B
The Audio I/O Port and Multimedia
Along with the introduction of the Personal DECstation, Digital has introduced
a new line of TURBOchannel-based multimedia
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hardware options (called
DECmedia) and corresponding multimedia software products (called XMedia
Tools) which have been designed for use with the audio I/O port of the Personal
DECstation (standard with each system).
The Personal DECstation audio I/O port provides for recording and playback,
tone generation, or telephone quality sound generation using a codec (encoder
/decoder) circuit.
The codec can process incoming audio data and store it on magnetic media.
Conversely, the codec can produce a modulated analog output signal from
voice-grade digital audio data stored on magnetic media or CD–ROM.
The analog audio input and output signals of the codec are connected to a
4-wire modular jack (visible on the rear panel), and the output signal also runs
to a small speaker within the system enclosure (not externally visible).
You may connect the 4-wire modular jack to any 4-wire modular jack telephone
handset or headset, though Digital recommends that, for the headset, you
order DEC part number VSXXX-JA.
Note
The 4-wire modular jack is intended to be connected to either a headset
or a handset. It is not intended for connection to a telephone line cord.
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In the workstation context, the term
multimedia
refers to a set of new technologies
that allow for the capture, manipulation, presentation, and integration of information
involving diverse, time-dependent data types such as animated graphics, audio,
scanned still images or video, as well as ordinary text or spreadsheet data. Existing
or anticipated multimedia configurations connect the workstation with various
sources and sinks of these data types: video cameras, tape recorders, laser disks,
analog audio circuits, digital audio recording equipment or musical instrument
interfaces, digital or analog telephone equipment, FAX, and other media.
The Audio I/O Port and Multimedia B–1