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Part VII ✦ Adding to Your Home Network You can start with taking a video yourself. Sony, Ricoh, Panasonic, and many others make dig- ital video records you can connect to your computer and transfer the digital video for editing. ✦ Adobe has many professional video production products, such as Premiere Pro and Encore, for editing videos and DVDs. DVStorm 2 by Canopus is a program that provides real-time editing of video in conjunc- tion with Adobe video production software, such as Premiere Pro and Encore. ✦ 2d3 makes SteadyMove Pro, a plug-in that provides a range of features for stabilizing film and video footage. Exploring music and sound editors In addition to video, your multimedia work might be with music or other recorded sounds. You can find editors to enhance, modify, and otherwise edit the sounds you record or that have been recorded by others. ✦ Kazaa Media Desktop is a workgroup file sharing software application. Kazaa features the ability to search for and download music, playlists, software, video files, docu- ments, and images. You can also use Kazaa to set up and manage music and video playlists. ✦ Morpheus is a file sharing program that is freeware. Morpheus includes enhanced pri- vacy and security to protect your network. It also automatically scans downloaded files with antivirus software to make sure you are protected when downloading digital media, including music, audio, video, films, games, photos, software, and documents. ✦ iMesh is another workgroup file sharing program that enables you to find, download, share, and publish audio and video files, computer games, images, and other docu- ments and files. It is another shareware program that is free for trial and then asks for a small fee if you buy the program. To locate any of the shareware mentioned here, go to www.shareware.com. ✦ Cakewalk Music Software offers Cakewalk Pro Audio for the serious musician. Cakewalk is a Musical Instrument Device Interface MIDI sequencer and digital audio worksta- tion. You can record, edit, process, and mix multitrack audio projects. Cakewalk can record up to 128 tracks of digital audio with up to 256 real-time effects. Depending on your interest in making music, you can spend anywhere from a couple of hun- dred dollars to thousands of dollars on this type of equipment. Examining CDDVD burning If you have a CD-RW or a CD-R drive, you can create your own music, image, or text CDs. You might want to record some favorite tunes on a CD, for example, or store all your family pho- tos on CD. Many applications can help you accomplish your goal. Be careful when recording other people’s music. Most CDs and other recorded music are copyrighted and cannot be recorded legally. Note Note Chapter 25 ✦ Understanding Multimedia Generally, a CD or DVD burner comes with its own software, such as Roxio’s Easy CD Creator. You can also use Easy DVD Creator. These are very serviceable for both data and music. Other software choices include the following: ✦ Nero 6.0 Ultra Edition package includes Nero Burning ROM 6 for CDDVD writing, Nero BackItUp for full backup control of your data, Wave Editor, Nero Soundtrax for multi- track audio editing and mixing, and much more. Nero is shareware made by Ahead Software. Nero Burning ROM 6 is an application that can write video and audio to CD-R and CD-RW discs. You can record images, music, and various other data. This software also includes Cover Editor, a tool for designing and printing CD covers. ✦ BurnQuick is another shareware program that enables you to burn data and audio files on CD. Other programs include JetAudio and MusicMatch Jukebox. Working with Multiplayer Games Gaming is one of the biggest pastimes for both teenagers and adults. Computers, the Internet, and home networking have made multiplayer games available to the general public, and the manufacturers of these games have made the games more realistic, exciting, and fun. Because of networking, you can play games that let you slay a dragon, solve a puzzle, save the world, and even create your own unique world in which others interact with you. If you’re playing games on your home network, you can play one-on-one or in groups; you can even play in teams. For the best gaming experience, you need high-speed connections between your computers, at least 100 Mbps if you’re using Ethernet. Wireless works well for many games as well; however, you want to be sure to check the game’s requirements. To run multiplayer games, each computer needs to have a copy of the game installed. Check the game’s documentation for information about configuring and playing the game. If you want to play over the Internet for multiplayer online games, you’ll need a broadband connec- tion, such as a DSL or cable modem. Console gaming Many video game systems can connect directly to your home network. If you want, you can connect multiple gaming systems, your PC, TVs, and such; up to 64 players can play a game simultaneously. Consoles for gaming include Xbox, PlayStation2, and GameCube. For more information about console gaming, see Chapter 20. People with home networks often host gaming parties on their local area networks so that the only competitors in the game are those you invite to your home. LAN gaming parties are great fun and perfect if you don’t have a broadband connection to the Internet. Xbox Microsoft’s Xbox is a powerful gaming console. You can connect the Xbox console to a TV and to the network, allowing multiple players to play games with people in other parts of the house. Tip