Audio-Visual Peripherals

It seems that over the years the gap between audio-visual products and computers has closed. If you produce video, still images, or what have you, your Mac can be the medium. Check out the corral of AV gear we've gathered for you here.

Speakers

It seems that no matter what Mac you own, it can always have better-sounding speakers. Except for maybe the Twentieth Anniversary Macs, high-quality audio on the Mac has never really been a reality. Sure, Apple's gotten better at pumping out sound through speakers designed for tiny transistor radios, but what if you want high-fidelity audio? Thankfully for audiophiles, manufacturers such as Harmon Kardon have developed speakers exclusively for the Mac.

For those of us who can never have enough bass, there is the Harmon Kardon iSub ($59; http://store.apple.com/). This 20-watt powered subwoofer operates using the USB port on slot-loading iMacs with CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and CD-RW drives running Mac OS 9 and later. It's also compatible with the Power Mac G4 models when used with the Apple Pro Speakers.

Are you ready for Harman Kardon's SoundSticks ($199)? This clear-plastic three-piece speaker system is designed for USB-equipped Macs. Set up the two freestanding speakers on either side of your monitor; plug in the iSub and let 'em rip. They're even Mac OS X ready.

Finally we have evidence that our world is getting flatter. TVs, LCD displays, PowerBooks, and now even speakers are flat (or very close to it). Take, for example, the iM-700 Flat Panel Audio System from Monsoon ($169). The compact 4-by-8-inch satellite speakers are incredibly flat, yet they project sound better than just about any commercially available computer speakers. The 5.25-inch powered subwoofer is a force to reckon with—now you can blast your office mates right out of their cubicles.

Microphones

There may come a time when you want to talk to your Mac. (No, we don't mean subjecting it to an angry tirade when your Web browser crashes.) You can control what your Mac does by using the built-in Speakable Items (part of the Speech control panel in OS 9 and earlier and Speech System Preferences in Mac OS X), or even dictate an entire chapter for the next edition of The Macintosh Bible.

Many Macs ship with Apple's less-than-exciting but functional unidirectional PlainTalk microphone ($15 if yours is missing in action). This external mic sits on top of your monitor and does a decent job for most applications. However, for dictation you'll want a headset-style microphone such as the Andrea NC-71 ($39.95; www.andreaelectronics.com; it frequently comes bundled with dictation software). It's lightweight and has a flexible metal boom to adjust the microphone to the perfect distance from your mouth.

If you already own a high-quality microphone you want to use, or don't have a sound input port on your new Mac, we suggest Griffin Technology's iMic ($35). This little doohickey lets you connect almost any microphone or sound-input device to your Mac's USB port. Why would you want to do that? High-frequency noise from many sources can degrade a computer's audio input and output quality. USB audio improves the sound in and out of the computer. The iMic will give you exceptional sound as well as adapt whatever input source you care to connect to it.

Digital Still Cameras

Digital cameras have revolutionized the world of photography. By substituting memory chips for film, you can capture pictures and save them on your Mac. From there you can manipulate your images, selectively print and e-mail them, and much more. If you're thinking of jumping into the digital-photography pool, there's a lot to consider before you make a purchase.

Your first consideration should be what you plan to do with your images. This is significant because the result will define the type of camera you require as well as how much you'll need to spend. And although the initial investment in the camera itself seems small when you consider you'll never need to buy film, remember that you will need to purchase a color printer and plenty of inkjet photo-quality paper to print your images.

Features.

Most digital cameras share the characteristics of typical point-and-shoot film cameras, such as automatic exposure, focus, and flash. However, high-end professional models are capable of overriding all the automatic operations in favor of manual tinkering. Beyond these fundamentals, digital cameras have some unique features as well.

The most striking difference is what makes digital cameras—well, digital. They store images on reusable flash-memory cards instead of on consumable film. The resolution and quality of the images taken affects the number of images you can store on the card. Cards come in varying capacities, from 2 MB up to 64 MB. You can also get a high-capacity IBM Microdrive in sizes starting at 1 GB.

Many digital cameras incorporate a small color LCD viewfinder to preview your subject before you shoot; this doubles for reviewing pictures you've taken and stored on the camera's flash-memory card. The LCD also allows precise framing of the subject, which is important because the optical viewfinder (the one you look through) is incapable of “seeing” exactly what the lens does.

Unfortunately, the LCD viewfinder can rapidly drain your camera batteries, so you should use it sparingly or keep an ample supply of (preferably rechargeable) batteries on hand.

Another handy feature is an optical-zoom lens that lets you zoom in on your subject for close-ups. Many cameras now include a digital zoom that boosts the zoom power by two or even three times the optical lens's range. The expanded range comes at a price—it degrades picture quality, as software built into the camera simply magnifies the center of the zoomed image.

Macintosh compatibility.

Without a doubt the most important feature in any digital camera is the ability to function with a Macintosh. Most manufacturers currently offer fast USB connections compatible with any USB-equipped Mac. If your Mac doesn't include a USB port, some thoughtful camera makers also include a serial cable that attaches to the modem or printer port. FireWire is catching on as another method of transferring pictures from the camera to the Mac, so look for models that feature the IEEE 1394 interface as an option. Most important, look for the phrase “Macintosh compatible” on the box or in promotional materials for the camera that interests you.

Megapixel equals mega quality.

The first time you hear the word “megapixel,” it will likely impress you—naturally, as it represents a million pixels. This represents the number captured by the CCD, the chip that grabs the images. The more pixels captured, the higher the resolution and the better the image quality. Current models of digital cameras are available in 1 million, 2 million, and 3 million megapixel configurations—4 million megapixels and higher are just around the corner, so stay tuned.

Resolution.

Another significant feature is the camera's resolution. This is completely different from the number of megapixels. In this case resolution has to do with the final output of your images. Check out the specifications and find the description for resolution, typically listed as something like 640 by 480. Remember that the higher the resolution, the larger the images will appear on your monitor and in print. A resolution of 640 by 480 will yield fairly small images on paper, so look for higher numbers. An image with a resolution of 1152 by 832 will provide a printed image of 8 by 10 inches.

Which model's right for you?

The lowest-priced digital cameras are the 1-megapixel models, frequently offered for as little as $150 to $250. These are good starter cameras, best suited for viewing images on your monitor, adding them to a Web site, or e-mailing them to friends. Pictures taken with these cameras look fine displayed on your monitor, but quality may become an issue if you print them. The greatest benefit of 1-megapixel models is their low cost, but you may sacrifice features—such as a zoom lens—and print quality.

The next step up are the 2-megapixel cameras, priced around $300. They typically offer more features and improved image quality. Priced accordingly, these models are a good choice if you desire more than just basic features. If you want to print photos larger than 8 by 10, don't consider anything less than one of these models.

If you're accustomed to professional photographic gear and have an eye for superior images, you should spend the big bucks for a 3-megapixel or higher model. Although you'll certainly pay a premium for one of these cameras, they do offer high-quality photo reproduction.

Digital-Video Camcorders

As a child I spent countless hours in my darkened bedroom reeling 8 mm film onto tiny spools and painstakingly sticking the pieces together with toxic glue. So when the home-video era began, I was overjoyed at the prospect of shooting hours of tape and watching it all on my television.

Apple stepped up to the plate and gave us two products that improved the entire home-video industry. The first was FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394), which allowed easy transfer of digitized video to the Mac. The second was the iMovie program, which simplified the entire editing process.

With a small investment in software and a digital camcorder, you can now produce professional-looking videos from your not-so-darkened bedroom.

Digital-video formats.

Consumer-level digital video is driven by two tape formats: Digital 8 and MiniDV. Both are capable of capturing 60 minutes of digitized video.

Digital 8 camcorders use standard 8 mm videotapes (Hi8 is recommended). They bridge the gap as you move from analog to digital, allowing you to play your previously recorded 8 mm tapes. A 120-minute Hi8 videotape yields a 60-minute video when used with a Digital 8 camcorder.

MiniDV tapes are slightly more expensive than Hi8 tapes. For a while, MiniDV cameras led the way in picture quality with up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution. But Sony has updated its Digital 8 technology and leveled the playing field, providing identical specifications.

Digital 8 vs. MiniDV.

Sony is currently the only manufacturer of Digital 8 cameras, generally priced around $100 less than MiniDV models. But MiniDV camcorders have an advantage over the Digital 8 models—their compact size. You can practically put one in your pocket.

Digital-video camcorders.

Digital-video camcorders work exactly the same way as any home-video camera. The big difference is that they digitize and compress the information before committing it to tape. The key advantage is that the copy doesn't experience any loss of signal or quality degradation compared to the original. All digital camcorders rely on FireWire to move video and audio to and from your Mac.

Features.

You have a lot to consider when choosing a digital camcorder. The most common feature set includes fold-out LCD screens (measuring anywhere from 2 to 4 inches); image stabilization (this helps you overcome the shakes); digital zoom (this extends the range of the camera's optical zoom); a color or black-and-white viewfinder; and one or more CCDs, which digitize whatever you photograph.

In addition, you can choose cameras that offer extra features, such as the ability to capture still images on a separate flash-memory card; and night vision, which bounces infrared beams off your subject so you can record images in total darkness.

CCDs and resolution.

As with a digital still camera, in a digital-video camera the quality of video images recorded relates directly to the number of CCDs a camera has and the number of pixels it can capture. Most consumer-level camcorders have just one CCD. In theory, the higher the resolution, the better the picture quality—the majority have resolutions between 200,000 and 500,000 pixels.

Camcorder brands and pricing.

Sony and Canon offer some of the most popular camcorders on the market. That doesn't necessarily make these companies the best out there, but they do offer some great options and high-quality products.

Those looking to go digital who already own an analog 8 mm camcorder can easily pick the Digital 8 route and ensure compatibility without converting older tapes. Current Sony pricing for its Digital 8 family runs from $540 to $1,170.

It shouldn't cost you a bundle to buy into the MiniDV revolution, but if you want lots of features, they'll add up quickly. Currently you can buy MiniDV camcorders for as little as $500, and they go all the way up to $2,000. Watch for prices to fall as manufacturers develop new models. [For more on the software end of digital filmmaking, including iMovie, see Chapter 16, “Multimedia.” —Ed.]

Web Cameras

A few years ago before the Internet really became popular, I wrote a sidebar on the only Web camera made at the time (the Connectix QuickCam). It was the coolest thing ever, even if it only produced gray-scale images.

The current batch of Web cameras offer full color, and many can record sound through built-in microphones. You can use one of these cameras to make a video phone call and capture still images or entire clips.

Kensington's VideoCam VGA ($69.99) plugs into your USB Mac and provides images as large as 640 by 480 pixels. It has a swivel base for easy positioning and includes CU-SeeMe software so you can connect with other Web-camera users anywhere in the world.

The iRez KritterUSB with Claw ($60.95) is an egg-shaped Web camera that looks like an iMac's offspring. Available in Blueberry, Tangerine, Ice, and Black, it features clawlike legs that allow it to grip anything you attach it to. It delivers 320-by-240 pixel images, but does not include a microphone. A new FireWire version of the Kritter should be shipping by the time this book gets into your hands.