System and method controlling multimedia information components

Multimedia components (16,18,20) for reproducing/recording information in a data storage medium (14) are controlled (10) via a personal computer (26). By selecting graphical representations of the multimedia components and of their control switches, the user enters instructions on the personal computer (26) to perform various operations by the components. The representative operations include turning the component on or off, setting its volume, adjusting its bass/treble, etc. Another operation may include finding a particular track/scene in a user library displayed on the computer screen and reproducing the track/scene on the corresponding multimedia component by selecting on the screen the graphical representation corresponding to the reproducing operation.