Multimedia Search
How to find and use images (pictures), audio
(sound), and video files on the Web.
This page:
Multimedia, generally |
Images |
Audio |
Video |
Plug-Ins
Multimedia, generally
Audio/Video Search Engines:
- Files Tube - Search for files, mostly multimedia
- Lycos Multimedia Search
- SingingFish - Audio/video search engine
Collections of Images, Audio and Video Files:
- Internet Archive - Audio, video, live music, software,
texts, archived web pages
- Creative Commons
- Wikimedia Commons - Copyright-free images, audio, and video; however, you should check
the license restrictions of any file you want to reuse elsewhere.
File Conversion:
- Zamzar - Convert video, audio, image, or e-book files
Images
Audio
Audio Search Engines:
- FindSounds
Collections of Audio Files:
- Internet Archive: Audio Archive - Includes audio books, live music,
news and public affairs, podcasts, radio programs
- National Recording Registry - Significant recordings, chosen annually. Some older, out-of-copyright works can be heard here; there are links for some of the other recordings. (Library of Congress)
- Odeo - Music, podcasts, etc.
- SoundCloud - Music and spoken word uploads
Podcasts:
A podcast is a series of spoken-word programs available for download, often in the form of mp3 files. Many podcasters announce new installments by RSS feeds. Use these sites to find podcasts you might like.
- iTunes Podcasts
- Podcast Alley
- Podcast Directory
News Audio:
- Internet Archive: News and Public Affairs
- Yahoo News Audio/Video
Historic Audio:
- American
Memory: Sound Recordings (Library of Congress)
- Historical Voices - "Galleries," or collections, of audio material
- History Channel: Speeches
- Speechbot - Search engine for audio and video files available from news and
government sites
Other Sounds:
- WAV Central - Sound effects and clips from movies and TV
Web Directory of Audio Sites:
- Audio Links: Internet audio directories, broadcasters, and technology (December.com)
Video on the Web
Plug-Ins
You will need plug-in software in order
to use most of the audio and video files you find at the
sites above. Most of this software is available in
free and full-featured versions.
- Flash
Player - Multimedia (Macromedia)
- Musicmatch - Works
like a jukebox
- QuickTime - Audio
and Video (Apple, but it works on Windows, too)
- Real Player - Audio and Video;
be sure to look for the free version if you're not ready to pay
for the full version yet
- SVG Viewer
- Data-driven graphics (Adobe)
- Shockwave
Player - Multimedia (Macromedia)
- Winamp Player - Plays
MP3s and videos
- Windows
Media Player