Cross-Platform Multimedia Issues

by Rich Young, June 1997

There are numerous isssues in taking multiple media across platforms. This page can be a starting point in dealing with issues with text, graphics, video, audio and programmatic details. Besides the walkthroughs and discussions, you can rely on linked Web-based resources. Understanding the components of digital media files may seem boring, but knowing the basics will help you decide the best ways to produce quality media.

The bandwidth and storage requirements can be quite high. Frame/sample size, frame/sample rate, compression and bit-depth reduction will decrease file size, and thus speed delivery and lower RAM and storage requirements. Best results will be achieved with good quality sources, which produce fewer color and noise artifacts. Just be sure to test early, test often and test on the target platforms.

Multimedia Bandwidth -- a quick look at the bandwidth of delivery mechanisms.

Digital Media File Sizes Simplified -- an introduction to calculating file sizes for graphics, audio and video.

Video Issues -- the main things to remember here are display gamma, bandwidth, and compression format.

Sound Issues -- no major issues in sound, though file formats may send some searching for utilities.

Graphics Issues -- the main things to remeber is that Mac displays are lighter than PC and UNIX displays.

Text Issues -- The most common problem in text is that PCs use both a carriage return and a line feed; Macs use only the carriage return. Characters that don't translate correctly appear as little boxes. Also, text on the PC displays larger than on the Mac or UNIX.

Cross-Platform System & Application Issues

Transferring Files Across Platforms

For information on a variety of issues for the Web see Joe Gillispie's Web Page Design for Designers and David Siegel's High Five site.

See also my meager Cross-Platform Links

Back to Synesthetic Media Connections

Comments or suggestions welcome at RYoung097@aol.com

SFSU Multimedia Studies Program