Using Multimedia

    This chapter provides information on using the multimedia capabilities of your notebook. Read this chapter to learn how to:

Use the diskette drive
Use a CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive
Create CDs
Use Audio DJ
Adjust the volume
Play CDs and DVDs
Record and play audio files
Use Windows Media Player
Use MusicMatch
View the display on a television
Capture video using the IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire or i.Link) port

Using diskettes

    The diskette drive uses 3.5-inch diskettes (sometimes called floppy disks ). Diskettes are useful for storing files or transferring files to another computer.

Warning

Do not expose diskettes to water or magnetic fields. Exposure could damage the data on the diskette.

To use a diskette:

    1. Insert the diskette into the diskette drive with the label facing up.

Important

If the diskette drive is not in the bay, you will need to swap modules to use it. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. To access a file on the diskette in Windows XP, click Start, then click My Computer. Double-click the drive letter, then double-click the file name.
      - OR -
      To access a file on the diskette in Windows 2000, double-click the My Computer icon, the drive letter, then double-click the file name.
    1. To remove the diskette, make sure the drive activity indicator is off (see "Status indicators"), then press the diskette eject button.

Using a CD and DVD drive

    You can use your computer to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia features, such as making recordings, listening to audio CDs, and watching DVD movies.

Identifying drive types

    Your notebook may contain one or more of the following drive types. Look on the front of the drive for one of the following logos:

CD drive

Use a CD drive for installing programs, playing audio CDs, and accessing data.

You cannot use this drive to burn CDs.

CD-RW drive

Use a CD-RW drive for installing programs, playing audio CDs, and accessing data.

You can also use this drive for recording music and data to CD-R or CD-RW discs. You can only write to a CD-R disc once. You can write to and erase CD-RW discs multiple times.

DVD drive

Use a DVD drive for installing programs, playing audio CDs and DVDs, and accessing data.

You cannot use this drive to burn CDs.

Combination DVD/CD-RW drive

Use a combination DVD/CD-RW drive for installing programs, playing audio CDs and DVDs, and accessing data.

You can also use this drive for recording music and data to CD-R or CD-RW discs. You can only write to a CD-R disc once. You can write to and erase CD-RW discs multiple times.

Inserting a CD, CD-RW, or DVD

To insert a CD, CD-RW, or DVD:

    1. Press the eject button on the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. After the tray opens slightly, pull the disc tray completely open.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. Place the disc in the tray with the label facing up, then press down carefully on the disc until it snaps into place.

Important

When you place a single-sided disc in the tray, make sure that the label side is facing up. If the disc has two playable sides, place the disc so that the name of the side you want to play is facing up.

    1. Push the tray in until it is closed.

Creating CDs using your CD-RW or DVD/CD-RW drive

    You can use your CD-RW or DVD/CD-RW drive to create CDs.

Creating data CDs

    Use Roxio Easy CD Creator to create data CDs. Data CDs are ideal for backing up important files such as tax records, letters, MP3s, or photos.

Important

We recommend that you do not use your notebook for other tasks while creating a CD.

Important

If you record copyrighted material on a CD, you need permission from the copyright owner. Otherwise, you may be violating copyright law and be subject to payment of damages and other remedies. If you are uncertain about your rights, contact your legal advisor.

To create a data CD:

    1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-RW or combination DVD/CD-RW drive.

Important

You must have a CD-RW or combination DVD/CD-RW drive in your notebook to create a CD. To determine the type of drive in the module bay, examine the drive tray's plastic cover and compare the logo to those listed in "Identifying drive types" on page 74. To be able to create a CD, the imprint must say Recordable Rewriteable . If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. If a CD Drive dialog box opens, click Create a CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click OK. The Project Selector window opens.
      - OR -
      If a dialog box does not open, click Start, All Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click Project Selector. The Project Selector window opens.
    1. Move your pointer over make a data CD, then click dataCD project. The Easy CD Creator window opens.

    1. Click the arrow button to open the Select Source Files list, then click the folder where your files are located.

    2. Click the file you want to record (hold down the Ctrl or Shift key when you click to select multiple files) in the Source pane, then click Add.
    1. After you have added all of your files, click record. The Record CD Setup window opens.
    1. Click Start Recording.

Creating music CDs

    Use Roxio Easy CD Creator to create music CDs from other music CDs or MP3 files.

Important

We recommend that you do not use your notebook for other tasks while creating a CD.

Important

If you record copyrighted material on a CD, you need permission from the copyright owner. Otherwise, you may be violating copyright law and be subject to payment of damages and other remedies. If you are uncertain about your rights, contact your legal advisor.

To create music CDs:

    1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-RW drive.

Important

You must have a CD-RW or combination DVD/CD-RW drive in your notebook to create a CD. To determine the type of drive in the module bay, examine the drive tray's plastic cover and compare the logo to those listed in "Identifying drive types" on page 74. To be able to create a CD, the imprint must say Recordable Rewriteable . If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

Tips & Tricks

Most car stereos read CD-R discs, but do not read CD-RW discs.

    1. If a CD Drive dialog box opens, click Create a CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click OK. The Project Selector window opens.
      - OR -
      If a dialog box does not open, click Start, All Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click Project Selector. The Project Selector window opens.
    1. Move your pointer over make a music CD, then click musicCD project. The Easy CD Creator window opens.

    1. Click the arrow button to open the Select Source Files list, then click the folder where your files are located.

    2. Click the file you want to record (hold down the Ctrl or Shift key when you click to select multiple files) in the Source pane, then click Add.

Tips & Tricks

You can add any combination of music tracks or MP3 files to a music CD project. You can add up to 99 tracks and files, or up to 650 MB (74-minute CD) or 700 MB (80-minute CD) of tracks and files to a music CD project.

    1. After you have added all of your tracks and files, click record. The Record CD Setup window opens.
    1. Click Start Recording.

Copying CDs

    Use CD Copier to make backup copies of almost any type of CD.

Important

You must have a CD-RW or combination DVD/CD-RW drive in your notebook to create a CD. To determine the type of drive in the module bay, examine the drive tray's plastic cover and compare the logo to those listed in "Identifying drive types" on page 74. To be able to create a CD, the imprint must say Recordable Rewriteable . If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

Important

We recommend that you do not use your notebook for other tasks while creating a CD.

    If you have only one drive and it is a CD-RW or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, you can copy a CD by using Easy CD Creator to create a CD image on your hard drive, then copy that image to a CD-R or CD-RW. For more information on creating a CD image, see the Easy CD Creator online help.

    Use the following procedure if you have two drives installed in your modular bays which can read CDs and at least one of which can write to CD-Rs or CD-RWs.

Important

If you record copyrighted material on a CD, you need permission from the copyright owner. Otherwise, you may be violating copyright law and be subject to payment of damages and other remedies. If you are uncertain about your rights, contact your legal advisor.

To copy CDs using two drives:

    1. Insert the CD you want to copy into your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive.

    2. If a dialog box opens, click Take no action.

    3. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-RW or DVD/CD-RW drive.

    4. If a CD Drive dialog box opens, click Create a CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click OK. The Project Selector window opens.
      - OR -
      If a dialog box does not open, click Start, All Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator, then click Project Selector. The Project Selector window opens.
    1. Move your pointer over CD copier, then click CD copier. If this is the first time you have used CD Copier, read the Welcome to Roxio CD Copier dialog box, then click OK. The CD Copier window opens.

    1. On the Source and Destination tab, click the arrow button to open the Copy from list, then click the drive that contains the source CD.

    2. Click the arrow button to open the Record to list, then click the drive that contains the blank CD (this is your CD-Recorder).

    3. Click Copy.

Using Audio DJ

    Audio DJ plays audio CDs in your CD, CD-RW, DVD or combination DVD/CD-RW drive or .MP3 files (stored either on your hard drive or on a CD) using your notebook's speakers or headphones plugged into the headphone jack. The Audio DJ can be used only while the notebook is turned off. While using Audio DJ, the LCD panel can be open or closed. When the LCD panel is open, the display will turn off approximately 30 seconds after Audio DJ is started. Press any key on the keyboard to turn the display back on.

    Audio DJ operates in the following modes:

Play - a song is playing
Pause - song play has been paused
Stop - song play has been stopped
Playlist - select a different play channel (see "Assigning music to play channels")

Important

If you leave Audio DJ in Playlist mode for longer than a few minutes, Audio DJ will turn off. You will need to turn Audio DJ on again to use it.

Audio DJ controls

    The controls for Audio DJ are located on the front of the notebook.

Component Icon Description

Power indicator

Indicates the current Audio DJ status:

  • LED blinking green - Audio DJ is turned on. While the Audio DJ LED is blinking, the notebook's power indicator will also be green.
  • LED off - Audio DJ is turned off.

Power button

Press the button to turn the Audio DJ on or off. The button works only when the notebook is turned off.

Back

In play, pause, or stop mode: Skip back one song in the channel.

In playlist mode: Skip back one channel.

Play/Pause

In playlist, pause, or stop mode: Start playing your current channel.

In play mode: Pause playing.

Stop

In play, pause, or playlist mode: Enter stop mode.

In stop mode: Enter playlist mode.

Next

In play, pause, or stop mode: Skip ahead one song in the channel.

In playlist mode: Skip ahead one channel.

Volume down

Press to decrease the volume.

Volume up

Press to increase the volume.

Important

Mute is not available with Audio DJ.

Assigning music to play channels

    Before you can play music with Audio DJ, you need to assign music to at least one play channel. There are nine play channels available and each can contain either a folder of .MP3 files, an audio CD in your CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, or a play list created in another music playing program such as MusicMatch or Windows Media Player.

To assign music to play channels:

    1. With your notebook turned on and running Windows, click Start, All Programs, O2Micro, then click Play List Editor. The Music Wizard window opens.
    1. Click add, then click either folder or play list. The Select files for playlist dialog box opens.
    1. Click one of the following to add it to your Audio DJ play channel:
A folder containing .MP3 files
A playlist created in Windows Media Player or MusicMatch
An audio CD in your CD drive

    1. Click Select.

    2. Click OK.

    3. Repeat Step 2 through Step 5 to assign music to other play channels. Your Audio DJ can play up to nine play channels.

Playing your play channels

To play your Audio DJ channels:

    1. Open the LCD panel (optional).

Important

If you use the notebook's speakers while using Audio DJ, open the LCD panel for best sound quality.

    1. With the notebook turned off (not in Standby or Hibernate mode), press the Audio   DJ power button. The Audio DJ starts.

    2. Press the  (play) button to play the first song in your first channel
      -OR-
      Press the   (stop) button to put Audio DJ into playlist mode to select another channel using the back button or next button.

Important

Pressing the notebook's power button while Audio DJ is running will turn off Audio DJ.

    1. Press the Audio DJ power button again to turn off Audio DJ.

Adjusting the volume in Windows XP

    You can use the volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the volume of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust the overall volume level using hardware controls:

On the Audio DJ control panel, press the   or   to change the volume, or press the mute system combination   +   to turn off all sound.

To adjust the overall volume level from Windows:

    1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.

    2. Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.

    3. Click the Volume tab.
    1. Drag the Device Volume slider to change the volume or click to select the Mute check box, then click OK.

To adjust specific volume levels:

    1. Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.

    2. Click/Double-click the Adjust the system volume or Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog box opens.

    3. Click the Volume tab.
    1. Click Advanced in the Device volume area.
      If the device you want to adjust does not appear in the window, click Options, Properties, the check box next to the audio device you want to appear, then click OK.

    1. Drag the volume level and balance sliders for the device you want to adjust. For more information about the volume controls, click Help in the window.

    2. Click X in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

Adjusting the volume in Windows 2000

    You can use the volume controls to adjust the overall volume and the volume of specific sound devices in your computer.

To adjust overall volume level:

On the Audio DJ control panel, press the   or   to change the volume, or press the mute system combination   +   to turn off all sound.
      - OR -
Click the speaker icon   on the taskbar, then drag the slider to change the volume or click to select the Mute check box.

To adjust specific volume levels:

    1. Double-click the speaker icon   on the taskbar. The Volume Control window opens.
      If the device you want to adjust does not appear in the Volume Control window, click Options, Properties, the audio device you want to appear, then click OK.

    1. Drag the volume level and balance sliders for the device you want to adjust. For more information about the volume controls, click Help in the window.

    2. Click X in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

Listening to CDs in Windows XP

    Use the Windows Media Player to listen to CDs in Windows XP. For more information about the using the Windows Media Player, click Help . You can also use the Audio DJ (see "Using Audio DJ") or MusicMatch (see "Using MusicMatch") to listen to your CDs.

To play a CD:

    1. Insert a CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. If a message asks you to chose a CD player, click Windows Media Player. The Windows Media Player opens.

    2. When the media player opens, click   (play).

Listening to CDs in Windows 2000

To play a CD:

Insert a CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive. The CD Player opens and the CD plays.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

      If the CD Player does not open automatically when you insert the CD, open it from the Start menu by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then clicking CD Player. When the CD Player opens, click  (play).

Recording and playing audio

    Use the instructions below to make an audio recording by speaking into the microphone. Your notebook has a built-in microphone; however, you can also plug an external microphone into the available microphone jack. See "Left side" for the location of the notebook's microphone jack or "Back" for the location of the optional port replicator's microphone jack.

Help and Support

For more information about recording and playing audio in Windows XP, click Start , then click Help and Support .

To make an audio recording:

    1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Sound Recorder. The Sound Recorder opens.

    1. Click  (record), then speak into the microphone.

    2. When you finish recording, click  (stop).

    3. Click File, then click Save As. The Save As dialog box opens.

    4. Name the recording, specify the location where you want to save the recording, then click Save. The recording is saved.

To play an audio recording in Sound Recorder:

    1. Open the Sound Recorder.

    2. Click File, then click Open. The Open dialog box opens.

    3. Click the file you want to play, then click Open.

    4. Play the file by clicking  (play), then stop playing the file by clicking  (stop).

Playing audio and video files with the Windows Media Player

    The Windows Media Player can play several types of audio and video files, including WAV, MIDI, MP3, AU, AVI, and MPEG formats. For more information about the using the Windows Media Player, click Help .

To play a file using the Windows Media Player:

    1. In Windows XP, click Start, All Programs, then click Windows Media Player.
      - OR -
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, then click Windows Media Player.
      The Windows Media Player opens.

    1. Click File, then click Open. The Open dialog box opens.

    2. Click the file you want to play, then click Open.

    3. Play the file by clicking  (play), then stop playing the file by clicking  (stop).

Playing a DVD

    A Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) is similar to a standard CD but has greater data capacity. Because of this increased capacity, full-length movies, several albums of music, or several gigabytes of data can fit on a single disc. If your computer has a DVD drive or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, you can play DVDs with the DVD Player program. For more information about playing DVDs, click Help in the DVD player program.

To play a DVD:

    1. Make sure that the speakers are turned on or headphones are plugged in and that the volume is turned up.

    2. Turn off your screen saver and standby timers.

    3. Click Start, All Programs, DVD Player, then click DVD Player. The DVD Player video screen and control panel open.

    4. Insert a DVD into the DVD or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, then click  (play). The DVD plays.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. To specifically control the DVD or adjust the volume, use the controls in the DVD player. For more information on using the DVD player, see its online help.

Using MusicMatch

    Using MusicMatch™, you can:

Play music CDs
Create MP3 music files from your music CDs
Edit music track information
Use your music files to build a music library
Listen to Internet Radio

Playing CDs

To play a music CD in Windows XP:

    1. Insert the music CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive on your computer.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

      When you insert a CD, the Audio CD dialog box opens.
    1. Click Play Audio CD using MUSICMATCH Jukebox, then click OK. MusicMatch opens, the CD begins playing, and the names of the music tracks appear in the playlist area.

To play a music CD in Windows 2000:

    1. Double-click the musicmatch JUKEBOX icon on your desktop. MusicMatch opens.

    2. Insert the music CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive on your computer.

Important

If the drive you want to use is not in one of the bays, you will need to swap modules. For more information about swapping modules, see "Changing drives".

    1. Click the CD tab in the MusicMatch window. The names of the music tracks appear in the playlist area.
    1. Click  (play).

Creating music files

    Using MusicMatch, you can copy the tracks from a music CD to your computer's hard drive as MP3 files. MP3 (MPEG Layer 3) is a standard for digitally compressing high-fidelity music into compact files without noticeably sacrificing quality. MP3 files end in the file extension .mp3.

To create (rip) MP3 files:

    1. Open MusicMatch by clicking Start, All Programs, MusicMatch, then clicking MusicMatch Jukebox.

    2. Insert a CD into the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or combination DVD/CD-RW drive, then click   (record). The Recorder window opens.

    3. By default all tracks in the track list are selected. Clear the checkbox of any audio track you do not want to record (rip).

    4. Click   ( REC ), then follow the on-screen instructions.

Editing track information

    After you add a CD track as an MP3 file to your music library, you can edit the track's information.

To edit track information:

    1. In MusicMatch, click My Library. The library window opens.

    2. In the library window, right-click the file, then click Edit Track Tag(s). The Edit Track Tag dialog box opens.

    1. Enter information such as track title, lead artist, album, and genre.

    2. Click OK. The new track information appears in the MusicMatch playlist, music library, and recorder.

Building a music library

    Use MusicMatch to build a music library. You can organize your music tracks by categories, find a track quickly by using the sort features, and add information to a music file.

    You can add music tracks to your music library by:

Creating MP3 files - When you create MP3 files from the tracks on your music CD, MusicMatch automatically adds these files to your music library.
Dragging and Dropping - Drag and drop files from Windows Explorer or your desktop to the music library.
Downloading files from the Internet - When you are connected to the Internet, MP3 files that you download are automatically added to your music library.

Changing the music library display settings

To change the music library display settings:

    1. In MusicMatch, click Options, then click Settings. The Settings window opens.

    2. Click the Music Library tab.
    1. Click the categories that you want to display in the columns, then click  OK.

Listening to Internet radio

    Use the Radio feature in MusicMatch to listen to Internet Radio stations.

To listen to an Internet radio station:

    1. Connect to the Internet, then open MusicMatch.
    1. Click Radio Stations. The Radio window opens.
    1. To select one of the MusicMatch Internet radio stations, click one of the Popular Stations. MusicMatch connects to the station and plays the audio.
      -OR-
      To play another Internet radio station, click Broadcast Stations, the appropriate category in the Station Selector , the radio station, then click Play. MusicMatch connects to the station and plays the audio.

Using advanced features

    You can also use MusicMatch to create your own music CDs and to download MP3 files to your portable MP3 player. For more information, see the MusicMatch online Help.

Viewing the display on a television

    The TV out (NTSC/PAL Composite Video) jack on your notebook lets you view your notebook display on a television screen using a standard RCA video cable. The S-Video out jack on your port replicator lets you view your notebook display on a television screen using a standard S-Video cable.

Important

To turn on external video by default, connect the television (or other external video device) before starting your notebook.

Important

Audio is not transmitted through the TV out jack. Use the built-in speakers, a set of headphones or external powered speakers, or connect your notebook to a stereo system to hear sound while playing a DVD. DVD playback to a VCR will be scrambled by copyright protection technology.

To view your notebook display on a television:

    1. With your notebook off, connect one end of a standard RCA video cable to the TV out (Composite Video) jack on your notebook. For the location of the TV out jack on your notebook, see "Back".
      - OR -
      With your notebook off, connect one end of a standard S-Video cable to the S-Video out jack on your port replicator. For the location of the S-Video out jack on your port replicator, see "Back".

    1. Connect the other end of the cable to the Video in jack on your television or VCR.

    2. Turn on the television or VCR.

    3. Start your notebook.

    4. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Appearance and Themes.
      -OR-
      In Windows 2000, click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens.

    1. Click/Double-click the Display icon. The Display Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Settings tab.

    1. Click Advanced. The (Multiple Monitors) and RADEON 7500 Properties dialog box opens.

    2. Click the Displays tab.

    1. Click the Enable TV button if it is not already enabled.

    2. Click TV to make any adjustments to the TV settings.

    3. Click Apply.

    4. Click OK to close the Default Monitor and RADEON 7500 Properties dialog box.

    5. Click OK to close the Display Properties dialog box.

    6. Click X to close the Control Panel window.

Capturing video

    MGI VideoWave IV is a video capture program that lets you capture and edit full-motion video, single images, and audio through the IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire or i.Link) port. If your notebook has the IEEE 1394 port installed, MGI VideoWave IV has already been installed on your system. To find the location of the IEEE 1394 port, see "Left side".

To use MGI VideoWave:

    1. Connect the IEEE 1394 cable on your external source, such as a video camera, to the IEEE 1394 port   on the side of your notebook.
    1. Click Start, All Programs, then click MGI VideoWave IV. The program starts. For more information on using MGI VideoWave, see its online Help.