Outfitting a Multimedia Workstation

So you've decided to try this multimedia; what hardware and software do you need? For example, do you have a CD-ROM drive? If you do, chances are you can use existing multimedia and you can probably create at least some of the elements that go into multimedia productions, like graphics. (Or you could use more the specialized equipment and software in the InfoTech Arcade.) If you are networked to the ADN-ii, then you have access on the Internet to large repositories of ready-made graphics, photographs, icons, sound clips, movie clips, text, and software and shareware utilities to help you along the way. The prices are given in this article are approximate and reflect educational discounts. Check with the MicroStation and other retailers for current, accurate prices.

Do you need to upgrade or replace your existing computer? Here's a checklist of must-have components: a fast computer, lots of memory, the largest and fastest hard disk you can get, a big monitor, a CD-ROM drive, a soundcard, speakers, a video digitizing board, and some software. And an ADN-ii network connection.

A fast CPU definitely makes a difference. For multimedia work, I strongly recommend an Apple Macintosh. Besides being easier to use, the Mac is inherently a better media computer with more mature multimedia hardware and software -- this from someone who uses Windows, UNIX, CMS, and Macintosh at the office everyday, OS/2 at home, and an Apple Newton everywhere. The PowerMac 7100/80 AV is a decent entry-level multimedia machine. Of course, less would do if you forgo doing video, animation, and sound on your desk. If you must have an Intel-based PC, then a 486 66MHz would be a good start, or go for a flawless Pentium.

Memory is very important; unfortunately, at about $50 per megabyte, it is still expensive. Make sure your multimedia machine has at least 16MB of RAM, 40MB or more if you plan to do video or 16- or 24-bit color graphics retouching -- typically, good image retouching software requires five times the amount of memory as the size of the picture file being edited. Using hard disk space for virtual memory and swap files sometimes helps, but then you'll spend a long time waiting while RAM is simulated.

When it comes to multimedia, the need for the largest and fastest hard drive can not be overstated. Cut corners elsewhere, but get the best disk you can afford. Unlike conventional computer applications, you will run out of disk space sooner --- much, much sooner -- than you would have ever imagined. For text and graphics, 500MB should be the minimum; a Gig or three if you really plan to play with video, animation, or sound. Also, consider getting a removable storage drive, like a SyQuest drive ($500), or a MagnetoOptical (MO) drive ($1,500 to $2,500) to periodically offload gobbles of unnecessary data files onto a number of inexpensive removable disks at about a dime or two per megabyte. The idea is to keep the more expensive, fast and large hard drive(s) as empty and available as possible. Also note that multimedia software can itself consume 20, 40, and 60MB a shot. Luckily, prices of secondary storage peripherals continue to drop, including those of new technologies like MO removables by Pinnacle Micro, IOMEGA, Sony, and others.

And you'll want a big monitor -- multimedia development software typically makes heavy use of windows, dialog boxes, palettes, tool bars, ribbons, tool boxes, and so on. There will hardly be any room left to see what you're working on! Get a 17 inch or larger color monitor if possible (and any required video acceleration board, LocalBus etc.). If you have a Mac, you can save lots of money by buying two 14 inch monitors (at $300 each), and put the tool bars and so on on one screen and your working canvas on the other. If you have a PowerMac, you already have two monitor ports built-in!

Of course you need a CD-ROM drive, doublespeed at least. If you have a PC, make sure to get a 16-bit stereo soundcard. It should be "SoundBlaster-compatible," or a real SoundBlaster, like the SoundBlaster 16 SCSI-2 ($170). If you have a Mac, CD-quality stereo audio is built-in. If you plan to do a lot of work with sound or music, spend a few hundred more on a higher-end soundcard, like a Wavetable card. You'll also need speakers, either built in your monitor or external ones. Make sure they are amplified, a.k.a. "powered speakers," and of decent quality. If they don't weigh much or if they retail for less than $40, they probably aren't any good. Spend at least $70 or twice that much for good speakers, like the AppleDesign Powered Speakers. A good set of headphones might come in handy as well.

If you plan to digitize video from VCRs, laser disks or camcorders, you need to either get a MAC AV, or add a video digitizing board to your existing Mac or PC. An entry-level video digitizer for the Mac can be had from Radius/SuperMac, Apple, or others, for about $400. Spend $1,500 or more if you want full-screen, 30 fps, high-qualiry video, and another few hundred dollars on a hardware codec. On the PC side, as entry-level equipment, I recommend the Intel Smart Video Recorder Pro ($400), or the Fast Electronics Movie Machine Pro or the Miro Computer miroVideo DCI TV for under a $1000. Adobe Premiere for the Mac or Windows (and other software) is usually bundled with the expensive cards; MPEG codecs may be included or could be added as well.

I recommend the following, but please buy only what you will use in the immediate future; software capabilities, preferences, and prices change often.

Photo editing and retouching:

Adobe Photoshop (Mac or Windows, $279), or ZSoft PhotoFinish (Windows, $39)

Paint software:

Aldus SuperPaint (Mac, $100), Fractal Design Painter Pro (Mac, $200), or ZSoft PC Paintbrush (Windows)

Presentation software:

Microsoft PowerPoint (Mac or Windows, $110), Aldus Persuasion (Mac or Windows, $125); Harvard Graphics and WordPerfect Presentations are OK too

Video editing:

Adobe Premiere (Mac or Windows, $249) -- the best today, best unless you spend a lot more

Sound editing:

Macromedia SoundEdit 16 (Mac or Windows, $170)

Illustration software:

Shapeware Visio (Windows, $129) [I did the network illustration in the January/February issue of The ADN Connection using Visio -- it was easy! - Ed.], CorelDraw (Windows, $99-$350), ClarisDraw (formerly MacDraw Pro, Mac or Windows, $129), or Adobe Illustrator (Mac or Windows, $149).

Media integration software:

Macromedia software for Mac or Windows: Authorware Academic ($150), Director ($499), or Authorware ($999); Multimedia Design mPower (Mac, $199), Apple HyperCard (Mac, $100), Alligiant SuperCard (Mac, $189), Asymetrix Multimedia ToolBook (Windows, $500), or IconAuthor (Windows, $500)

You also need a decent word processing program like MS Word or WordPerfect (the Computer Center has a site license for WordPerfect), miscellaneous utilities to do screen capture, media conversions, disk maintenance, and so on. You may want to spend $1,000 on a color scanner, or get standalone 2D/3D modeling software, animation, morphing, and OCR software. You may also want to get commercial clip-art, sound, and video stock on CD-ROMs. If you run out of ideas or need advice let us know.

And do shop around.

Comments are appreciated; send them to
Ed Garay, garay@uic.edu