Digital Photos, Movies, and Music GigabookFor Dummies

by Chambers, Mark L.; Bove, Tony; Busch, David D.; Doucette, Martin; Kushner, David; Rathbone, Andy; Rhodes, Cheryl; Staufer, Todd; Underdahl, Keith

• ISBN13: 9780764574146
• ISBN10: 0764574140
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-03
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

* Introducing the most complete digital media reference available-more than 900 pages of fun and easy instructions and tips on digital photography, digital video, digital music, and CD and DVD recording * At under $35, this value-priced book is the only single-volume digital media reference that covers such topics as choosing a digital camera, taking great pictures, and editing digital pictures * Covers printing and sharing pictures, selecting a camcorder, capturing good film footage, and importing video clips * Provides coverage of editing videos, buying music online, using playlists, syncing an iPod or MP3 player, and burning CDs and DVDs * Includes exclusive Dummies Man reusable peel-and-stick reference tabs that readers can use to mark their favorite pages

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
What's in This Book, Anyway?	1	(1)
What Makes This Book Special	2	(1)
Information that's easy to find	2	(1)
A task-oriented approach	2	(1)
The author's opinion	3	(1)
A Greatest Hits Collection	3	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	4	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	4	(1)
Book I: Digital Photography	5	(2)
Part I: Getting Ready for Digital Photography	7	(80)
Becoming a Digital Photography Maven	7	(6)
Knowing What Equipment You Need	7	(2)
Minimum and Maximum Specs	9	(1)
Taking Great Digital Shots	10	(2)
Understand how your camera works	10	(1)
Know some photography fundamentals	10	(1)
Find out how to use an image editor	11	(1)
Master a scanner	11	(1)
Making Any Photo Digital	12	(1)
Printing Your Final Pictures	12	(1)
Choosing the Right Camera	13	(18)
Choosing a Camera Category	14	(1)
Evaluating Your Lens Requirements	14	(2)
Understanding How Lenses Work	16	(7)
Magnifications and focal lengths	17	(1)
Lens apertures	18	(2)
Focus range	20	(1)
Exposure controls	20	(3)
Choosing Your Resolution	23	(2)
Choosing Your View	25	(3)
LCD viewfinders	25	(1)
Optical viewfinders	26	(1)
Hybrid viewfinders	27	(1)
Viewfinders with vision correction	28	(1)
Considering Your Storage Options	28	(1)
No Flash in the Pan: Determining Your Lighting Needs	29	(1)
Checking Out Ease of Use	29	(2)
Solving the Computer Side of the Digital Equation	31	(12)
Hardware Wars Revisited	31	(4)
What Equipment Do You Need?	35	(8)
Determining how much memory you need	35	(1)
Choosing local storage	36	(1)
Archiving and backing up	37	(3)
Avoiding microprocessor no-brainers	40	(1)
Determining what's most important	40	(2)
Choosing pointing devices	42	(1)
Connecting the Camera and Computer	43	(18)
Making the Connection between Camera and Computer	43	(12)
Getting wired up	44	(6)
Memory cards and disks	50	(5)
Transferring Images from Camera to Computer	55	(6)
Transferring pictures using camera utility software	55	(1)
Copying files to your hard drive	56	(2)
Importing images into image-editing software	58	(3)
Choosing a Printer and Scanner	61	(12)
Why You Want Prints	61	(1)
Choosing a Printer for Digital Photography	62	(2)
Let somebody else do it	63	(1)
Laser printers	63	(1)
Ink-jet printers	63	(1)
Dye-sublimation printers	64	(1)
Other printers	64	(1)
Choosing a Scanner	64	(9)
Types of scanners	66	(1)
Scanner prices and features	66	(2)
What scanner features do you need?	68	(3)
Resolution mythconceptions	71	(1)
Color-depth confusion	72	(1)
Accessorizing Your Digital Camera	73	(14)
Getting Support from Tripods	73	(6)
Types of tripods	76	(1)
Scrutinizing tripod features	76	(3)
Checking out tripod alternatives	79	(1)
Making Good Use of an Electronic Flash	79	(5)
Types of electronic flash units	80	(3)
What to look for in a photographic slave flash	83	(1)
Lighting/flash accessories	84	(1)
Choosing a Camera Bag	84	(1)
Acquiring Other Useful Devices	84	(3)
Filter holders	84	(1)
A second camera	85	(1)
Cleaning kits	85	(1)
Waterproof casings and housings	85	(1)
Filters	86	(1)
Part II: Snap To! Shooting Great Pictures	87	(156)
Understanding Photo Composition	87	(20)
Photo Composition: The Big Picture	87	(1)
Visualizing a Concept for Your Picture	88	(2)
What do you want your image to say?	89	(1)
Where will it be used?	89	(1)
Who are you creating the image for?	90	(1)
Selecting a Center of Interest	90	(3)
Narrowing down your subject matter	90	(1)
Choosing one main subject	91	(2)
Using secondary subjects	93	(1)
Choosing an Orientation	93	(3)
Arranging Your Subjects	96	(2)
Choosing subject distance	96	(1)
Optimizing backgrounds	97	(1)
The Rule of Thirds	98	(3)
Placing important objects at imaginary junction points	99	(1)
When to break the rule	99	(1)
Some corollaries	100	(1)
Using Straight Lines and Curves	101	(2)
Balancing an Image	103	(1)
Framing an Image	104	(3)
Moving into Close-Up Photography	107	(16)
What's Macro Photography?	107	(1)
Why Digital Macro Photography Is Cool	108	(1)
Picking a Place to Shoot	109	(1)
Setting Up Your Macro Studio	110	(8)
Background check	111	(2)
Visible means of support	113	(1)
Lighting equipment	114	(2)
Other equipment	116	(2)
Shooting Tips for Macro Photography	118	(5)
Setting up your subject and background	118	(1)
Setting up your camera	118	(1)
Lights, please	119	(1)
Ready . . . aim	119	(2)
Fire!	121	(2)
Photographing People	123	(42)
Capturing Satisfying Portraits	124	(1)
Shooting on Location or in the Studio	125	(2)
Setting Up an Informal Portrait Studio	127	(1)
Choosing Backgrounds	128	(13)
Selecting supports for lights, camera, and subjects	129	(2)
Basic lighting equipment	131	(3)
Professional studio lighting	134	(1)
Lighting gadgets	135	(6)
Lighting Basics	141	(8)
Using multiple light sources	141	(1)
Arranging a multiple-light setup	142	(7)
Basic Lighting Techniques	149	(1)
Advanced Lighting Techniques	149	(6)
Short lighting	150	(1)
Broad lighting	151	(1)
Butterfly lighting	151	(2)
Backlighting	153	(2)
Taking Your First Portraits	155	(3)
Shooting the Portrait	158	(4)
Posing your subjects	158	(3)
Arranging your lighting	161	(1)
Taking the picture	161	(1)
Advantages of Digital Cameras	162	(3)
Shooting for Publication	165	(24)
Finding Outlets for Print Publication	165	(2)
Local Newspapers	167	(5)
Understanding what newspapers need	168	(2)
Working as a professional newspaper photographer	170	(2)
Magazines and Magazine-Like Markets	172	(6)
Making contact	175	(1)
Submitting photos	176	(1)
Getting model releases	177	(1)
Taking Photos for Publication	178	(8)
Understanding group photography basics	178	(1)
Managing the group	178	(1)
PR photography	179	(5)
Writing cutlines	184	(1)
Preparing the cutline for submission	185	(1)
Submitting the photo	185	(1)
Follow up	186	(1)
Product Photography	186	(3)
Product shot opportunities	187	(1)
Product demo shots	187	(2)
Sports and Action Photography	189	(24)
Choosing Your Weapons	189	(7)
Digital camera features and action photography	191	(3)
Digital cameras and latency	194	(2)
Taking Great Sports Photos	196	(7)
Choosing your sport and your spot	197	(5)
Winter sports: a special case	202	(1)
Taking Your First Action Photo	203	(6)
Be prepared	203	(1)
Setting your ISO speed	203	(1)
Understanding how to stop action	204	(1)
Stopping action with slow shutter speeds	205	(1)
Panning	206	(1)
Action approaching the camera	207	(1)
Using blur creatively	208	(1)
Taking the Picture	209	(4)
Capturing great sports moments	209	(1)
Setting up for predictable action	210	(1)
Shooting action sequences	210	(2)
Capturing the fans	212	(1)
Travel Photography	213	(30)
Choosing Equipment	213	(11)
Selecting a camera for your needs	213	(3)
Choosing key camera features	216	(1)
Choosing lenses for travel	217	(1)
Considering a tripod	217	(1)
Choosing an electronic flash	218	(1)
Selecting a camera bag	219	(2)
Keeping your camera powered	221	(1)
Other useful devices	222	(2)
Getting Ready to Go on the Road	224	(1)
Meeting Your Storage Requirements	224	(1)
Tried-and-True Travel Photography Techniques	225	(11)
Shooting scenics	225	(2)
Capturing monuments and architecture	227	(3)
Shooting panoramas	230	(1)
Shooting adventure sports	231	(2)
Photographing people	233	(1)
Capturing people and their places	234	(2)
Documenting Your Trip	236	(7)
Varying your shots	236	(1)
Composing your shots	237	(1)
Getting organized	238	(5)
Part III: Editing with Photoshop Elements	243	(60)
Comparing Photoshop Elements to Other Image Editors	243	(18)
Looking at Popular Image Editors: The Basics	243	(2)
Adobe Photoshop CS --- Alone at the Top	245	(3)
What's good about it	245	(1)
What's not so good	246	(1)
What you can do with it	246	(2)
Where to get it	248	(1)
Second-Tier Image Editors	248	(8)
Adobe Photoshop Elements	248	(2)
Corel Photo-Paint	250	(2)
Jasc Paint Shop Pro	252	(2)
Ulead PhotoImpact	254	(2)
Third-Tier Image Editors	256	(5)
Microsoft Picture It!	256	(2)
Roxio PhotoSuite	258	(3)
Making Selections	261	(8)
Making Simple Selections with the Marquee Tools	261	(3)
Selecting geometric shapes	261	(1)
Adding to, reducing, and combining selections	262	(2)
Snagging Irregular Shapes with the Lasso Tools	264	(3)
Selecting freeform shapes	264	(1)
Selecting magnetically	265	(2)
Abracadabra! The Magic Wand Tool	267	(1)
Making and adjusting selections based on color	267	(1)
Controlling the magic	267	(1)
Using the Selection Brush Tool	267	(1)
Using the Select Menu	268	(1)
Brushing Away Your Digital Images' Imperfections	269	(6)
Working with Brushes and Pencils	269	(3)
Painting with the Brush tool	270	(1)
Working with the Pencil tool	270	(2)
Customizing Your Brushes and Pencils	272	(3)
Restoring Images	275	(12)
Adding Light and Shadows	276	(1)
Using the Dodge tool to lighten tones	276	(1)
Burning your image to darken areas	276	(1)
Using Smudging, Sharpening, and Blurring Tools	277	(5)
Finger-painting to blend colors and textures	279	(1)
Using the Sharpen tool to add detail	280	(1)
Blurring some or all of your image	280	(2)
Finding Relief with the Healing Tools	282	(5)
Cloning content to cover damage and unwanted content	282	(2)
Removing red-eye	284	(3)
Correcting Faded, Funny, and Funky Colors	287	(6)
Adjusting Color Balance	287	(4)
Adjusting color levels	287	(1)
Using the Color Variations dialog box	288	(1)
Equalizing colors	288	(2)
Fixing a color cast	290	(1)
Working with Color Intensity and Quality	291	(2)
Increasing and decreasing color intensity	291	(1)
Tinkering with brightness and contrast	292	(1)
Restoring and Enhancing Photos with Filters and Special Effects	293	(10)
Working with Filters	293	(7)
Understanding how filters work	293	(1)
Fixing flaws with corrective filters	294	(3)
Turning photos into paintings with artistic filters	297	(1)
Going a little crazy with special-effects filters	298	(2)
Getting Your Hands on Third-Party Filters	300	(1)
Using the Effects Tab Palette	301	(2)
Part IV: Organizing, Printing, and Sharing Your Pictures	303	(28)
Storing and Organizing Your Digital Photos	303	(10)
Organizing Your Photos	303	(6)
Using your computer's file-management tools	304	(2)
Using photo album software	306	(2)
Using online galleries	308	(1)
Archiving and Backing Up Photos	309	(4)
Backing up your best shots	310	(1)
Using CD-R and CD-R/W	310	(1)
Looking ahead to DVD storage	311	(1)
Off-site storage for maximum safety	311	(2)
Printing Your Final Result	313	(8)
Why Do You Need Prints?	313	(1)
Evaluating Your Printing Options	314	(2)
Ink-jet printers	315	(1)
Laser printers	315	(1)
Dye-sublimation printers	315	(1)
Touring the Print Process	316	(2)
Preventing surprises with Print Preview	316	(1)
Understanding your output options	317	(1)
Printing your photos	318	(1)
Using Professional Printing Services	318	(3)
Choosing a service bureau	319	(1)
Tell them what you want---what you really really want	320	(1)
Knowing when you need a service bureau	320	(1)
Sharing Pictures on the Web	321	(10)
Appreciating the Advantages of Web Sharing	321	(3)
Sharing your personal photos	322	(1)
Sharing images with business associates	323	(1)
Choosing a Web-Based Photo Sharing System	324	(7)
Using commercial sharing sites and services	325	(1)
Using America Online's You've Got Pictures and Picture Center	325	(2)
Using your own Web space	327	(4)
Book II: Digital Movies	331	(2)
Part I: Getting Ready for Video	333	(50)
Introducing Digital Video	333	(8)
What Is Digital Video?	333	(5)
Comparing analog and digital video	334	(1)
Why DV is a big deal	335	(1)
Warming up to FireWire	336	(2)
What Can You Do with Editing Software?	338	(1)
Editing Video	339	(1)
Defining Key Image Terms	340	(1)
Choosing a Camcorder	341	(12)
Finding Information about Digital Camcorders	341	(1)
Mastering Video Fundamentals	342	(5)
The mechanics of video recording	342	(1)
Broadcast formats	343	(1)
Interlacing versus progressive scan	344	(1)
The many aspects of aspect ratios	345	(1)
Color	346	(1)
Picking a Camera Format	347	(3)
MiniDV	347	(1)
Digital8	348	(1)
Other digital formats	348	(1)
Analog formats	349	(1)
Choosing a Camera with the Right Features	350	(3)
Preparing Your Computer for Video	353	(20)
Resolving the Mac-versus-PC Debate Once and for All	353	(1)
Upgrading Your Computer	354	(2)
Using a Macintosh	356	(4)
Buying a new Mac	356	(1)
Upgrading ye olde Mac	357	(2)
Choosing Mac video software	359	(1)
Using a Windows PC	360	(8)
Buying a new PC	360	(2)
Upgrading your PC for digital video	362	(3)
Choosing Windows video software	365	(1)
Optimizing Windows for video work	365	(3)
Choosing Analog Capture Hardware	368	(2)
Selecting capture cards	368	(1)
Selecting external video converters	369	(1)
Improving the Human-Machine Interface	370	(3)
Working with video monitors	370	(1)
Using a multimedia controller	371	(2)
Getting the Right Accessories	373	(10)
Accessorizing Your Camcorder	373	(1)
Managing Your Camcorder's Battery	374	(2)
Sounding Out Audio Equipment	376	(4)
Choosing a microphone	376	(3)
Selecting an audio recorder	379	(1)
Shedding Some Light on the Scene	380	(1)
Stabilizing Your Video Image	381	(1)
Video-Shoot Checklist For Dummies	381	(2)
Basic checklist	381	(1)
Advanced checklist	382	(1)
Part II: Action! Shooting Fun Footage	383	(58)
Shooting Great Digital Video	383	(26)
Planning a Video Production	383	(1)
Composing a Shot	384	(3)
Being off-center	384	(1)
Avoiding amputations	385	(1)
Watching your background	385	(1)
Considering your angles	386	(1)
Evaluating Lighting	387	(9)
Setting white balance	387	(1)
Choosing lights	388	(1)
Bouncing light	389	(1)
Hitting with hard light	390	(1)
Suggesting with soft light	391	(1)
Controlling shadows	392	(1)
Key light (making Aunt Harriet a glamorous star)	393	(1)
Fill light (making Aunt Bertha a young starlet)	394	(1)
Backlight (giving Aunt Bertha much-needed depth)	395	(1)
Using lens filters	396	(1)
Controlling Focus and Exposure	396	(1)
Setting Up Your Camcorder	397	(1)
Shooting Video	398	(4)
Panning effectively	398	(1)
Knowing when to tilt	399	(1)
Avoiding timecode breaks	399	(1)
Mastering your tripod	400	(1)
Start recording early	401	(1)
Stop recording late	402	(1)
The Fine Art of Zooming	402	(3)
Zoom technique and the three shots	402	(1)
Performing the zoom	403	(2)
Recording Sound	405	(4)
Managing ambient noise	406	(1)
Creating your own sound effects	407	(2)
Importing Video Clips	409	(20)
Preparing for Digital Video Capture	409	(5)
Turning off unnecessary programs	410	(1)
Defragmenting your hard drive	410	(1)
Making room for video files	411	(2)
Connecting a digital camcorder to your computer	413	(1)
Capturing Digital Video	414	(7)
Capturing video in Pinnacle Studio	414	(6)
Capturing video in Apple iMovie	420	(1)
Troubleshooting Capture Problems	421	(2)
You can't control your camera through your capture software	421	(1)
Frames drop out during capture	422	(1)
Capture stops unexpectedly	423	(1)
Capturing Analog Video? Yuck!	423	(6)
Preparing for analog video capture	423	(1)
Setting up capture hardware	424	(2)
Capturing those analog clips	426	(3)
Importing Audio	429	(12)
Understanding Audio	429	(1)
Understanding sampling rates	429	(1)
Delving into bit depth	430	(1)
Recording Audio	430	(4)
Recording audio with your Macintosh	430	(2)
Recording voice-over tracks in Pinnacle Studio	432	(2)
Working with CD Audio	434	(2)
Importing CD audio in iMovie	434	(1)
Importing CD audio in Studio	435	(1)
Working with MP3 Audio	436	(5)
Ripping MP3 files on a Mac	437	(1)
Ripping MP3 files in Windows	438	(3)
Part III: The Cutting Room Floor: Editing Your Video	441	(88)
Choosing Your Video-Editing Software	441	(8)
Making the Smart Choice	441	(1)
It Began with iMovie	442	(2)
Studio Fits Like a Glove	444	(2)
Prosumers Prefer Premiere Pro	446	(1)
All Hail Final Cut Pro HD	446	(3)
Basic Video Editing	449	(22)
Starting a New Project	449	(2)
Working with Clips	451	(5)
Organizing clips	451	(2)
Previewing clips	453	(1)
Trimming out the unwanted parts	454	(2)
Turning Your Clips into a Movie	456	(6)
Visualizing your project with storyboards	456	(2)
Using the timeline	458	(4)
Fine-Tuning Your Movie on the Timeline	462	(6)
Trimming clips on the timeline	462	(2)
Removing clips from the timeline	464	(1)
Undoing what you've done	465	(1)
Adjusting playback speed	465	(3)
Fixing Color and Light Issues	468	(3)
Adjusting image qualities in Pinnacle Studio	468	(1)
Modifying light and color in Apple iMovie	469	(2)
Adding Transitions and Titles	471	(18)
Using Fades and Transitions between Clips	471	(6)
Choosing the best transition	472	(2)
Adding a transition to the timeline	474	(2)
Adjusting transitions	476	(1)
Giving Credit with Titles	477	(4)
Creating titles for your movies	478	(1)
Making effective titles	479	(2)
Using Studio's Title Editor	481	(5)
Editing titles	481	(4)
Changing backgrounds	485	(1)
Creating Titles in iMovie	486	(3)
Using Special Effects in iMovie and Adobe Premiere Pro	489	(30)
Compositing Video	489	(6)
Adjusting the opacity of a clip	490	(1)
Using keys	491	(3)
Creating a matte	494	(1)
Animating Clips	495	(3)
Adjusting Motion controls	496	(1)
Animating a clip	497	(1)
Using Effects in Premiere Pro	498	(5)
Built-in effects	498	(2)
Applying effects	500	(1)
Using key frames	501	(1)
Removing effects	502	(1)
Using Other Video Effects	503	(5)
Distorting video	503	(1)
Disorienting your audience (on purpose)	504	(1)
Working in the Golden Age of Cinema	505	(1)
Flipping video	506	(1)
Adding Web links to movies	507	(1)
Using Effects in iMovie	508	(2)
Built-in effects	508	(1)
The Effects panel	509	(1)
Filtering and Fixing the Picture	510	(9)
Adjusting colors	511	(1)
Adjusting brightness and contrast	512	(1)
Creating special looks	513	(1)
Using active effects	514	(5)
Adding Audio to the Mix	519	(10)
Using Audio in a Project	519	(8)
Understanding audio tracks	520	(1)
Adding audio to the timeline	521	(1)
Adjusting volume	522	(3)
Working with sound effects	525	(2)
Adding a Soundtrack to Your Project	527	(2)
Adding music from a CD	527	(1)
Generating background music with SmartSound	527	(2)
Part IV: Outputting Your Movies	529	(26)
Exporting Digital Video to Tape	529	(10)
Prepping Your Movie for TV Playback	529	(1)
Setting Up Your Hardware	530	(1)
Exporting the Movie	531	(8)
Exporting to tape in Apple iMovie	533	(1)
Exporting to tape in Pinnacle Studio	534	(5)
Putting Your Movies on the Internet	539	(16)
Choosing a Video Format	539	(5)
Streaming your video	540	(1)
Comparing player programs	541	(3)
Exporting Movies for the Online World	544	(8)
Making QuickTime movies with iMovie	544	(5)
Exporting Internet movies from Studio	549	(3)
Putting Your Movie on the Web	552	(3)
Finding an online home for your movies	552	(1)
Creating a (very) simple Web page	553	(2)
Part V: Filmography Tips	555	(28)
Video Preproduction: Planning, Storyboarding, and Scripting	555	(14)
Preparing to Shoot Digital Video	555	(10)
Using the right angle for the right situation	555	(1)
Selecting the length of shot	556	(2)
Using focus as a technique	558	(1)
Setting camera height	559	(1)
Moving the camera	559	(3)
Composing the picture	562	(1)
Framing the shot	563	(2)
Preproducing Your Digital Video	565	(4)
Storyboarding	565	(1)
Scripting	566	(2)
Planning the shoot	568	(1)
Digital Video Production Tips	569	(14)
Planning for Success and Preparing for Survival On Location	569	(6)
Types of on-location shoots	572	(3)
Using Time to Your Advantage	575	(4)
Working with People On and Off Camera	579	(4)
Roles that people play	579	(3)
Choosing effective clothing	582	(1)
Book III: Digital Music	583	(2)
Part I: Transforming Your Computer into a Music Machine	585	(70)
Digital Music Hath Charms	585	(14)
The Art of Being a Music Fan	586	(1)
The Seven Wonders of the Online Music World	586	(5)
Audio	587	(2)
Video	589	(1)
Merchandise	589	(1)
Radio	589	(1)
Concerts	590	(1)
News and information	590	(1)
Community	591	(1)
The Background of Music Online	591	(1)
BBS blues	591	(1)
Tommy, can you FTP me?	591	(1)
E-zines	592	(1)
Netcasts	592	(1)
Joining the Pack of MP3 Users	592	(4)
Music lovers	593	(1)
Musicians	594	(1)
Those darn companies	595	(1)
Disc jockeys	595	(1)
Print media	596	(1)
Comedy lovers	596	(1)
Students	596	(1)
Understanding the Legalities (And Illegalities) of MP3	596	(1)
Finding the Best MP3 Files	597	(1)
Playing and Creating MP3 Songs	597	(2)
Creating MP3 files from your own CDs	598	(1)
Copying MP3 files onto CDs	598	(1)
Using Your Computer as a Music Platform	599	(20)
Listening to CDs on Your Computer	599	(1)
What you need	599	(1)
Play it, Sam	600	(1)
Creating a Dream Music Machine	600	(14)
Choosing a computer	601	(1)
What about upgrading my PC's processor?	602	(2)
Picking a sound card	604	(1)
Installing a card	604	(3)
Selecting speakers	607	(1)
Adding memory	608	(1)
Exploring bandwidth	608	(1)
Storing stuff	609	(1)
Installing a larger hard drive	610	(1)
Installing or replacing an EIDE hard drive	611	(3)
Hooking Up the Stereo	614	(1)
Adding Groovy Extras	615	(3)
Scanners	615	(1)
Cameras	616	(1)
CD and DVD burners	616	(1)
Installing a new CD or DVD burner	617	(1)
Headphones	618	(1)
Enjoying digital music on portable MP3 players	618	(1)
Getting Away with the Minimum	618	(1)
Playing MP3 Files on Your Computer and Home Stereo	619	(18)
Using the Winamp MP3 Player	619	(10)
Installing and running Winamp	620	(6)
Customizing Winamp with add-ons	626	(3)
Other MP3 Players and Encoders	629	(1)
The Other MP3 Players	629	(2)
Windows Media Player	629	(1)
Sonique	630	(1)
Changing Your Default MP3 Player	631	(1)
Assigning an MP3 Player to Your MP3 Files (The Hard Way)	631	(1)
Playing Songs on Your iPod with Your Mac	632	(2)
Connecting Your Computer to Your Home Stereo	634	(3)
Internet Radio on Your Computer	637	(12)
What's an Internet Radio Station?	637	(2)
What's a SHOUTcast Radio Station?	639	(1)
What Equipment Do I Need for SHOUTcast?	640	(1)
Listening to SHOUTcast	640	(3)
Setting Up Your Own SHOUTcast Radio Station	643	(6)
Attending Internet Concerts	649	(6)
Getting Ready	649	(2)
The necessary hardware and software	649	(1)
A quick word about speed	650	(1)
Finding Concerts Online	651	(2)
Specialty sites	651	(1)
Wired sites	652	(1)
Guides for online Concerts	653	(1)
Fan pages	653	(1)
Going Backstage: Chatting with Bands Online	653	(1)
Finding Shows That You Missed	654	(1)
Getting Concert Information	654	(1)
Part II: Getting Music on Your Hard Drive	655	(38)
Ripping CDs into MP3s	655	(24)
Why Use Ripping Software?	655	(1)
How Do I Rip Songs from a CD?	656	(1)
Recording from Sources besides CDs	656	(7)
Connecting sound cables to your computer	657	(3)
Recording songs from albums	660	(2)
Recording from tapes, camcorders, a microphone, or TVs	662	(1)
Editing Recorded Music or Sounds	663	(2)
Making mono recordings play on both speakers	663	(1)
Cutting out the bad parts	664	(1)
Introducing Musicmatch Jukebox	665	(1)
Putting Musicmatch to Work	666	(7)
Making MP3 files from a CD	666	(3)
Playing MP3 files	669	(3)
Adding tag information and CD art	672	(1)
Creating MP3s from Albums or Other Sources	673	(1)
Creating CDs from MP3s	674	(2)
Listening to Internet Radio through Musicmatch	676	(3)
Listening to Musicmatch Radio	676	(1)
Creating a personalized station	677	(2)
Choosing an Online Music Vendor	679	(8)
So How Do You Rate a Vendor?	679	(2)
Apple's iTunes Music Store	681	(2)
Walmart.com	683	(1)
Napster	683	(2)
eMusic.com	685	(2)
Buying Music with iTunes	687	(6)
Setting Up an iTunes Music Store Account	687	(2)
Previewing a Song	689	(1)
Buying and Playing Songs	690	(1)
Handling Authorization	690	(1)
Setting the Music Store Preferences	691	(2)
Part III: Organizing Your Music	693	(18)
Downloading and Editing Song Information	693	(8)
Filling in the Blanks in iTunes	693	(6)
Retrieving information automatically	693	(1)
Retrieving information manually	694	(1)
Typing the song information	694	(1)
Editing artist and band names	694	(1)
Speed editing multiple songs	694	(3)
Adding liner notes and ratings	697	(2)
Adding MP3 Tag Data in Winamp	699	(2)
Organizing Your iTunes Music Library	701	(10)
Browsing by Artist and Album	701	(2)
Understanding the Song Indicators	703	(1)
Changing Viewing Options	703	(1)
Sorting Songs by Viewing Options	704	(1)
Searching for Songs	705	(1)
Organizing Your Music with Playlists	706	(2)
Creating playlists of songs	706	(1)
Creating playlists of albums	707	(1)
Viewing a Smart Playlist	708	(1)
Creating a smart playlist	708	(1)
Editing a smart playlist	709	(1)
Selecting a Playlist on Your iPod	709	(2)
Part IV: Using a Portable Music Player	711	(20)
Choosing a Portable Music Player	711	(12)
Deciding on a Storage System	711	(6)
CompactFlash	712	(1)
IBM Microdrive	713	(1)
SmartMedia	714	(1)
MultiMediaCard	714	(1)
CDs	714	(2)
Hard drives	716	(1)
Sony Memory Sticks	716	(1)
So, which storage format is best?	716	(1)
Introducing the iPod	717	(1)
Choosing a Portable Player	718	(3)
Skip protection	719	(1)
Radio tuner	719	(1)
Microphone	719	(1)
Directory and subdirectory restrictions	719	(1)
ID tags	720	(1)
Playback options	721	(1)
Power	721	(1)
Accessories	721	(1)
Playing MP3s through Your Home Stereo	721	(1)
Listening to MP3 Files in Your Car	721	(2)
Syncing an iPod to Your Mac	723	(8)
Changing Your Update Preferences	723	(1)
Updating Your iPod Automatically	724	(4)
Updating the entire library	725	(1)
Updating playlists	726	(1)
Updating selected songs	727	(1)
Updating Your iPod Manually	728	(3)
Copying music directly	728	(1)
Deleting music from your iPod	729	(2)
Book IV: CD & DVD Recording	731	(2)
Part I: Shake Hands with Your Recorder	733	(64)
Optical Storage (Or It's All in the Pits)	733	(18)
Always Begin with a Definition	734	(2)
How Is Data Recorded on CDs and DVDs?	736	(1)
It's All in the Dye	737	(2)
Behind the Curtain: Inside CD-RW and DVD Drives	739	(1)
The motor	739	(1)
The laser stuff	739	(1)
The tray	739	(1)
The controls	740	(1)
The emergency hole	740	(1)
Love Those Discs: CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD-R/W, DVD+R/W, and DVD-RAM	740	(3)
``Hey, can't I buy just one drive?''	740	(1)
First on the block: CD-R	741	(1)
Reusable and loving it: CD-RW	741	(1)
Ready for stardom: DVD-R/W	742	(1)
Oh joy, what confusion: DVD+R/W	742	(1)
The rewritable warehouse: DVD-RAM	743	(1)
What's Wrong with Tape, Disks, and Removable Media?	743	(1)
More reliable	743	(1)
Higher capacity	743	(1)
Cheaper	744	(1)
Faster and more convenient	744	(1)
Compatibility	744	(1)
What Do I Need in Order to Record?	744	(1)
What you need for Windows	744	(1)
What you need for the Macintosh	745	(1)
What Kind of Discs Can I Record?	745	(2)
Briefcase backup	746	(1)
Computer files and data of all sorts	746	(1)
Digital audio	746	(1)
Digital video	746	(1)
Network storage	746	(1)
Photo discs	747	(1)
Caring for Your Optical Pets	747	(4)
You gotta grip 'em by the rim!	747	(1)
The deadly enemies	748	(1)
The Disc Hotel	748	(1)
Sometimes you've just gotta wipe	749	(2)
Buying Your Recording Beast	751	(20)
Internal or External: Thinking Outside the Box	752	(1)
Stay inside with internal	752	(1)
Breathe the open air with external	752	(1)
``Edna, He Says We Need an Interface''	753	(3)
EIDE	753	(1)
SCSI	754	(1)
USB	754	(2)
FireWire	756	(1)
The X Factor Explained	756	(1)
Features on Parade	757	(3)
Make use of every pit: Overburning	758	(1)
Three words: Buffer, buffer, buffer	758	(1)
The ultimate safety net: Burnproof recording	759	(1)
Disc-at-Once: Funny name, important feature	760	(1)
Sorry, but It's Time to Talk CD and DVD Formats	760	(2)
UDF/packet writing	760	(1)
Video CD	761	(1)
CD Extra	761	(1)
Multisession/CD-ROM XA	762	(1)
Software You Just Gotta Have	762	(5)
A sharp-dressed disc	764	(1)
Slick recording add-ons	764	(1)
Tools to organize and play your stuff	765	(2)
Scavenging Fossilized CD and DVD Drives	767	(1)
Buying Your Drive at the Maze o' Wires Mall	768	(1)
Buying Your Drive on That Web Thing	768	(3)
DVD Is the Cat's Meow	771	(10)
``Do I Need DVD-R/W, DVD+R/W, or DVD-RAM?''	772	(1)
``Hey---I Can't Copy `Curse of the Mollusk People'!''	773	(1)
Weird, Wild DVD Format Stuff	774	(1)
DVD-V	774	(1)
DVD-A	774	(1)
Additional Toys You May Need	774	(7)
MPEG card: Aye, Matey, 'tis indeed a tiny file	775	(1)
FireWire port: The real information superhighway	775	(1)
Digital camcorder: Your digital muse	776	(1)
A-D converter: A bridge to the past	776	(2)
Video-editing software	778	(3)
Poof! You're a Computer Technician	781	(16)
Preparation Is the Key	781	(2)
Read the instructions	782	(1)
Collect what you need	782	(1)
Ask for help	782	(1)
Choose a spot to be external	783	(1)
Installing an EIDE Drive	783	(3)
What you need	783	(1)
The EIDE dance, step by step	784	(2)
Plugging and Playing with a USB Drive	786	(1)
Running the SCSI Gauntlet	787	(5)
IDs `R' Us	787	(1)
Coming to grips with termination	788	(2)
What you need	790	(1)
Your step-by-step guide to internal SCSI happiness	790	(1)
External SCSI stuff	791	(1)
Installing a FireWire Drive	792	(1)
``Um, It's Just Sitting There''	792	(5)
EIDE troubleshooting	793	(1)
SCSI troubleshooting	793	(1)
USB and FireWire troubleshooting	794	(3)
Part II: Measure Twice, Cut Once: Preparing for Recording	797	(40)
Choosing Recording Software	797	(10)
The Windows Tool of Choice: Roxio's Easy Media Creator 7	797	(5)
Formats and disc types out the wazoo	798	(1)
Wolfgang woulda loved this	799	(1)
Extra stuff they give you (without even asking)	799	(3)
Burning Up Your Macintosh with Roxio Toast 6 Titanium	802	(1)
Packet Writing Made Easy with Drag-to-Disc	803	(1)
Introducing the Editors: iMovie, iDVD, and Premiere Pro	804	(3)
Preparing Your Computer for CD and DVD Recording	807	(16)
Creating Elbowroom	808	(3)
'Course, you could just buy a bigger hard drive	808	(1)
Locate unnecessary stuff	809	(1)
Let the wizard do it!	810	(1)
Call in the professionals	810	(1)
Checking under the Rug	811	(4)
Fixing your drive the Windows way	812	(1)
Fixing things with Mac OS 9.2	813	(1)
Fixing things in Mac OS X	814	(1)
Avoiding Fragments	815	(2)
Avoiding the Unexpected	817	(3)
Scheduled events and scripts	817	(1)
Network access	817	(1)
Power-saving mode and screen savers	818	(2)
Terrific Tips and Tweaks	820	(3)
Avoid disk-intensive, memory-hungry behemoths	820	(1)
Give your recording software some elbowroom	820	(1)
Speed up your hard drive	821	(1)
Beware the flagged-out laptop	822	(1)
Making Choices Before Your Recording Session	823	(14)
Picking a Jazzy Format	823	(4)
Data, lovely data	823	(1)
Sweet audio for the ears	824	(1)
Straddle the line with mixed mode	825	(1)
Throw caution utterly to the wind with packet writing	826	(1)
``Disc-at-Once? Track-at-Once? Why Not All-at-Once?''	827	(3)
Meet you at the track	827	(1)
Do it all at once	828	(1)
Multipurpose multisession	829	(1)
Long Filenames Are Your Friends	830	(1)
The Right Way to Organize Files	831	(1)
``Thumbnails? You're Kidding, Right?''	832	(1)
Converting Files for Fun and Profit	833	(4)
Part III: Starting the Recording Process	837	(36)
Taking Easy Media Creator for a Spin	837	(14)
Recording Data: Putting Files on a Disc	837	(5)
Recording Your Music	842	(3)
Copying a Disc	845	(2)
Using a Disc Image	847	(1)
Erasing a Rewritable Disc	848	(1)
Project: Developing MP3 Fever	849	(2)
Toasting Mac Discs	851	(12)
Putting Files on a Disc	851	(3)
Recording an Audio CD	854	(1)
Ooh! It's a Hybrid!	855	(3)
Let Your Video Do the Talking	858	(2)
Project: Recording a Backup DVD-ROM Disc	860	(3)
Burning Data with Drag-to-Disc	863	(10)
``Whaddya Mean, I Have to Format?''	863	(3)
Just Add Files and Stir	866	(1)
``Wait---I Didn't Mean to Trash That!''	867	(1)
Eject, Buckaroo, Eject!	867	(1)
Adding Files to an Existing Disc	868	(1)
Erasing a Drag-to-Disc Disc	869	(1)
``Whoops, I Can't Read This Disc''	869	(1)
Project: Creating a New Employee Disc	870	(3)
Part IV: Meeting Your Data Storage Needs	873	(22)
Heavy-Duty Recording	873	(12)
It's Data, It's Audio, It's Mixed!	873	(2)
Putting data before your audio	873	(1)
The extra behind CD Extra	874	(1)
Recording That MTV Video	875	(1)
Project: Recording a Mixed-Mode Disc	875	(3)
Project: Recording a CD Extra Disc	878	(3)
Project: Recording a DVD Movie Disc	881	(4)
Burning Large Files to DVD	885	(10)
What's Involved in Recording a DVD-R or DVD+R?	885	(1)
The Heavy Stuff: Introducing DVD Authoring	886	(2)
Welcome to the world of iDVD	887	(1)
Letting loose with DVD Studio Pro	887	(1)
Letting UDF Do the Work	888	(1)
Project: Recording a DVD-R with iDVD	888	(7)
Index	895