Tech Tips

 

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It is not necessary for an effective multimedia presentation to be fancy or complicated. A little bit of coordinated visual material and some verbal explanation can go a long way toward enhancing a performance.

I have listed the basic tools below. You don’t need all of them for your first multimedia experience. And, you don’t need to use all of their features the first time.

• Presentation Software

  The most common example is Microsoft PowerPoint (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint). It is available for Windows and Macintosh computers. Since it comes with Microsoft Office, you may already have it on your computer. PowerPoint is simple and fun to use. It is easy to important digital pictures, resize them, move them around, and add text. As you get more familiar with PowerPoint, you can learn to add all sorts of interesting animations and graphic transitions—if you wish. As an alternative, Apple makes a similar program for Macintosh computers called Keynote (http://www.apple.com/iwork/keynote/). It is part of the iWork package.
  

• Laptop Computer

  Although you can do a presentation using a desktop computer, the logistics of a recital are such that it is a lot easier to work with a laptop.

• Computer Projector and Screen

  In order for your audience to see your visual material, you need a projector that can be attached to your computer. Fortunately, the cost of projectors has plummeted in recent years. You can find new ones as low as $600. The low cost projectors are typically quite bright (which is good!) offering 1,800 lumens or more. Alternatively, you may be able to borrow one from a school or business. To find a projector at a good price, do a Google search for projector. The lowest cost projectors typically have a resolution of 800 x 600 (SVGA). If you can, go for a higher resolution, such as 1024 x 768 (XVGA). If you want to splurge on a projector that you can also use to watch movies and football games in high definition, get a wide screen theatre projector and make the whole family happy. Of course you will also need a screen or a blank, light colored wall on which to project. NOTE: In a small recital venue, such as your home, you may be able to use a large LCD or plasma TV screen as your display device instead of a projector.

• Laser Pointer

  Depending upon the nature of your presentation, you may or may not have the need to talk to your audience and to point to items that are projected on the screen. If you do, a simple $5 laser pointer will come in handy. Laser pointers are a lot of fun. However, you should not point them at someone’s eyes!

• Microphone and Speakers

  If you or your students plan to talk to your audience in a large room or concert hall, a microphone is very helpful. In a small venue, a portable powered speaker with a microphone input is all that you need. For a professional concert presentation, a wireless lapel-type microphone is very nice. Just be sure to turn it off when you sit down to play!

• A Little Imagination

  This item doesn’t come from a store. Fortunately, you already have it!

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