Page 112 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Multimedia Systems

notes 6.3.1 random access Memory (raM)
The RAM is the main memory where the operating system is initially loaded and the application
programs are loaded at a later stage. The RAM is volatile in nature and every program that is quit/
exit is removed from the RAM. More the RAM capacity, higher will be the processing speed.
If there is a budget constraint, then it is certain to produce a multimedia project on a slower or
limited-memory computer. On the other hand, it is profoundly frustrating to face memory (RAM)
shortages time after time, when you are attempting to keep multiple applications and files open
simultaneously. It is also frustrating to wait the extra seconds required to each editing step when
working with multimedia material on a slow processor.
On the Macintosh, the minimum RAM configuration for serious multimedia production is about
32 MB; but even 64 MB and 256 MB systems are becoming common, because while digitizing
audio or video, you can store more data much quickly in RAM. And when you are using some
software, you can quickly chew up available RAM—for example, Photoshop (16 MB minimum,
20 MB recommended); After Effects (32 MB required), Director (8 MB minimum, 20 MB better);
Page maker (24 MB recommended); Illustrator (16 MB recommended); Microsoft Office (12 MB
recommended).
In spite of all the marketing hype about processor speed, this speed is ineffective if not accompanied
by sufficient RAM. A fast processor without enough RAM may waste processor cycles while it
swaps needed portions of program code into and out of memory.

In some cases, increasing available RAM may show more performance improvement on your
system than upgrading the processor clip. On an MPC platform, multimedia authoring can also
consume a great deal of memory. It may be needed to open many large graphics and audio files,
as well as your authoring system, all at the same time to facilitate faster copying/pasting and then
testing in your authoring software. Although 8 MB is the minimum under the MPC standard,
much more is required as of now.

6.3.2 read-only Memory (roM)
Read-only memory is not volatile, Unlike RAM, when you turn off the power to a ROM chip,
it will not forget, or lose its memory. The ROM is typically used in computers to hold the small
BIOS program that initially boots up the computer, and it is used in printers to hold built-in
fonts. Programmable ROMs (called PROM’s) allow changes to be made that are not forgotten. A
new and inexpensive technology, optical read-only memory (OROM), is provided in proprietary
data cards using patented holographic storage. Typically, OROMs offer 128 MB of storage, have
no moving parts, and use only about 200 milliwatts of power, making them ideal for handheld,
battery-operated devices.

6.3.3 floppy and Hard Disks
Adequate storage space for the production environment can be provided by large capacity hard
disks; a server-mounted disk on a network; Zip, Jaz or SyQuest removable cartridges; optical
media; CD-R (compact disc-recordable) discs; tape; floppy disks; banks of special memory devices
or any combination of the above.
Removable media (floppy disks, compact or optical discs and cartridges) typically fit into a letter-
sized mailer for overnight courier service. One or many disks may be required for storage and
archiving each project, and it is necessary to plan for backups kept off-site.

Floppy disks and hard disks are mass-storage devices for binary data that can be easily read by
a computer. Hard disks can contain much more information than floppy disks and can operate
at far greater data transfer rates. In the scale of things, floppies are, however, no longer “mass-
storage” devices.

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