Multimedia

Multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media, in this context usually in digital formats, to convey information. This can include any combination of media, such as text, audio, graphics, images, video, animation, and interaction between them.

Figure: Multimedia

Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed, or accessed by computerized and electronic information content processing devices.

For more information, see:

Multimedia in the Design and User Experience Library
Multimedia page on Forum Nokia
Symbian C++ Multimedia Documents And Examples on Forum Nokia
Symbian C++ Multimedia on Forum Nokia

Playing music

What do you want to do	Where to start
Play unprotected audio files	See Playing audio files on Forum Nokia.
Play DRM-protected audio files	See Playing DRM-protected audio content.
Play MIDI files	Use `Class CMidiClientUtility` to play MIDI files.
Play buffered audio	Use `CMdaAudioOutputStream` and `CMdaAudioInputStream` to play raw or encoded audio data.
Control audio effects	Audio Effects API classes
Play a live real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) stream	Use `CMdaAudioOutputStream` to play audio data.
Read metadata from files	Use the Exif API and Media Fetch API to create, read, and modify exchangeable image file format (Exif) metadata tags. The Media Fetch API allows fetching media files from third-party applications and scaling images held in files or descriptors.
Record audio to files	Use `CmdaAudioRecorderUtility` to record and edit audio data.

Playing video

What do you want to do	Where to start
Play a local file or RTSP stream using the S60 Media Player and RealPlayer engine	Use AppArc APIs (`RApaLsSession`) to launch the S60 Media Player application.
Play a local file or RTSP stream using a custom UI and RealPlayer engine	Create your own UI and use the CVideoPlayerUtility API to play and control a file or URL. For more information, see Streaming video.
Play a local file on your own player	Create your own player. Use `CMdaAudioOutputStream` for audio rendering and `CDirectScreenAccess` for video rendering. `CMdaAudioOutputStream` can decode some formats on some devices, if `CMMFDevSound` codecs for the respective formats exist on the device.
Stream video content using your own player	Use Socket Client API classes (`RSocketServ`, `RConnection`, `RSocket`) to connect to the network. Then use `CMdaAudioOutputStream` for audio rendering and `CDirectScreenAccess` for video rendering. `CMdaAudioOutputStream` can decode some formats on some devices, if `CMMFDevSound` codecs for the respective formats are present on that device. The application must implement high-level streaming protocols, such as RTSP, real-time transport protocol (RTP), real-time transport control protocol (RTCP), and session description protocol (SDP).
Implement a custom multimedia framework plug-in	Use MMF APIs, such as `CMMFController` and `CMMFCodec` to implement plug-ins.