Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away [done]

Discuss about generic usage of MediaCoder.

Moderator: HuggiL

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Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away [done]

Post by meRobs » Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:03 pm

Ever since 'Mixer' left, maybe 2 years ago, there has been only one Moderator for this forum. Me!
Even though the forum, more or less, looks after itself, it does need a moderator, who:
* checks the forum for a few minutes each day and help out where he/she can, without taking over from others
* helps new users with basic issues
* moves topics or posts to a more appropriate section of the forum, etc.
* avoids nuisance posts (adverts, nonsense, etc) using special tools available only to moderators. For example, new users
do not have immediate access to the forums. Their first few posts are visible only to the Moderators who see a '?' beside each post.
The moderator can then view the post and approve or disaprove it.

It is not hard work, and it is fun and educational.

Requirements: (1) speak and read English, (2) understand the MediaCoder forum rules and (3) have a basic understanding of MediaCoder and its functions, including a basic understanding of Video or Audio encoding (Containers, Codecs...etc.).

The reason I am leaving:
(1) I feel I have become progressively less useful after adding a number of Guides to the Tips & Guides section, which seems to have reduced the number of queries, and (2) my personal needs for a Media Converter are relatively basic, whereas, Stanley continues to add more new features, trying to implement new technology and new ideas that fuel his interest. Unfortunately, the implementation of these features often results in side effects, or minor bugs, that are left standing because they are either too much of a nuisance to fix or are not supported by the underlying utilities (FFmpeg, MPlayer, etc).
This is not a new issue, after all, there has never been a "Stable" version of MediaCoder. All builds are beta versions.
Also, read my comments on the last build I tested: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12894

I will keep checking the Forum, but less and less frequently as my interests take me elsewhere.
I will also help any new Moderators understand their role, the use of their tools and functions

If interested, please send a PM (private message) to Stanley
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by meRobs » Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:38 am

Apart from the above, as the Moderator I have been
(1) preparing the Guides listed under Tips & Guides (link below),
(2) testing the builds and reporting the findings at viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12306 and
(3) updating the changelog under the MediaCoder Versions topic (viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6917)
However, it is not necessary that these functions be continued. It's up to you.

It is about time someone else took over as a Moderator. There is no need to be expert in most aspects of encoding. I'm not.
My experience is very limited but I experimented out of interest.
So, if anyone is interested please contact Stanley.
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by HuggiL » Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:37 pm

Noooo... It's been a while since I've been on these forums and I see this as a christmas greeting :cry:

Anyway, I think I'll try my hand at being a moderator and I was wondering how you do the build testing? Because they're quite helpful sometimes and I know I would like someone to keep doing them.
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Tips & Guides: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Older versions: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by meRobs » Thu Dec 26, 2013 9:43 am

Hi HuggiL.
First off, you may need to be less 'indecisive' and you would need to get Stanley's approval.
This would then give you access to certain powers that are required to 'moderate' the forum, such as the ability to get into 'locked' topics, Delete nuisance topics, etc. A very responsible role!

As to how I tested the builds, a summary is given in the Test Report itself (viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12306).
And, if you took on that role, and for it to be most useful, I suggest you choose to test features that are of most interest to users.
Then, start a new Topic, much like the one linked to above, and lock it to prevent access to all but the moderators.
I will be a part-time moderator for a while yet, so I could help further.
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by HuggiL » Thu Dec 26, 2013 5:06 pm

I did send a PM to Stanley, as per your instructions in the first post. And I'll change my signature if I am accepted as a moderator. Needs changing anyway as I believe it's been that for over a year.

As for the build testing, I can understand all of it luckily. But it looks like I'll need to build up my collection of video types since all I use are mp4 and mkv...
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Tips & Guides: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Older versions: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by meRobs » Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:56 pm

HuggiL wrote: looks like I'll need to build up my collection of video types since all I use are mp4 and mkv...
That is neither critical nor difficult.
Most of my tests were done on short VOB files and the others on an MP4 and an MKV.

When responding to issues raised by others, which refer to odd containers that I was not familiar with, I simply created suitable source files with MediaCoder.

I must confess that my tests related to problems that mattered to me, apart from simple tests that I thought a converter ought to do as a minimum. For example, after creating a number of dance DVDs, using Adobe Premiere and Encore, I decided to extract individual chapters from each DVD that related to the same dance type, such as Foxtrot, and then form a separate DVD just on that style of dance. So, I chose to use Add Track to extract and convert the relevant chapters only to find that MediaCoder lost frames on the way. This bug caused me to add another test to my Report. And so on.

If you take over the Test Report, it will be up to you to devise the tests and, presumably, start a new locked Topic to be added to the list given in Tips & Guides.
Good to see another Aussie respond to the challenge!
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by HuggiL » Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:25 am

I might expand on the containers as I've had a problem in the past where encoding would fail with a specific encoder/container. Probably just end up covering the popular formats. But yeah, it'll all depend on how much time I have, especially when I have uni classes on (especially exam time...they're a killer).
And technically I'm Korean but I've lived in Australia since I was 3 so bit of an identity issue there :lol:

Also, my PM to Stanley is still sitting in my Outbox... is that normal? Shouldn't it be in my "Sent Messages" folder if it's actually been sent?
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Tips & Guides: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Older versions: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by meRobs » Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:25 am

HuggiL wrote:my PM to Stanley is still sitting in my Outbox... is that normal? Shouldn't it be in my "Sent Messages" folder if it's actually been sent?
I think you're right - it should be 'sent'.
I have noticed lately with the few PM's that I have sent that they need to have the 'Submit' button hit twice - a bit fishy?!
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away

Post by stanley » Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:22 pm

I've received and replied. ;-)
When things work together, things work.

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Re: Moderators needed - meRobs is fading away [done]

Post by meRobs » Sun Dec 29, 2013 2:13 pm

HuggiL is now the Moderator for Basic Discussion and Advanced sections of the Forum
Have you checked out the Tips & Guides for MediaCoder? Try: http://forum.mediacoderhq.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8061
Also, get older builds at: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MediaCoder/old-versions#download

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