Install and Configure Multimedia Devices
In the last topic, you installed and configured adapter cards to support additional computer functionality. Once you have the right adapters in place, you can add other peripheral compo- nents to enable users to take full advantage of the capabilities of their personal computers. In this topic, you will install multimedia devices.
As an A+ technician, you might support corporate users, such as marketing or sales representa- tives, who will need to create multimedia business presentations. Or, you might work for a retail computer outlet, supporting home users who like to play music and games on their PCs. In either case, the users will need a lot of different devices, connected to a number of different computer ports that are often poorly marked. In either case, the users will rely on you to con- nect and configure their multimedia devices, such as speakers and microphones, to the PC.
Multimedia Devices Definition:
A multimedia device is a computer peripheral or internal component that transfers sound or images to or from a personal computer. These kinds of devices are often connected to a per- sonal computer by a sound card. Multimedia devices can be input devices or output devices.
A camera that uses electronic signals to capture and store photographic
images or video images. The resulting files are often stored on embedded
memory cards, removable memory cards, or optical disks. Connecting the
digital camera or its removable memory card to a PC enables you to
save, manipulate, print, and otherwise work with the images.
Speakers are connected to the Line Out port on the sound card. Some
speaker sets are permanently connected to each other. Other speaker sets
are connected by the user to each other or to a subwoofer. A cable runs
from one of the speakers to the Line Out port to connect both speakers to
the computer. If the card it is color-coded, the speaker port will be green
or lime. The port might be marked with Line Out, Spkr, Speaker, or have
a marking indicating the direction of the audio (out).
In the last topic, you installed and configured adapter cards to support additional computer functionality. Once you have the right adapters in place, you can add other peripheral compo- nents to enable users to take full advantage of the capabilities of their personal computers. In this topic, you will install multimedia devices.
As an A+ technician, you might support corporate users, such as marketing or sales representa- tives, who will need to create multimedia business presentations. Or, you might work for a retail computer outlet, supporting home users who like to play music and games on their PCs. In either case, the users will need a lot of different devices, connected to a number of different computer ports that are often poorly marked. In either case, the users will rely on you to con- nect and configure their multimedia devices, such as speakers and microphones, to the PC.
Multimedia Devices Definition:
A multimedia device is a computer peripheral or internal component that transfers sound or images to or from a personal computer. These kinds of devices are often connected to a per- sonal computer by a sound card. Multimedia devices can be input devices or output devices.
Common Multimedia Devices
Common multimedia devices include different types of cameras and sound devices.
Common multimedia devices include different types of cameras and sound devices.
Multimedia Device
Digital cameras
Digital cameras
Description
Multimedia Device
Web cameras, or webcams
Video-conferencing cameras
MIDI devices
Microphones
Speakers and subwoofers
Web cameras, or webcams
Video-conferencing cameras
MIDI devices
Microphones
Speakers and subwoofers
Description
A camera that is used to send periodic images or continuous frames to a website for display. Webcam software usually captures the images as JPEG or MPEG files and uploads them to a web server. Webcam images can also be accessed using some instant messaging software and by some video applications. Some corporations use webcams as a security measure.
Video-conferencing cameras are usually a small camera connected directly to a PC. Used in conjunction with microphones and speakers, they enable people at remote locations to see and speak with each other in real time.
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) connection enables you to connect and control musical devices such as electric keyboards (also known as electric pianos), synthesizers, guitars, and drum kits. Sound cards usually include built-in synthesizers as well, to produce MIDI sounds. If the MIDI connection is made through the game port, then the MIDI cable usually includes an additional port so that a game controller can still be added to the system. Other ports can also be used to establish MIDI connections. MIDI devices can be connected to each other and then to the computer.
A computer microphone can be connected to the MIC port of any sound card. If the card is color-coded, it will be pink. Otherwise, it will be marked MIC or have a picture of a microphone.
A camera that is used to send periodic images or continuous frames to a website for display. Webcam software usually captures the images as JPEG or MPEG files and uploads them to a web server. Webcam images can also be accessed using some instant messaging software and by some video applications. Some corporations use webcams as a security measure.
Video-conferencing cameras are usually a small camera connected directly to a PC. Used in conjunction with microphones and speakers, they enable people at remote locations to see and speak with each other in real time.
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) connection enables you to connect and control musical devices such as electric keyboards (also known as electric pianos), synthesizers, guitars, and drum kits. Sound cards usually include built-in synthesizers as well, to produce MIDI sounds. If the MIDI connection is made through the game port, then the MIDI cable usually includes an additional port so that a game controller can still be added to the system. Other ports can also be used to establish MIDI connections. MIDI devices can be connected to each other and then to the computer.
A computer microphone can be connected to the MIC port of any sound card. If the card is color-coded, it will be pink. Otherwise, it will be marked MIC or have a picture of a microphone.
Device
Sound cards
Sound cards
Considerations
Sound cards are responsible for translating digital music into analog signals. Sound cards differ in five basic areas:
Sound cards are responsible for translating digital music into analog signals. Sound cards differ in five basic areas:
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● Processor: Handles the communications between the music application,
Windows, and the processor. Higher-end processors offload the processing
of music from the CPU and thus provide better performance. You should
also look for mid- to higher-end processors that support surround sound
(assuming the user needs this capability).
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● Number of speakers supported: Higher-end sound cards add support for
five or more speakers, including a subwoofer. If the user needs (or wants)
surround sound, make sure you get a sound card with support for at least
five speakers.
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● Recording quality: Higher-end sound cards eliminate substantial amounts
of noise recorded through a microphone. Look for the sound card’s
signal-to-noise ratio; this number, which is measured in decibels, indicates
the quality of the signal. A lower number indicates a lower quality for
recording. Mid-range sound cards offer a signal-to-noise ratio of 30 to 50
decibels; high-end cards offer a 96 to 100 signal-to-noise ratio, which is
very close to ratios for equipment used by professional musicians.
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● Jacks: Sound cards come with a minimum of three connections—one for
speakers (typically green), one for a microphone (typically pink), and one
for secondary output called Line Out (typically green) that enables you to
connect devices such as a CD player. Higher-end sound cards offer con-
nections for components such as rear surround sound speakers, digital
speaker systems, and joysticks or MIDI devices. Newer sound cards can
also have a Digital Audio output, sometimes an input, jack. These can be
either RCA type, or S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface).
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● Additional features: Because so many computer manufacturers now build
sound capabilities into motherboards, many sound card manufacturers add
extended features to their cards in order to justify their purchase. These
features might include digital output so that you can integrate the com-
puter into a home entertainment system or FireWire connections so that
you can play MP3 recordings directly from an MP3 device. Higher-end
sound cards also offer higher-quality recordings from musical instrument
digital interface (MIDI) devices.
Users use microphones to complete tasks such as making phone calls via the Internet and to dictate to the computer using voice recognition software. For such users, the higher the quality of the microphone, the better they will be able to accomplish these tasks.
Microphones
CompTIA® A+® Certification: A Comprehensive Approach for all 2006 Exam Objectives
Device Considerations
Speakers If users plan to listen to music or play games on a computer, it’s important to help them select higher-quality speakers. Key speaker standards include:
Speakers If users plan to listen to music or play games on a computer, it’s important to help them select higher-quality speakers. Key speaker standards include:
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● Stereo: Specifies a left and right speaker that connect directly to a single
jack in a sound card. These types of speakers are usually the least
expensive.
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● 2.1 Systems: Specifies a pair of stereo speakers plus a subwoofer. These
systems do not support surround sound.
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● 5.1 Systems: Specifies five channels of sound, including front-left, front-
center, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right speakers, plus a subwoofer.
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● 7.1 Systems: Specifies seven channels of sound, including front-left,
front-center, front-right, middle-left, middle-right, rear-left, and rear-right
speakers, plus a subwoofer.
Multimedia Device Installation Considerations
There are some considerations you should be aware of when installing multimedia devices.
Consideration
Adapter card slots
Device drivers Cables
Cameras and card readers
Adapter card slots
Device drivers Cables
Cameras and card readers
Description
If you’re installing a sound card, do you have an available slot on the motherboard? Also, try to locate this adapter in such a way as to avoid reducing the airflow in the computer.
Do you have the appropriate device drivers for the computer’s oper- ating system? If not, download them before starting the installation.
Do you have the necessary cables (and long-enough cables) to con- nect devices such as speakers and locate them where the user wants them?
Although you can connect a digital camera directly to a computer to download its photos, doing so increases the wear and tear on the camera. You should use a memory card reader instead. The user will also see faster download performance when downloading photos using a memory card reader.
If you’re installing a sound card, do you have an available slot on the motherboard? Also, try to locate this adapter in such a way as to avoid reducing the airflow in the computer.
Do you have the appropriate device drivers for the computer’s oper- ating system? If not, download them before starting the installation.
Do you have the necessary cables (and long-enough cables) to con- nect devices such as speakers and locate them where the user wants them?
Although you can connect a digital camera directly to a computer to download its photos, doing so increases the wear and tear on the camera. You should use a memory card reader instead. The user will also see faster download performance when downloading photos using a memory card reader.
Multimedia Device Configuration and Optimization
Requirements
You can use multimedia device-specific software and Device Manager to configure multimedia devices. Options you can configure for these devices within Device Manager include:
You can use multimedia device-specific software and Device Manager to configure multimedia devices. Options you can configure for these devices within Device Manager include:
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● Enabling and disabling a device’s audio features.
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● Updating the device’s driver.
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● And, specifying hardware resources used, as long as the device is non-PnP.
How to Install Multimedia Devices
Procedure Reference: Install Multimedia Devices
To install multimedia devices:
necessary, install a sound card.
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Shut down the computer, unplug the power cord, and open the computer case.
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Locate an available expansion card slot.
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Remove the slot cover.
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Insert the sound card into the open slot.
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Use the screw from the slot cover to secure the sound card to the system unit.
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To test the sound card, restart the computer, install the device driver if you are
prompted to do so, and use Device Manager to verify that no resource conflicts have
been caused by the addition of the sound card.
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Shut down the computer, unplug the power cord, and open the computer case.
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Connect the speakers to the jack on the sound card marked for speakers. Some speakers
use an external AC adapter for power, some are powered by the computer, some use bat-
teries, and some contain a standard electrical plug. If necessary, connect the speakers to
their power source.
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Connect any external devices to the Line In jack.
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Connect a microphone to the MIC jack.
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Connect MIDI devices or game controllers through the game port. If necessary, connect
the AC adapter to the device and to an electrical outlet.
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If necessary, use Device Manager to configure MIDI device or game controller settings.
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Test the components by powering on the system and using each device. Verify that Mute
is not checked in the Volume Controls. If Microphone is not listed, choose Options→
Properties. Select Recording, check Microphone, and then click OK. You can then adjust
the sound levels for it.
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