New Book/CD-ROM on Creating Multimedia Audio is Released by Random House
and Apple Computer

Includes Interviews and Work Samples from Thomas Dolby, Todd Rundgren,
Laurie Anderson, Herbie Hancock, and Other Luminaries

NEW YORK, New York--April 25, 1996--Interest in multimedia is exploding;
high quality music, narration and sound effects are key components of
today's most compelling multimedia productions. Until now though, there
has been very little authoritative and accessible information available on
digital audio production for multimedia developers. "Multimedia Sound and
Music Studio" (Avail. April 17, 1996, $45.00) by Jeff Essex, a new book
and CD-ROM package in the Random House/NewMedia Series, fills this void by
providing a veteran's tools and techniques for producing sound and music
on a Macintosh or Windows PC. The book is the third title in "The Apple
New Media Library", a collection of multimedia-related books and CD-ROMs
endorsed by Apple Computer, Inc. for the Apple Multimedia Program.

Satjiv S. Chahil, senior vice president of corporate marketing at Apple
said, "Our goal in collaborating on 'The Apple New Media Library' series
is to make multimedia technology easier to use and to raise the bar for
multimedia content quality. Jeff Essex's book serves that purpose well by
making digital audio accessible to a wide audience of developers and
end-users, resulting in richer emersive content and an enhanced user
experience."

"Multimedia Sound and Music Studio" was created to answer the needs of
multimedia designers and producers, musicians and audio engineers, and
sales and marketing professionals seeking a better understanding of
multimedia audio production. The book explores the basic tools and
technology required for multimedia audio production, introduces beginners
to the basic concepts of digital audio sampling, and establishes seven
basic steps in the audio creation process: planning, recording, capture,
editing, output, integration, and playback. It examines the audio and
computer equipment required to record and capture sound, shows how MIDI
(the Musical Instrument Digital Interface) equipment can be used to create
and play soundtracks, and explores the topic of selecting file formats and
systems software.

In addition to providing the reader with an understanding of the basics,
Jeff Essex devotes a large portion of the book to sharing his own
techniques for handling each phase of the audio production process, from
start to finish. He encourages readers to think about the creative and
aesthetic considerations of sound design, and offers ideas on how to use
sound and music effectively in presentations. A special section of the
book provides reviews of most of the major audio tools on the market,
including editors, mixers, utilities and processors, and MIDI sequencers.
In addition, the book includes a chapter that examines emerging
technologies such as enhanced CD, software synthesis, 3-D sound, and
online distribution.

Throughout "Multimedia Sound and Music Studio" there are interviews with
luminaries in the music and audio industries. The CD-ROM packaged with the
book features sample works from many of these artists, including Laurie
Anderson's "Puppet Motel", The Resident's "Gingerbread Man" and "Bad Day
on the Midway", Brian Eno's "Headcandy", David Bowie's "Jump", Todd
Rundgren's "The Individualist", Thomas Dolby/Inscape's "Dark Eye", a
DCuckoo video, and Joe Spark/Pop Rocket's "Total Distortion". The CD-ROM
also includes shareware and freeware sound utilities and clip media
samples, audio system software updates from Apple, demo versions of many
of the products discussed in the book, a hypertext version of the book,
and tutorials that demonstrate important concepts.

Apple is a leader in multimedia, with nearly 63 percent of developers
preferring the Macintosh platform when developing multimedia software on
personal computers (source: Dataquest). As part of Apple's developer
programs, the company provides the Apple Multimedia Program (AMP) designed
for content developers and the creative community. With over 3,000 members
worldwide, AMP offers a breadth of resources and information to help keep
multimedia developers up-to-date on Apple's offerings for authoring and
playback. Members receive quarterly mailings and access to a special
members-only area on the AMP Web site (http://www.amp.apple.com/) which
provides insights on multimedia technologies, new media business
directions, market research information, and self-help information on
developing and marketing multimedia products. Another resource available
to AMP members is the Apple Multimedia Program's newest addition, the
Interactive Music Track. Dedicated to the needs of the music industry,
members of the Interactive Music Track receive access to special content
with an interactive music focus, including Enhanced CD case studies,
interactive music resource guides, and the Apple Interactive Music
Toolkit, a new cross-platform Enhanced CD authoring tool that allows users
to quickly and easily create multi-session enhanced CDs. For worldwide
program information or a membership application check out the AMP web site
@ www.amp.apple.com or email us at devsupport@applelink.apple.com.

About the Author

Jeff Essex specializes in the use of digital audio and MIDI to create
custom music, sound effects, and voice over for multimedia and video. A
veteran of MacroMind and Macromedia, he served for two years as technical
support lead for Macromedia Director and SoundEditPro. His work is
featured in many popular CD-ROM titles including "Hell Cab", "Get Ready
for School", "Charlie Brown", "Bad Mojo" and "Felix the Cat Cartoon
Toolbox". Essex has lectured on audio for multimedia at San Francisco
State University.

HyperMedia Communications, Inc.

HyperMedia Communications (NASDAQ: HYPR) is the publisher of NewMedia
Magazine, the first periodical dedicated solely to covering the
professional market for new media technologies, including a wide array of
digital communications technologies and Internet-related products.
Published 16 times a year, NewMedia Magazine offers readers industry news,
comprehensive and comparative product reviews supported by the NewMedia
Lab, a state-of-the-art testing studio, and features articles that provide
expert advice critical to making purchasing decisions. NewMedia has a
qualified circulation of 215,000 professionals who buy and use New Media
products and services. HyperMedia also publishes Hyperstand
http://www.hyperstand.com/, a World Wide Website for Internet
professionals, Macromedia User Journal, an independent newsletter for
Macromedia developers and users, and the NewMedia INVISION Awards program,
an annual competition which recognizes innovative sites on the World Wide
Web and new media applications in business, government, education, and
consumer and community service areas.

Random House Reference and Information Publishing

Random House Reference and Information Publishing is a division of Random
House, Inc., the largest general trade book publisher in the English
speaking world. Random House Reference and Information Publishing draws on
Random House's extensive resources to publish the finest reference works,
including titles relating to computers, technology and science. The Random
House Reference and Information Publishing book and book/software titles
can be purchased in book and computer stores nationwide, by calling (800)
793-2665 or (410) 848-1900, extension 3000. Visit the Random House Web
site http://www.randomhouse.com/

Apple Computer, Inc. a recognized innovator in the information industry and
leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software and
personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple
(NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions,
products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer,
entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in over
140 countries.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
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