Proposed Forum Reconfiguration

[Des-Lab]

I am looking at making a few changes to the forums. However, I'd like to seek some input first.

Firstly, I've identified a few subforums for possible closure, with the contents being merged in with existing/remaining forums.

First are the Mixing And Multitracking sections.

This includes the three subforums Tape Mastering, Mixing, and Miscellaneous Mastering.

When I put those forums together, I was hoping that some people would come here who are into the large format tapes and/or studio type recording. In looking over and following the areas of greatest interest, I see that the overwhelming amount of members here are into home recording of CD's/LP's/other tapes. Between all three of those forums, there are only 22 total topics. Yet it's a dedicated section of the site. Since TapeHeads does not appear to be on the radar for anyone using those larger format decks (if anyone is even still using them at ALL), I now opine those sections to be essentially dormant and taking up bandwidth needlessly. The 22 discussions in there (of which the last reply was back on August 10th) would be dumped into the general forums, based on subject matter.

Next is the subforum under reel to reel Toob Decks. That forum was created at the request of a member who has long since abandoned his membership and has left the site. Since then, only 8 total discussions have taken place in there. I propose closing this forum as well, with the discussions being dropped into the general reel to reel forum.

And speaking of changes, I am now toying with the idea of giving the home page (http://www.tapeheads.net/index.html) a revamp. It has remained unchanged since the current colors and logo were unveiled (http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=3285) back in March. There is no plan to change the logo or colors again. The only thing being considered is refreshing the main entrance a bit. I am still in the early design process and it's not expected to be launched for at least a few weeks.

I'm open to any other suggestions as well.

[Scorpion8]

I'm open to any other suggestions as well.

Suggestion: GO FOR IT!!!!

[imasoundhound]

i'd like to suggest making the "blank tape" section under "cassettes" a separate forum. talk about machines under "cassette" and talk about tapes under "blank tape".

[TheReeler]

For me is confussing the existence of two sections with the same name.
For example, exists "Pioneer" under ReelToReel and under "Cassettes".

I use dairly the link "new posts" and there is shown the title of the topic and the name of the section. If I read "Help with belts > Pioneer" I don't know if is about RTR or not, so I'd open the thread of let it pass.

Why not to add some letters to the redundant sections?. For example:

Pioneer (RTR)
Pioneer (K7 or CAS)

[braxus]

i'd like to suggest making the "blank tape" section under "cassettes" a separate forum. talk about machines under "cassette" and talk about tapes under "blank tape".

That wouldn't be a bad idea in my mind, but you'd have to combine the r2r blank tape section with the cassette one.

[vinyldavid]

Yo des, I agree with all of the changes...

...just please keep an all encompassing "music/studio/recording/mastering" forum open, and dump the stuff into there...I know within the next week or so I have a thread I plan on posting with documentation on a project I have...

[Des-Lab]

Well I suppose if/when I close the "Mixing/Mastering" section, I could re-create it in scaled down form by opening a new subforum under reel to reel with the same subject line. I am not saying that will become a banned topic. I simply feel it's no longer deserving of it's own dedicated section. The interest just isn't there.

The blank tape sections under both categories would probably remain unchanged. I still think I made the right call with the setup there. As for the redundant manufacturer forums? I'm still undecided on that one. I suppose I could add the format to the title line (i.e. "Sony" under "reel to reel" could be renamed "Sony Reel To Reel"). That would look good when browsing the new posts, but might look silly and redundant if you are browsing the actual reel or cassette category and end up seeing "cassette" over and over ("Denon cassette", "Sony cassette", "Nakamichi Cassette", and so on.).

[TheReeler]

That would look good when browsing the new posts, but might look silly and redundant if you are browsing the actual reel or cassette category and end up seeing "cassette" over and over ("Denon cassette", "Sony cassette", "Nakamichi Cassette", and so on.).
There's another possibility, maybe the best. Open the php template for new/today's posts and edit it to add another column, the main section of each subforum. Then you'll be able to know which ones are the selectec threads.

Even adding a "order by" in the SQL sentence would be enough to list the posts under that pages look like:

main section 1

section 1.1
Thread 1.1.1
Thread 1.1.2
Thread 1.1.n

section 1.2
Thread 1.2.1
Thread 1.2.2
Thread 1.2.n

main section 2

section 2.1
Thread 2.1.1
Thread 2.1.2
Thread 2.1.n

section 1.2
Thread 2.2.1
Thread 2.2.2
Thread 2.2.n

[Dazen1]

A change is as good as a rest...

...on one condition...

...that you do not introduce a section for MP3/iPod. *thumbsdown* *crying* *eek*

[faustus]

Matt, The changes you proposed seem fine to me. I also agree with your sentiment that the blank tape sections should remain where they are.

[Nakdoc]

Multi track and their ilk might also be merged as "Pro audio". I believe the goal is to attract members. I would be willing to ask the local MCI tape guys to join. There are many studios in nashville running everything from Ampex 300 2 track (tube) to Mitsubishi and Sony digital tape.

[Maxell-LN]

May I suggest for the "your latest tape" and the "travel tape" sections to be merged?

[KatCassidy]

Well I suppose if/when I close the "Mixing/Mastering" section, I could re-create it in scaled down form by opening a new subforum under reel to reel with the same subject line.
That sounds like a great idea to me

I suppose I could add the format to the title line (i.e. "Sony" under "reel to reel" could be renamed "Sony Reel To Reel")
I would like to suggest, from a "look of it" point of view, that you have "R2R: Sony", "R2R: Teac" etc, then just leave the cassettes section as is. I suggest this for two reasons (1) the R2R commands enough attention to have the R2R prefix - it looks prestigious in my opinion and (2) more people, worldwide, seem to be into cassettes than reel to reel, and you want to attract as many people as possible...

May I suggest for the "your latest tape" and the "travel tape" sections to be merged?
I would like to propose that "Travelling Tapes" and "Your Latest Tape" come under the category of music, as does "Music Reviews". However, I think having the categories "Music and Tunes" plus "Music Reviews" is redundant and should be merged, both under the category of "Music"

I would also like to suggest that "The Lounge" be merged with "Other Interests" although I do understand that "Other Interests" is meant to be about hobbies whereas "The Lounge" is general topic.

At the end of the day, I say thanks to Des-Lab for running this site, however he runs it, as so far it has been good to me! *hearts*

[Maxell-LN]

There's another possibility, maybe the best. Open the php template for new/today's posts and edit it to add another column, the main section of each subforum. Then you'll be able to know which ones are the selectec threads.

Even adding a "order by" in the SQL sentence would be enough to list the posts under that pages look like:

main section 1

section 1.1
Thread 1.1.1
Thread 1.1.2
Thread 1.1.n

section 1.2
Thread 1.2.1
Thread 1.2.2
Thread 1.2.n

main section 2

section 2.1
Thread 2.1.1
Thread 2.1.2
Thread 2.1.n

section 1.2
Thread 2.2.1
Thread 2.2.2
Thread 2.2.n




Reeler, no offence, but I've seen this style of form before, and it is, please believe me, it is very difficult to navigate. If you want a fine example of this complication, check out the PC question forum http://www.annoyances.org

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/n1056529173

Basically, you won't be able to see all replies to any given thread at once, but instead need to click on each individual response to see it, rather then simply scrolling down.

I've gone to annoyances.org a few times to sought help for PC problems, but have left it immediately to go to windowsbbs.com instead.