1. A system for printing time-based media, the system comprising: a media processing system for determining an electronic representation of the time-based media wherein the media processing system resides at least in part on a multimedia printer and at least in part on an external media processing system; the multimedia printer including a housing for supporting an interface for transferring time-based media between the external media processing system and the printer, and for supporting an electronic output system in communication with the media processing system to receive the electronic representation, the electronic output system producing a corresponding electronic output from the electronic representation of the time-based media; a resource allocation module for determining processing allocation for at least one task among the printer and the external media processing system; and a user interface for receiving user input indicating selection of one or more media processing resources from among resources of the printer and an external system.