All the hype that surrounds the multimedia hardware and the software can be pretty daunting. But never fear. We are going to cut through all noise and will clearly outline what we need to know to begin a oh-so-exciting adventure of adding up the video and the audio to the Web site.

As with the traditional multimedia, we are going to need to outfit ourself with some of a basic tools to get a job done. We know that there is always one more thing which we just have to have: that the Telefunken V-72 pre-amp, a Nord Lead 2 the virtual analog synthesizer or the Mackie 8-track which is going to turn our desktop into the Dr. the Dre's home studio.

We will also need plenty of the disk space, especially for storing the video. We are taking a LOT of space. The uncompressed video files (with a sound) can be of one megabyte per second. For the serious project, a daisy chain of a 3-gigabyte external hard drives is the de rigueur.

For the basic Web sites and the PowerPoint presentations, the requirements for an audio and a video files are diminished greatly - we may already have what we need. But anything beyond which will probably requires something extra.

If we are running the Windows, we will need the CPU that is about 486 (or above that) with the sound and/or the video card. Macintosh users need the A/V machine or the Power Mac. If we want an higher-quality transfer than what we are getting from the built-in audio and the video ports,look into the Audiomedia III card. For all of but the professional work, built-in ports must be OK. (And if we are using the UNIX box, we probably know what we are doing already, so we will not cover the UNIX machines in this tutorial.)

Audio
Unless we already have the appropriately formatted file, we need the audio editor to open and manipulate a source files.
Several of the shareware audio editors are available online. But if we go in this route, should be careful with our files; if we are using Windows, The CoolEdit is fairly reliable.
On the other end of a spectrum, Pro Tools hardware package have everything which we need to make the big-budget Hollywood movie soundtrack. It really does cool things like the non-destructive editing (allowing us to edit our files using the pointers that will never tamper with a original sound source). It also allows the direct digital transfer to the DAT or some other digital media, which is very important for the high-end work.
Of course, most of us do want something in between: the editor that does not break the bank and actually do work. The Sound Forge, a really nice audio suite for the Windows, has the intuitive interface and some of the funky filters. For Mac, the Macromedia's SoundEdit is bit decent, relatively inexpensive, and also comes bundled with the Deck II, which is really a cool virtual studio.

Video
If we want to add the movie to our Web site, the video editor is essential.While the shareware editors exist, It is highly recommend to buy a package off the shelf. Adobe's Premiere, available for the Windows and the Mac, kicks much booty and is not too budget crushing. The Premiere allows us to take lots of a little movies and assemble them on the timeline, and there is a audio track and lots of the fun filters to play with. Fiddle around for the while and will soon realize that we have got some serious moviemaking capabilities right on our desk.
If we have a high-8 or video camera and are plannig to do any of the digital transfers, we will need the patch cord to connect camera to the computer. If we are running the feed from the television, VCR, or a laserdisc, cables are available for each of them at a better computer supply stores. We will also need the video capture software; a shareware is available
Adobe's AfterEffects is an another excellent addition to our multimedia toolbox. Featuring the myriad of filters and the effects, this keyframe motion graphic tool will take our video to next level of the professionalism and creativity. AfterEffects enables us to animate our titles, move the objects along the motion paths, and then merge many different effects, such as the scale, color, filters, position,levels, hue/saturation, and the masks. It is perfect for our imitations. And it is Anna the Animation Queen's all toime favorite application.

RealMedia
If we plan to complete this tutorial, adhering to the advice about encoding our multimedia files using the RealNetwork tools, then we will need to get either a RealEncoder or a RealPublisher (a RealEncoder is free; RealPublisher is for $49; both are available at http://www.real.com). We will also need to pick up a latest version of a RealPlayer so that we can check out how our users will see our files.
To get the RealFlash media, which can be embedded now into our streaming video files, lets go to a Shockrave site and then let their Java/JavaScript-assisted webwizards guide us through an acquisition of all right plug-ins. Then we need to buy the Flash from the Macromedia to do the authoring.