What is Multimedia?

This is the use of sound and moving images.

Multimedia often can have a level of interactivity. This is where the user's actions can makes something happen. A lot of multimedia images are animated on user action

Have a look at the details of file types on text file. Which to use depends on size of file. Larger files must have a streaming format or they take too long to load.

See this Adobe Acrobat file
Audio Formats

Examples of these file types can be found on the page Multimedia 2
Have a look at this page and experiment with changing the parameters

Multimedia 2

If you want the sound file to be associated with the carrying out of an action such as selecting an option it need to have a 'behaviour' associated with it. See separate section on behaviour for explanation.
Have a look at some examples of this in action.
Multimedia3

1. Audio Formats
   There is a massive array of audio formats. All of these are often not suitable for web pages because of the size of their files. Some of the more recent 'stream' content to you. This means that they continue to load in the background whilst the file plays using previously buffered content.
2. Plugins and ActiveX controls
   For the browser to work audio it need another program to load first. These plugins must be installed for your browser to work with audio. These usually come either with the program but may need to be installed.
3. Multimedia Players
   Third party programs interface with the browsers to play the audio or video.The 3 most poular are Windows Media Player which by default plays in IE, Real Networks Real Player and Apples Quick Time player. Netscape has its own java applet player.
   
4. Have a look at a description of some of these in this Adobe Acrobat file

If you do not have Acrobat reader you can download one here 

Inserting Audio Clips

1. Place your cursor where you want the sound file to appear.
2. Select the plugin icon from the Object Panel -Special objects tab.
3. Navigate to the directory where your sound file is found and select it
4. Preview after saving.

Have a look at how you can format the plugin in the Property Inspector.

Several of the controls are similar to those for images, but others are new.

The PLAY button allows you to preview the sound from within the dreamweaver editor. If you make the plugin big enough using resize handles you can see the controls.

Plugin Download box can have an URL added to tell user where to get a plugin player eg for RealTime player Real Networks

Parameters

Setting parameters controls behaviour of plugin on loading.

1. Loop is TRUE or FALSE The number is number of times to repeat. No need to use unless you want multiple plays.
2. Autostart is TRUE or FALSE - sets it to play or not on loading
3. Volume is optional - if your system has volume control via soundcard ignore it
4. Hidden is whether or not the player displays.
5. Playcount must be added as well as loop for IE.

Multimedia Flash and Shockwave       Home Page