraded to ensure that is the latest version. Those multimedia authoring tools are included card or page-based authoring tools, icon authoring tools, time-based authoring tools and Object-Oriented authoring tools.

Card or page-baseed tools arrange elements like the pages of a book or a stack of cards. The objects which are included in card or page-based authoring tools are the buttons, text fields, graphic objects, backgrounds, page or cards, and project itself. Each object may contain programming script which is activated when an event related to that object occurs. This type of multimedia authoring tool becomes the most useful if the content of the publication can be viewed seperately as if in a card index file. It allows the user to place the pages or cards into prganised sequences which simplify the navigation routines.

Icon-based tools was a multimedia element which can show or create icon for visual programming to presenting multimedia on the stage. This function can allow user to using icon by dragging from internet or library to built structure or flowchart of tasks. After the structure has been created, it is possible to add the content such as text, graphics, animations, audio and video clips. This system also can used for button include menu choices, graphic image, title image, sound and computation.

Time-based tools use a visual timeline for for sequencing the events of multimedia presentation, often displaying layers of various media elements or events alongside the scale in increments. As a result, it is the most suitable when the publication has a linear message with a specified beginning and end. Besides, this type of multimedia authoring tool allows programming which enables the user to jump to different locations in the sequence.

Object-Oriented Tools consider the multimedia elements as objects and arrange them in a hierachical order. It is a multimedia element and events become objects that live in a hierarchical order of parent and child relationships. The function of this tools is that allow the user to have control over abstractions of the low level aspects of the resulting Web content such as the timelines, waveforms, vector-based graphic editors. These multimedia authoring tools are particularly suited for programming games which contain many components.

week 7 assessment

Write a one-page essay about the card or page-based authoring tools, icon authoring tools, time-based authoring tools and Object-Oriented authoring tools.

week 6- dinesh, kalai, kokila

Bluescreen is known as chroma key in television. Bluescreen is a term for the filmmaking technique of using an evenly-lit monochromatic background for the purpose of replacing it with a different image or scene. The term also refers to the visual effect resulting from this technique as well as the colored screen itself (although it is often not blue: for example, with greenscreen).

A chroma key is the removal of a color (or small color range) from one image to reveal another image 'behind' it. The removed color becomes transparent. This technique is also referred to as "color keying", "color-separation overlay" ("CSO") ,"greenscreen" and "bluescreen". It is commonly used for weather forecast broadcasts, where in the presenter appears to be standing in front of a large map, but in the studio it is actually a large blue or green background. A chroma key subject must not wear clothing similar in color to the chroma key color , because the clothing may be replaced with the background video. An example of intentional use of this is when an actor wears a blue covering over a part of their body to make it invisible in the final shot.

The principal subject is photographed or filmed against a background having a single color or a relatively narrow range of colors, usually in the blue or green because these colors are considered to be the furthest away from skin tone. When the phase of the chroma signal corresponds to the pre-programmed state or states associated with the desired color, the signal of the alternate background is composite and presented as the output. When the phase of the chroma signal deviates from the chosen color, the principal video is presented at the output. This process is commonly known as "keying", "keying out" or simply a "key".

Blue is generally used for both weather maps and special effects because it is complementary to human skin tone. However, in many instances, green has become the favored color because digital cameras retain more detail in the green channel and it requires less light than blue. Although green and blue are the most common, any color can be used. Occasionally, a magenta background is used.

With better imaging and hardware, many companies are avoiding the confusion often experienced by weather presenters, who must otherwise watch themselves on a monitor to see the image shown behind them, by lightly projecting a copy of the background image onto the blue/green screen. This allows the presenter to accurately point and look at the map without referring to monitors most difficult part of setting up a bluescreen or greenscreen is even lighting and the avoidance of shadow, because it is ideal to have as narrow a color range as possible being replaced. A shadow would present itself as a darker color to the camera and might not register for replacement. This can sometimes be seen in low-budget or live broadcasts where the errors cannot be manually repaired. The material being used affects the quality and ease of having it evenly lit. Materials which reflect light will be far less successful than those that do not. A plastic sheet will reflect light and have a hot spot in the center which will come out as a pale area, while the edges may be darkened. A cotton sheet will absorb more light and have a more even color range.

week 6- adriel,sarah,nicole

These days movies are not produced by just having a long cut acting shot but instead to make it interesting, people from the movie industry has since begun to use special effects to attract audiences' attention and hold it on for a very long time. By using blue screens which is known as chroma screens in television terms, these movie makers can do wonders to the effects they want to create. In the world of special effects now, chroma key allows one to film against a solid colored background and insert a desired background later. Special effects are basically any on-screen physical effect that is not done by the actor themselves. This can mean atmospheric effects such as smoke, wind, rain, haze or simulated conditions such as boiling pots, exploding cars or campfires.This also includes any movement of objects in front of camera such as falling dishes, floating furniture or breaking glass. One mundane example of the technique is the television news weatherman who on screen appears to point at a map. He is actually being recorded standing in front of a blank screen. On the sides of this screen are smaller televisions projecting a front view of the weathercaster, so they know where and when to place their hands.

Chroma Keys or Blue Screen is a term used often in the film making industry. It is a film making technique that allows the video editor to choose a color from a range of colors that become transparent. This is done by creating and using an even-lit monochromatic (having or creating only one tone of color) background to replace a different image or scene.

For example, the scene from E.T where Elliot and E.T rides on the bike that flies- blue screen is used. Although in reality there are strings attached to the bikes and other techniques are used, blue screen helps camouflage the strings attached and makes it invisible.

For blue screen technique, it is important that the lighting of the screen is absolutely even because fluctuations in intensity of lighting will cause the color or "key" to appear choppy or broken. For example, if the lighting for the E.T wasn’t set in the proper and even intensity, the strings attached to the bikes may be revealed in certain parts- causing the whole scene to be a flop.

Blue/green screens are also used in commercials as well. As commercials are becoming more animated so that they'll be able to sell their product or services, they are many things they won't be able to show without bluescreens. Directors for these commercials may want to do a commercial with a background that cannot be attained in real life, so they will describe to animators what background they want and these animators may then superimpose their background onto the bluescreen and have the actors or actressess act out their scenes. Actors would have to then imagine the background and act accordingly. Animated characters can also be put onto bluescreens by computers.

The bluescreen technique has been a most useful tool and the thing is that there are improvements yet to be made.

week 6- sam,daniel,sarah

Most movies nowadays that we watched on screens have special effects like The Matrix, Superman, Pirates of the Carribean and e.g.. The stunning display of unique environment and mind boggling effects could drop the jaws of any viewers who finds it fascinating. Of course though, most of the scenes in the movies are not real in reality because we know it is made up. The falling of a man into a massive ravine, or leaping from buildings to buildings are literally impossible but virtually possible. Now the question is, how did they made the special scenes come to real in the movies? They couldn't have actually screened a man leaping from buildings to buildings. Its just not possible because of the risk involved whether stunt-man or not. The not-so-secret secret lies in 'using green screens and blue screens' when filming these scenes.

There isn't any difference between green and blue screen actually. The methodology and techniques are the same. The illusion is created by a special effects technique known as traveling matte or blue screen. This technique allows actors and scale models to find themselves in totally imaginary situations -- in space ships, dangling from rope bridges over gorges, flying through the air (a la Superman) -- and have it look completely real in the theater. The technique is used so often now that you don't even realize it. News reporters are made to look like they are on location when they are not, and complete segments in TV shows can be created this way to make it look like the segment was filmed on location.

With computers, blue screen shots are even easier because the computer can create the mattes and combine the shots automatically. Many of the links on the next page describe different digital techniques.

The next time you go to a movie, you'll understand how they make some of these impossible shots -- but you can still be amazed at how real they look.

week 6 -gayetri,angeline,rana

Bluescreen is known as chroma key in television. Bluescreen is a term for the filmmaking technique of using an evenly-lit monochromatic background for the purpose of replacing it with a different image or scene. This also refers to the visual effect resulting from this technique as well as the colored screen itself (although it is often not blue: for example, with greenscreen).

Chroma key is the removal of a color (or small color range) from one image to reveal another image 'behind' it. The removed color becomes transparent. This technique is also referred to as "color keying", "color-separation overlay" ("CSO") ,"greenscreen" and "bluescreen". Commonly, Chroma Key used for weather forecast broadcasts, where in the presenter appears to be standing in front of a large map, but in the studio it is actually a large blue or green background. A chroma key subject must not wear clothing similar in color to the chroma key color, because the clothing may be replaced with the background video. An example of intentional use of this is when an actor wears a blue covering over a part of their body to make it invisible in the final shot.

The principal subject is photographed or filmed against a background having a single color or a relatively narrow range of colors, usually in the blue or green because these colors are considered to be the furthest away from skin tone. When the phase of the chroma signal corresponds to the pre-programmed state or states associated with the desired color, the signal of the alternate background is composite and presented as the output. When the phase of the chroma signal deviates from the chosen color, the principal video is presented at the output. This process is commonly known as "keying", "keying out" or simply a "key".

Although some colors can be used, blue is generally used for both weather maps and special effects because it is complementary to human skin tone. However, in many instances, green has become the favored color because digital cameras retain more detail in the green channel and it requires less light than blue. Although green and blue are the most common, any color can be used. Occasionally, a magenta background is used .

Now with better imaging and hardware, many companies are avoiding the confusion often experienced by weather presenters, who must otherwise watch themselves on a monitor to see the image shown behind them, by lightly projecting a copy of the background image onto the blue/green screen. This allows the presenter to accurately point and look at the map without referring to monitors most difficult part of setting up a bluescreen or greenscreen is even lighting and the avoidance of shadow, because it is ideal to have as narrow a color range as possible being replaced. A shadow would present itself as a darker color to the camera and might not register for replacement. This can sometimes be seen in low-budget or live broadcasts where the errors cannot be manually repaired. The material being used affects the quality and ease of having it evenly lit. Materials which reflect light will be far less successful than those that do not.

A plastic sheet will reflect light and have a hot spot in the center which will come out as a pale area, while the edges may be darkened. A cotton sheet will absorb more light and have a more even color range.

week 6- canaan,alvin,sim pin

Nowadays many movies use blue or green screens to create special effects. Most of movies use bluescreen and add background by using CGI (computer generated imagery). They use bluescreen to allows performers appear in any location in front of blue background without leaving the studio.

Soon after we edited it on the computer, we can move other features or element into it like earth background. So that they could appear to anywhere in earth, or any other world that could be appeared in real movies. Beside that, they also use the key backgound in the video signal. The video signal such as seperate camera, recorded video playback or digital sources is processed and overlaid with the key background.

Beside that,we can do chromakeying with any color on editing. But most of the time a pure blue or green are used because they are not present in human skin tones. Which color to use is something of a coin toss. Some folks claim that blonde hair keys better against blue. If we recording in DV format We found that green works just a bit better due to its higher luma content. The usual approach is to paint a wall with Rosco ChromaKey paint, which theoretically gives a pure color with little contamination from other locations on the color wheel. In my experience, though, we can just go to the paint store and get the purest green or blue they can mix. If painting a wall is impractical, for limited situations we can use blue or green cloth stretched as wrinkle-free as possible. In one show, we can even used green bulletin board paper from a local school supply store to extend the green screen onto the floor.

week 6- eric

Creating a blue screen composite image starts with a subject that has been photographed in front of an evenly lit, bright, pure blue background. The compositing process, whether photographic or electronic, replaces all the blue in the picture with another image, known as the background plate.

Blue screen composites can be made optically for still photos or movies, electronically for live video, and digitally to computer images. Until very recently all blue screen compositing for films was done optically and all television composites were done using analog real time circuits.

Another term for Blue Screen is Chroma-Key. Chroma-Key is a television process . The Chroma Key process is based on the Luminance key. In a luminance key, everything in the image over a set brightness level is "keyed" out and replaced by either another image, or a color from a color generator. Primarily this is used in the creation of titles. A title card with white on black titles is prepared and placed in front of a camera. The camera signal is fed into the keyer's foreground input. The background video is fed into the keyer. The level control knob on the keyer is adjusted to cause all the black on the title card to be replaced by the background video. The white letters now appear over the background image.

Chroma Key creates keys on just one color channel. Broadcast cameras use three independent sensors, one for each color, Red, Green and Blue. Most cameras can output these RGB signals separately from the Composite video signal. So the original chroma key was probably created by feeding the blue channel of a camera into a keyer. This works, sort of, but soon manufacturers created dedicated chromakeyers that could accept all 3 colors, plus the background composite signal and the foreground composite signal. This made it possible to select any color for the key and fine tune the selection of the color.

As keyers became more sophisticated, with finer control of the transition between background and foreground, the effect became less obvious and jarring. Today's high-end keyers can make a soft key that is basically invisible.

week 6 assessment

Write a one-page essay on how people use blue/green screens to create special effects in movies.

week 5- daniel,samuel,sarah

MIDI is an abbreviation of Musical Instrument Digital Interface and it is a serial interface standard that allows connection for computers and musical instruments. The standard of a MIDI is based partly on both hardware and on a description of how music and sounds are encoded and communicated between MIDI devices. Most film and TV scores, as well as popular recorded music is written and performed using electronic keyboards and other MIDI-equipped musical instruments.

The benefits of MIDI are many because it is a tool that allows a convenient way to control the advanced music equipments very precisely. MIDI is a technology that represents music in digital form. Unlike other digital music technologies such as MP3 and CDs, MIDI messages contain individual instructions for playing each individual note of each individual instrument. So with MIDI it is actually possible to change just one note in a song, or to orchestrate and entire song with entirely different instruments. And since each instrument in a MIDI performance is separate from the rest, its easy to "solo" (listen to just one) individual instruments and study them for educational purposes, or to mute individual instruments in a song so that you can play that part yourself.

Another benefit is that if you got an original song idea in your head and want to have it performed, MIDI is the way to do it. All you need is a MIDI Sequencer, plus a MIDI instrument to enter notes with. (You can also use MIDI Notation software to place notes on a musical staff without playing them at all.) You can start with just a melody and then add backing chords, bass, and rhythm later, or add instruments in any order you like. If you make mistake, you can change it without having to play the part all over again. You can also make entire sections repeat without playing them again. And you can rearrange and reorchestrate your song as many times as you like.

Another one of its benefits is the MIDI Sequencer. It can record your works for listening at a later time, and even save your works in a Standard MIDI File format for playback on other MIDI systems

week 5- sim pin

MIDI, the original word is Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is an industry-standard electronic communications protocol. MIDI is a communications standard developed for electronic instruments and computers. It allows music and sound synthesizers from different manufactures to communicate with each other by sending messages along cables connected to the devices. The messages are musical score, including notes, sequence of notes, and type of instruments.

In general, MIDI data is used in many circumstances. Digital audio will not work if users do not have enough RAM, hard disk space, CPU processing power or bandwidth. Besides, users have a high-quality MIDI sound source and complete control over the playback hardware. Users do not need spoken dialog also.

How to make MIDI audio? To make MIDI scores, a sequencer software and a sound synthesizer. The sound synthesizer is typically built into the sound card on computers. The sequencer software like Midisoft Studio for Windows lets the users to record and edit MIDI data. The sequencer software helps to quantizes the score to adjust for inconsistencies also. Besides, the software records the user's actions on the MIDI keyboard in real time. Instruments that the user can synthesize are identified by a General MIDI numbering system that ranges from 0 to 127.

Through this, MIDI is best used in multimedia project. MIDI allows computers, synthesizers, MIDI controllers, sound cards, samplers and drum machines to control one another, and to exchange system data. Almost all music recordings today utilize MIDI as a key enabling technology for recording music.

week 5- rana,eric,chun yeap

I. What is a MIDI?

MIDI is a lot more than just hardware. Mostly, MIDI is an extensive set of "musical commands" which electronic instruments use to control each other.

It is a short term for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface" and has been one of the most useful tools for electronic musicians throughout its 14 years of existence. It became very popular with composers, beginners and experts, and by now it is also used in school for musical education. However, this does not mean that MIDI is some kind of instrument, but it is a communication protocol that allows electronic musical instruments to interact with each other. However, MIDI technology is not restricted to musical synthesizers.

Also, it is not unusual to find other stage equipment, such as lighting banks, under the control of MIDI-compatible computers. Each light may be assigned a specific MIDI channel and turned on or off according to a master program. MIDI programs may also control effects pedals for guitarists or pre-recorded sequences to supplement the sound onstage.

Now composing music is not just for some people, everyone can do it. Midi is supported by most computers with sound card. The quality of the sound might be quite different though.

II. What are the benefits?

MIDI is a technology that represents music in digital. Unlike other digital music technologies such as mp3s and CDs, MIDI messages contain individual instruments. So with MIDI it is actually possible to change just one note in a song, or to orchestrate and entire song with entirely different instruments. And since each instrument in a MIDI performance is separate from the rest, it’s easy to do or hear a "solo" (listen to just one) from an instrument and study them for educational purposes, or to mute individual instruments in a song so that you can play that part yourself.

III. How is MIDI best used in a multimedia project?

In a multimedia project there are a lot to consider to make it innovative. Aside from the ingenious design and cool effects, one would also consider the quality of the sound and the size of the file.

MIDI is considered to be one of the best choice since compared with other music files, it takes only a small space leaving the designer more space to put in more music files. Another it has better quality compared to other music files (e.g. .WAV).

Lastly, it also comes handy when there are times that one would not be able to find the type of music or sound wanted on the project since MIDI files could just be easily created - especially those that would use different instruments or just one. Also, it could be easily manipulated or edited unlike other music files which could be harder to edit.

week 5- gayethri, angeline

MIDI which means Musical Instrument Digital Interface is a music industry standard communication that lets MIDI instrument and sequencers to talk to each other to play and record music.

Benefits of MIDI

Playing with “a band”

it is best to practise with when there's no additional musicians available as it can play at any speed and in any pitch that you want.

Record and edit performances

A MIDI sequencer can record performances for listening at later time and even save performances in Standard MIDI file format for playback on other MIDI systems.As MIDI data is editable,imperfections can be edited out for a better performance.

Print Sheet Music

When done creating own performance or arrangement, you can convert MIDI information into musical notation and print out actual sheet music. Even if you can't play an note, MIDI Notation programs often make it possible to place notes on a musical staff using your mouse or computer keyboard.

Compose Music

A MIDI Sequencer, plus a MIDI instrument is needed to enter notes with. You can start with just a melody and then add backing chords, bass, and rhythm later, or add instruments in any order you like. If a mistake occur, it can be changed without having to play the part all over again.The entire sections also can be repeated without playing them again. And can rearrange and reorchestrate your song as many times as you like.

MIDI can be used in multimedia projects such as business presentations as background music,music for animated graphics,button sounds,and voice over.

week 5- dinesh, kalaiselvan, kokila

MIDI(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) A standard protocol for the interchange of musical information between musical instruments, synthesizers and computers. MIDI was developed to allow the keyboard of one synthesizer to play notes generated by another. It defines codes for musical notes as well as button, dial and pedal adjustments, and MIDI control messages can orchestrate a series of synthesizers, each playing a part of the musical score. MIDI Version 1.0 was introduced in 1983.

Benefits of MIDI

MIDI is a technology that represents music in digital form. Unlike other digital music technologies such as MP3 and CDs, MIDI messages contain individual instructions for playing each individual note of each individual instrument. So with MIDI it is actually possible to change just one note in a song, or to orchestrate and entire song with entirely different instruments. And since each instrument in a MIDI performance is separate from the rest, its easy to "solo" (listen to just one) individual instruments and study them for educational purposes, or to mute individual instruments in a song so that you can play that part yourself.

Record and edit your performance

A MIDI Sequencer can record your performances for listening at a later time, and even save your performance in Standard MIDI File format for playback on other MIDI systems. A MIDI Sequencer is a great way to evaluate your own progress, or even to study how someone else plays.

Better yet, because all MIDI data is editable, you can edit out any imperfections! If you play a wrong note, you can just change it using the Sequencer's editing tools. And if you find you just can't play fast enough to keep up with the tempo, you can slow it down for recording and speed it back up for playback -- without the "Mickey Mouse" effect that normally comes from speeding up a song.

Play any instrument

When you use MIDI to make music, you aren't limited to playing just one instrument. No matter what sort of MIDI Controller (keyboard, guitar, wind, drums, etc.) you actually use, you can make it sound like just about any instrument you can imagine (and some that are only in your imagination). Most digital pianos and other MIDI instruments come with hundreds of different sounds (pianos, trumpets, violins, guitars, basses and more) which you can play yourself or play via a MIDI sequencer to create fully orchestrated music.

As an introduction to the new Multimedia Project articles MIDI stores musical information in a message format. A typical message consists of a single status byte followed by data bytes. Items such as Note on, Note off, Note number to be played and the key pressure are part of the information that is stored as MIDI data

week 5- alvin,canaan,sim pin

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry-standard electonic communications protocol that enables electronic musical insruments, computers and other equipment to communicate, control and synchronize. MIDI does not transmit an audio signal or media. MIDI is also used as a control protocol in applications other than music everyday such as show control, theatre lighting, special effects, sound design, recording system synchronization, audio processor control, computer networking and animatronic figure control. MIDI works through the musical performance when it is play on an MIDI instrument (or controller), it tranmits MIDI channel messages from its MIDI Out connecter.

MIDI allows user to compose complicating musical arrangements using many kinds of instrument and also enable user to slter any aspect of a performance after recording it. MIDI also allow user to adjust the rhythm and timing of your performance. MIDI also allows you to create or alter the dynamics of a musical part. Patch changes in the MIDI system allow us to save the keyboard or sound module patches used in a song as a part of the project. Beside that storing information also one of the benefit on MIDI software. It provide Sysex to store large amounts of data from sythesizer, sound module or other MIDI gear. It also allows MIDI gear to transmit and receive information. Another the benefit used on MIDI was MIDI can recording your every move to record control changes. Control changes are particularly useful by using analog synthesizers of MIDI effect pedals that have physical knob. A significant benefit of MIDI is the flexibility like editing parts and changing the sounds and performance right up until the mixdown stage. MIDI also can help to breathe warm ;life into your recording.

week 5- adriel,amanda,nicole

MIDI is the acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface- a standard electronic code widely used and was introduced in 1983. It enables electronic musical instruments, computers and other digital equipment to communicate, control and synchronize among devices.

MIDI is a device that transfers digital data and information that creates and allow the right pitch or intensity of a musical note to be played. It also sets musical tempo by transmitting data to control signals for the volume, vibrato, panning, cues and clock signals.

MIDI has a very successful device and is still widely used today ever since its inception in the year 1983.

One of the many benefits of using MIDI is its compatibility. It is said in Wikipedia.org that by the end of the 1970s musical devices were becoming highly popular; however because of the many different manufacturers devices were not compatible with one another. MIDI in a way solved this problem as it was proposed in 1981 as a standard to the Audio Engineering Society and ever since then it has been a standardized format for audio. Because MIDI does not transmit an audio signal but instead transmits digital data and information, it is therefore smaller and will therefore save hard disc space for users.

Another benefit is that MIDI also allows other devices such as computers, sound cards, synthesizers, etc. to control one another and exchange system data. This has therefore given users flexibility in playing and experimenting until they get the desired sound.

MIDI is best used to create its sound element. MIDI is an attractive procedure not only for composers or performers, but also for computer applications which produce sound, such as multimedia presentations or computer games.

When a MIDI instrument is attached to the computer through this interface, it allows the computer to save digital information about what is being played. What is actually saved as the MIDI file is the information which is actually not accurate music. Then when your computer "plays" the file, it is reading the original information that was generated from the instrument to recreate the sounds through the computer's own synthesizer. MIDI sounds will not include any type of vocal track or singing of actual words (lyrics) because they are recreating the instrumental tones that the original MIDI instrument generated.

MIDI-driven synthesizers are a great tool in hand and it eases all complication. Therefore it will continue to be an important component for sound generation devices and multimedia applications.

week 5 assessment

Write a one-page essay describing what MIDI is, what its benefits are, and how it is best used in multimedia project

week 4 assessment

Use a camera to capture photos of your friend’s facial expression in 30 frames. Play those 30 frames in sequence to express a message.

week 3- rana,eric,chun yeap

I. Vector and Bitmap Graphic

Vector graphics are constructed using mathematical formulas describing shapes, colors and placement. Rather than a grid of pixels, it consists of shapes, curves, lines, and text which together make a picture. While bitmap image contains information about the color of each pixel, a vector graphic contains instructions about where to place each of the components. It is even possible to embed a bitmap graphic within a vector graphic, which is how vector-bitmap graphic work. It is not possible, however, to embed vector information within a bitmap. A vector graphic, when resized, would still have the same quality.

Bitmap Graphics, also called raster graphics, are created down from rows of different colored pixels that together form an image. In the simplest form, bitmaps have only two colors, with each pixel being either black or white. With increasing complexity, an image can include more colors; photograph-quality images may have millions. Unlike vector, when looked closely, it would not be able to maintain the same quality for one would see dots.

II.

For background purposes, one would preferably use bitmap graphics because we would not need vector like quality for this matter, unless necessary. Another is, Bitmap editor programs are easily available and more popular than those of the vector graphics which makes it more accessible for public use. Lastly, raster are digital images representing a surface, a material, a pattern or even a picture that's static which makes it a choice for background.

For buttons, one would use vector for better quality. One would use vector images since the quality of the picture, even though it has been moved to another location or resized, would still remain the same unlike those raster images. Buttons would need to be intact due to the user’s preference on how one would like one’s menu or buttons to appear.

For icon one would use bitmap since it is static and would not necessarily need to be made into a vector.

For texts, it depends, usually depends on the site whether the text is needed to be in vector or bitmap. It would depend on how the text would be used in the site or how the developer would want the text to appear on the web.

week 2- angeline, gayetheri

Font Creator Home Edition 5.0

-it’s a powerful software that enables an average PC user to select and modify the entire character set of any TrueType font and fonts based on OpenType font technology.

-has the ability to convert scaned images to outlines,enabling user to create fonts with your own signature logo and style.Also helps you to avoid common mistakes

-it also includes the ability to add the selected character sets with their mappings ,to calculate ascender and decender values and to show comparison glyphs in the

glyph edit window.This feature can complete thousnads of characters within few seconds.

Sib Font Editor 2.0

- this software is used to design quality bitmap fonts and serves it’s purpose well for graphic designers and beginers as well.It is easy to use and intuitive mouse based controls comes with a good sum of powerful features.

-this software supports two formats of bitmap fonts .fon and .fnt. this tool allows you to adjust all properties of a font like name, copyright ,width and height and much more.

-it also comes with a set of features to make the designing process to go smoothly. there’svarious tools that can be used such as flip effects and copy and paste operations.

week 1- nicole

Multimedia elements consist of text, graphics, animation, sound and video element. These five elements are important to play a part in a production of military training simulations in one way or another.

Text provides the detailed information to the players as such which can be seen on the instructions to play the game, the menus, the status of the player and the location. It is the basic communication in a written form to guide the players through the simulation. It works as a story which unfolds where players advanced to a higher stage expecting more out from the training simulation.

Graphics on the other hand consists of unique visuals which attracts the players immediately. As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. It gives the player the feel and reality into playing the military simulation portraying real life situation in the combat zone. The interactive design allows players to have a virtual personalized communication with visuals attractive player’s eye. The play of colors livens up what may seem a combat zone in nature to a sophisticated visualized look in the training simulation.

Animation with interactive visuals allows players to control what and when the elements are being delivered. It allows players to personalize everything they wish to equip and go on the combat zone with a brave heart awaiting the enemies ahead with a prepared body physically and mind mentally.

Sound completes the package of military simulation with the action packed sound such as tankers, guns, grenade explosion and of course the commander’s fierce voice to put those players in discipline. Sounds play a part on narration of the story or character and the amazing sound effects.

Video shows a snapshot and it acts as a montage to the preview of the training simulation. It forms the trailer of the introduction of the game giving it a sypnosis or a wide view of how the militant training stimulant is like.

Overall all these elements are as important in the production process as it gives a cutting edge and enable players to experience reality combat zone.