Text is an important component of multimedia applications — it is the easiest multimedia element and is also effective in exchanging information. Text consists of characters that are used to form words, sentences, and paragraphs. It is possible to provide information only through text, but text is commonly used only for giving general information.
If proper and correct attention is not given to the use of text, the communication of a multimedia application cannot be done properly. The proper presentation of text refers to the type of text and its other properties such as font, font size, text colour, etc.
2.1.1 Definition of Text
Text is the easiest to change. Where very effective communication is happening in the form of text, the multimedia designer should not try to convert the text into an image or sound. Text is an important component used in many multimedia applications. They are characters used to form Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs.
Text in multimedia presentations can deliver a large amount of information using very little storage space. The main features of text include paragraph styling, character styling, font family, and font size.
- Plain Text — Unformatted, same-looking characters throughout
- Formatted Text — Can be changed using font parameters (bold, italic, underline, size, colour)
- Hypertext — Text used in websites linked to other pages/files
2.1.2 Elements of Text
The categories of text elements are as follows:
All these categories are also used together in text — alphabets, numbers, and other characters can be written in mixed form. This mixed form is called Alphanumeric Text.
2.1.3 Uses of Text in Multimedia
Text is used in multimedia in various ways so that different types of work can be done:
- Heading / Title
- Bullets / Lists
- Paragraphs
- Scrolling Text
- Navigation
- Text as Graphics
- Text in Title Bar, Menu Bar, Status Bar
- Text in Buttons
2.1.4 Hardware & Software Requirements for Text
The hardware required to process text using a computer in any multimedia medium:
- Keyboard — used as an input device
- OCR (Optical Character Recognition) — another input device used to input pictures, graphics, typed text, or handwritten text into various documents
- Monitor — an output device used to display information on the computer screen
- Printer — an output device used to take hardcopy printouts
Text processing software is used for better utilisation and presentation. Key features in these software:
- Text Editing — writing text, modifying it, cut/copy/paste, margin, line spacing, etc.
- Text Styling — paragraph styling, character styling (bold, italic), font family (Mangal, Times New Roman), font size, etc.
- Text Searching — finding text in a document without reading the entire document
- Text Importing & Exporting — bringing already-prepared files or databases into a text file without re-typing
2.2.1 Plain Text
Plain text is a text file or a collection of documents that contains only text. This text is written in the same way throughout — it does not have any special properties such as being written in different colours, being written differently, being bold or underlined, etc.
In other words, unlike a rich text document, a plain text file does not have bold text, fonts, larger font sizes, or any other special text formatting. On Microsoft Windows computers, most plain text files are available with the file extension .txt. To view a plain text file, a text editor like Microsoft Notepad is used.
Plain text is the most portable format because it supports almost every application on every machine.
2.2.2 Formatted Text
Formatted text is text that is displayed in a specific, designated style. In computer applications, formatting data is associated with text data to create formatted text. How formatted text is created and displayed depends on the operating system and application software used on the computer.
Formatted text can be any text that has special formatting, such as font size, font colour, bold, italic, etc. When copying text, formatted text is any text that retains its settings from where it was copied. Text formatting data can be qualitative (e.g., font family) or quantitative (e.g., font size, or colour). Styles of emphasis (bold, italic) or notation (strikethrough, superscript) can be used in text formatting. The purpose of formatted text is to enhance the presentation of information.
2.2.3 Best Practices for Text in Multimedia Presentations
- Using only uppercase or only lowercase is worse than using them in mixed form — mixed use makes any text easier to read.
- Any kind of warning or special message should be written completely in uppercase.
- While writing text, it is appropriate that no sentence is more than 60 characters long — text can be read at a fast pace. Using short sentences and ensuring a sentence is not split across two pages should be kept in mind.
- Only one-third of the display should be filled with text — text can be made good for reading and writing through margin, line spacing, etc.
- On a computer screen, a minimum of 12-point text is appropriate for reading. In other multimedia uses, the text size is determined by the display size.
2.2.5 Rich Text Format (RTF)
RTF is a text file format used by all Microsoft products such as Word and Office. They can be read by almost all word processing software. Presented and documented by Microsoft, Rich Text Format (RTF) describes a method for encoding formatted text and graphics for use within applications.
RTF facilitates cross-platform document exchange with other Microsoft products, thus fulfilling the purpose of interoperability. This capability makes it the standard for transferring data between word processing software, so content can be transferred from one operating system to another without losing the formatting of documents — which is important for a diverse system where text document files are transferred from one user's desktop to another.
By saving a document in RTF format, you can open the file in many word processors and other software packages that support RTF, with no damage to the document's formatting. A standard RTF file contains ASCII which represents rich text, and non-ASCII characters are converted to ASCII with the help of appropriate code values.
2.2.6 Hypertext
Text on a computer display or other electronic devices that connects to other text via a hyperlink is called Hypertext. Clicking on the hyperlink, the reader immediately accesses the other text where the text is spread across several different locations. Hypertext is used as a cross-reference from one place or page to another. It is also called Stretch text. Hypertext pages are linked to each other by hyperlinks. Generally, a hyperlink is used by mouse click, key press, or touching the screen.
In addition to text, hypertext many times also uses tables, images, and other presentable content for hyperlinks. Hypertext defines the structure of the World Wide Web. Through the proper use of hypertext, detailed information can be obtained on the internet.
2.2.7 HTML – HyperText Markup Language
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, the most widely used language on the web for developing web pages. HTML was created by Berners-Lee at the end of 1991, but "HTML 2.0" was the first standard HTML specification published in 1995.
HTML is the most basic building block of the web. It defines the meaning and structure of web content. "HyperText" refers to links that connect web pages to one another, either within a single website or between websites. Links are a fundamental aspect of the web.
HTML is a markup language that uses various tags to format content. These tags are enclosed within angle braces <Tag Name>. Most tags have their corresponding closing tags. For example, <html> has its closing tag </html> and <body> has </body>.
2.2.8 OLE – Object Linking & Embedding
Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) is a Microsoft technology that facilitates sharing of application data and objects written in different formats from multiple sources. Linking establishes a connection between two objects, and embedding facilitates the insertion of application data. OLE is used for compound document management, as well as transferring application data through drag-and-drop and clipboard operations.
An OLE object can be displayed as an icon. Double-clicking the icon opens the related object application. An OLE object can also display actual content, such as a graph or chart. For example, an external application chart, like an Excel spreadsheet, can be inserted in a Word application.
OLE supported software applications include:
- Microsoft Windows applications like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Corel WordPerfect
- Adobe Acrobat
- AutoCAD
- Multimedia applications such as photos, audio/video clips, and PowerPoint presentations
- Embedded objects increase the file size of the host document, resulting in possible storage or loading difficulties.
- Linked objects can break links when a host document is moved to a location where the original object application is not present.
- Interoperability is limited. If the embedded or linked object application is unavailable, the object cannot be changed or edited.
A font is a graphic representation of text that can include a different typeface, point size, weight, colour, or design. Software programs like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and WordPad allow users to change the font used when typing text in documents or spreadsheets.
Different fonts are used to add style to a web page or document. A font can be used to set or match the "tone" of the text based on the content. In addition, some fonts affect readability based on the medium.
2.3.1 Default Font and Font Size
Software that uses fonts is set with a default font and font size. The following are the default fonts and font sizes for common software:
| Software | Default Font | Font Size |
|---|---|---|
| Google Docs | Arial | 11 |
| Google Sheets | Arial | 10 |
| Google Gmail | Sans Serif | Normal |
| Microsoft Excel | Calibri | 11 |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Calibri | 24 |
| Microsoft Word | Calibri | 11 |
| Notepad | Consolas | 11 |
Font size or text size determines how large a character is displayed on screen or printed on a page. Font is often measured in pt (points). Points determine the height of the letter. There are approximately 72 points in one inch (2.54 cm). Font size is also measured in px (pixels) and pc (pica) in computing.
2.3.2 Font Scaling
Scaling means changing the size of a font. Horizontal Scaling means changing the width of the font without changing its height. Vertical Scaling means changing the height of the font without changing its width.
2.3.3 Tracking Font
Tracking adjusts the space to the right of each character. Increasing tracking increases the amount of space between all text. Decreasing tracking reduces the space between all text and makes the page appear darker.
2.3.4 Leading Font
Leading means the spacing between lines. Generally, the space added between each line of body type should be 20% of the type size. Leading is defined as the spacing above and below the continuous lines of text. Spacing can be of different types — Single, Double, 1.5 Spacing, etc.
Most typefaces can be classified in one of four basic groups: those with serifs, those without serifs (sans serif), script, and decorative styles. A classification system can help in identifying, selecting, and combining typefaces.
Sans Serif — typefaces without strokes (better readability on screen)
Serif Type Styles
Font typefaces that have a small line at the ends of strokes are known as serifs. Where fonts are needed in smaller sizes (documents, letters, etc.), serifs provide better readability. Common Serif typefaces: Times New Roman, Georgia, Palatino.
Sans Serif Type Styles
Sans Serif typefaces are mostly used in large titles. Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma are common sans-serif typefaces. On the web, all text is generally appropriate to be written in sans-serif because the quality of the screen being read must also be kept in mind.
- i. Grotesque ii. Square iii. Humanistic iv. Geometric
Script Type Styles
This is the largest and most diverse category. Rarely used for long stretches of text, decorative typefaces are popular for signage, headlines, and similar writing. They often reflect an aspect of culture — like tattoo or wall painting — or display a particular time period or theme. Examples: ITC Aftershock, ITC Airstream, WacWakOoops! Some appear three-dimensional.
Sound is used to make multimedia applications more effective. Sound (Dhwani) is the most important element of multimedia. Any meaningful sound in any language, from a very soft voice to a loud shout, is sound. This is what gives us pleasure in listening to music. Films, animation, etc. are made effective through sound.
Nowadays there are many applications and programs designed to educate people using the internet. There are many educational videos and audio available on the internet that explain even the most difficult subjects very easily in simple language. Audio plays a very important role in understanding any subject.
The biggest impact or use of audio or sound is when people listen to music. Music is universal — there is music for everyone and it is a form of art that artists perform with the help of musical instruments. Poor sound can ruin a brilliant audio production. Films use three types of sound — Human Voice, Music, and Sound Effects. For a film to feel realistic to audiences, all three types of sound are important. Sound and dialogue should be fully synced with the actions happening in the film.
3.1 Mono vs Stereo Audio Sound
Mono and stereo audio provide quite different listening experiences. Stereo is the most common format for home audio systems and recorded music, while mono sound provides different benefits for users who want high-quality experiences with older recordings.
Audio signals are grouped together and played through a single channel. Used in: public address systems, radio talk shows, hearing aids, telephone, mobile communication, some AM radio stations.
Uses two or more audio channels and two or more loudspeakers or stereo headphones. Used in: cinema, television, music players, FM radio stations. Provides richer audio quality and audio imaging experience.
3.2 Mono Sound (Detail)
Monophonic or "mono" sound is produced by routing a single signal channel in amplifiers to one or more speakers. Even if you use two speakers, a mono signal still produces the exact and same sound level in each speaker — therefore, unlike stereo speakers, the audio quality of a mono sound system is not very good. Through headphones, mono sound produces a "cluster" of music without experiencing audio imaging.
Recording and reproduction of mono sound is less expensive and easier to record, requiring only basic equipment. Mono sound system audio signals are routed through a single channel.
3.3 Stereo Sound (Detail)
Stereo sound is a process of sound production that simulates audible sound as if coming from different directions. Home or personal audio systems create stereophonic sound using two independent signals through two different channels using speakers. Stereo systems are best used to replicate the live performance experience of a band or orchestra.
As independent signals emphasise different instruments or sound importance in left and right channels, stereo sound is considered of higher quality — it helps hear each musical instrument's voice separately and provides an unparalleled music experience. For the best experience, the listener should place themselves between two speakers and experience "audio imaging".
Recording and reproduction costs for stereo sound are more expensive. Stereo sound systems are used in cinema, television, music players, FM radio stations.
3.4 Sound Effects
Sound effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds used in artistic works to emphasise or express an action, mood, or emotion. Initially, sound effects were used in radio plays, but nowadays they are extensively used in podcasts, theatres, films, and television shows.
Sound effects are often synchronised with actions, such as the sound of slamming a door. Sound effects are also used in the background of a scene to display anticipation or other emotions. Surprisingly, the most realistic sound effects are recordings of real sounds. These recorded real sounds can be edited or enhanced. Sounds can also be layered to create an entirely new effect.
Isolated sounds include everyday objects' sounds like doorbell, car horn, telephone ring. Real and specific sounds you hear — dog barking, gun firing, loud door slamming, car tires screeching during a car chase.
Specialty effects are sounds designed for objects and places that exist only in our imagination. Used in cartoons, fantasy, and science fiction productions — like the sound of a space transporter, a genie's magic lamp, or cartoon monsters.
Foley sounds are synchronised with visuals in motion pictures or TV programs. This synchronisation process is also called Audio Sound Replacement. Examples: the rattling of a coffee cup being placed on a table, realistic rustling of clothes, the sound of a punch. Named after pioneer Jack Foley.
Background ambiance tracks provide the basic environment for a production — making the filmmaker or radio listener actually feel they are in a courtroom, railway station, storm, or jungle.
Both analog and digital signals are used to transmit information, usually through electric signals. In both these technologies, information — such as any audio or video — is converted into electric signals. The difference between analog and digital technologies is that in analog technology, information is converted into electric pulses of varying amplitudes. In digital technology, information is translated into binary format (zero or one), where each bit represents two distinct amplitudes.
Both analog and digital are techniques of encoding information. Digital computers and other electronic devices use information in sequences of 1s and 0s — this data is then read by the electronic device and interpreted as words, images, or sounds. Analog, on the other hand, means a continuous chain of electrical waves, which provide different values with different parameters.
| Property | Analog Signal | Digital Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Continuous signal representing physical measurements | Discrete values (0 or 1) — not continuous |
| Representation | Sine waves; continuous range of values | Binary format; data represented only in bits |
| Examples | Human voice in air, analog electronic devices | Digital computers, digital communications |
| Noise | Data transmission can deteriorate due to noise | More resistant to noise; can withstand minor distortion |
| Cost | Less expensive, portable | More reliable; easier to transmit and store |
| Bandwidth | Less bandwidth consumption | Transmits data in binary; more reliable |
| Storage | Higher energy consumption in wave signal memory | Values between 0 and 1 (limited range) |
4.1 Analog Signal (Detail)
An analog signal is a continuous signal that represents physical measurements. It is characterised by sine waves and uses a continuous range of values to describe information. The analog signal can only be used in analog devices and is most suited for audio and video transmission. Its bandwidth processing can be done in real time and consumes less bandwidth. Analog instruments generally have a scale and give observational errors.
4.2 Digital Signal (Detail)
A digital signal is a signal used to represent data in a sequence of discrete values. At any time it can take only one number from a limited number of values (0 or 1). Like analog, digital signals transfer data, although the way to transfer data is slightly different. These signals are discrete, not continuous. A digital signal transfers data as binary because a digital signal represents all information only in bits.
Every digital signal has amplitude, frequency, and phase like analog signals. This signal is also defined by bit interval and bit rate. Bit interval is the time it takes to transfer one bit; bit rate is the frequency of bit interval. Digital signals are more resistant to noise during transmission and are more reliable and simpler to transmit than analog signals.
Information or data on computers and electronic devices is stored as files. Text, audio, video — all store information in different file formats. A sound file format is a file format for storing audio on a computer. It defines the quality and characteristics of audio data. Different types of sound file formats are used based on the application.
Sound file formats are mainly divided into three parts:
5.1 Uncompressed Audio Formats
PCM describes an irregular (raw) analog audio signal in digital form. To convert an analog signal to a digital signal, it has to be recorded at a special interval. Therefore it has a sampling rate and bit rate (bits used to describe each sample). It is an accurate interpretation of analog sound and does not include file compression. It is the most common audio format used in CDs and DVDs.
WAV was developed in 1991 by Microsoft and IBM. It is simply a Windows container for audio formats, meaning a WAV file can contain compressed audio. Most WAV files contain uncompressed audio in PCM format. Compatible with both Windows and Mac.
AIFF was developed by Apple for Mac systems in 1988. Like WAV files, AIFF files can contain many types of audio. They contain uncompressed audio in PCM format. Compatible with both Windows and Mac.
5.2 Lossy Compressed Formats
This is a form of compression — audio files can be stored in smaller form by compressing them. Smaller files are easy to send over the internet or through other mediums, and take less time. During the compression process, some data is lost. In lossy compression, the quality of data is compromised — but the difference in quality is generally not audible.
MP3 is the most popular audio file format for music files, released in 1993. The main purpose of MP3 is to remove all sounds that are more or less noticeable by human ears, so MP3 music file sizes are smaller. MP3 is like a universal format compatible with almost every device.
AAC was developed in 1997 after MP3. The compression algorithm used by AAC is much more complex and advanced than MP3. When a particular audio file in MP3 and AAC format is compared at the same bit rate, AAC generally gets better sound quality. It is the standard audio compression method used by YouTube, Android, iOS, iTunes, and PlayStations.
WMA was released in 1999. It was designed to overcome some drawbacks of the MP3 compression method. In terms of quality it is better than MP3. However, WMA is not widely used.
5.3 Lossless Compressed Formats
This method reduces the file size without any loss in quality. However, lossless compression is not as good as lossy compression because the file size in lossless compression is 2 to 3 times larger than lossy compression, so it can be used less from the perspective of file transport.
FLAC can compress the source file up to 50% without losing data. It is the most popular in its category and is open-source.
ALAC was developed by Apple. It was launched in 2004, but in 2011 Apple made the codec open source and royalty-free.
| Format | Type | Key Fact | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCM | Uncompressed | Raw analog signal digitised | CDs, DVDs |
| WAV | Uncompressed | Developed by Microsoft & IBM, 1991 | Windows audio |
| AIFF | Uncompressed | Developed by Apple, 1988 | Mac audio |
| MP3 | Lossy | Released 1993, universal format | Music streaming |
| AAC | Lossy | Better than MP3 at same bitrate | YouTube, iOS, iTunes |
| WMA | Lossy | Microsoft, released 1999 | Windows Media |
| FLAC | Lossless | Up to 50% compression, open-source | Audiophile music |
| ALAC | Lossless | Apple, 2011 open-source | Apple devices |
MIDI by itself does not produce any sound — it only sends messages. MIDI instruments understand these messages and produce sound. These instruments can be any hardware like an electronic keyboard or synthesizer, or any software of that environment like GarageBand, Digital Performer.
What MIDI Data Contains
MIDI data contains several types of information. For example, pressing a single key on a synthesizer transmits:
- The note played
- Velocity (how hard the note is pressed)
- How long the note was played
If multiple notes are played simultaneously, MIDI data is transmitted for all notes at once. Other data that can be sent over a MIDI connection includes: Instrument ID, sustain pedal timing, controller information such as pitch bend and vibrato.
MIDI Recording Process
When a synthesizer is connected to a computer via a MIDI connection, the notes to be played can be recorded by DAW software in MIDI format. MIDI data can be played back by sending the recorded MIDI notes to the keyboard, which outputs them as audio samples such as piano or drums. Most DAW software supports MIDI editing, allowing you to adjust the timing and velocity of individual notes, change pitch, remove notes, or add new notes.
MIDI Connectivity
Originally, MIDI connections used a MIDI cable connected to a 5-pin MIDI port on each device. Now most MIDI instruments have standard computer interfaces such as USB or Thunderbolt ports. These modern interfaces provide more bandwidth than traditional MIDI ports, allowing tracks with more data to be transmitted at once.
Audio editing software is software that provides the facility for editing and creating audio data. It can be implemented as an audio library, a computer application, a web application, or a loadable kernel module. Currently, multimedia is being used in every area of life — knowledge of multimedia's two main components Text and Sound provides the ability to understand the multimedia applications happening in the present time.
Source: 2DCA1 IT Trends – Unit 2 | Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism & Communication, Bhopal
Authors: Dr. Sunita Dwivedi (HOD, New Media Technology) & Prashant Parashar (Tutor, Management Dept.)
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