We should make a DP Tips wiki

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 8:51 pm

I just had an awesome thought, though I'll admit, I'm currently too busy to take anything like this on at the moment:

We've got such a huge wealth of info here: tips, findings, the occasional bug workaround. Unfortunately, let's be honest, a web forum isn't exactly the greatest way of actively seeking out useful information. Even if you search, you're usually wading through dozens of "I can't make this work" posts before you can find something that actually gives useful advice. It's a web forum, it's not meant to be a repository. What if we started an easy-to-edit wiki (I think they're called wikias) and if we came to some wonderful problem solving conclusion, or have a tip for everyone, users could just jot it down as a wiki page, nothing fancy, just a quick write up.

I came on this idea after reading a wonderful solution to my edrum mapping problem. I did a search, and on the 4th page was a perfect solution written back in 2009 by someone called "Noah" describing the process of creating a Custom MIDI Map and using the transpose MIDI insert plugin to remap incoming MIDI. The fact I stumbled on this was palmost dumb luck... I often don't find what I'm looking for and even when I do it usually takes lots of wading to find it. If we had some sort of searchable repository of tips, DP users could be flying high with all sorts of workflow ideas, old and new!

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:54 pm

Prime Mover wrote:I just had an awesome thought, though I'll admit, I'm currently too busy to take anything like this on at the moment:

Actually tried this once and it was sort of cumbersome and didn't work too well, and I didn't really have time either to take that on.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:02 pm

Who hosts a WIKI? Once made, are they semi-permanent?

I'd be much more interested in making a Wiki than packing more tips into the current three tips sheet sections, plus all the other tips, lists, and tutorials in the thread, but I wouldn't do it if there weren't some pretty strong chance of permanence, and easy access from the forum.

I've got a few dozen more tips waiting to go in the tips sheet, but I just haven't gotten the motivation and time to put them all in. They include tips from many of you. But a Wiki with easy access, easy browsing capabilities, and a chance of permanence not connected to my Dropbox account would dramatically increase my motivation.

Likewise, having YouTube has made me more interested in making videos. It's just finding the time to do them that's the problem. But knowing that I don't have to host them, pay for their data fees, and keep restoring them to new hosts as existing ones get canceled, has made it a whole lot more fun to do videos.

Shooshie

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:09 am

Shooshie wrote:Who hosts a WIKI? Once made, are they semi-permanent

I think you can host it on the same server as the board. I tried once, and it didn't work out too well. Plus, I'm not really some genius IT guy, nor am I bucking to be one. This isn't my job. Plus, I don't mean to pick on Prime Mover, but I see a lot of posts that in essence are saying "somebody should do xyz... but not me, I'm too busy." Well, most of us are. Me included. So it's a non-starter for me, too, at the moment.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 1:12 am

It does remind me of the punchline of the famous Lone Ranger joke: "What do you mean WE, pale face?"

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:46 am

Actually, jumping on this is exactly the kind of thing I would usually do... At the expense of everything else. However, I'm currently getting ready for a tour, trying to finish up two whirlwind projects, and eventually move to Hawaii at the end if the summer (sell car, buy car, apartment, find new job). I'm actually completely willing to do this as soon as my schedule clears up a bit, if no one gets to it first.

I guess I should have said, "I'm gonna make a wiki, but I can't do it now, so if anyone has any interest in getting a head start..."

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 6:18 am

I hear ya. It's not anything I can take on either.

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:07 am

I don't see how a wiki page is going to improve the search ability. You can search any site with a decent search engine if you know how. I don't believe that the forum itself is the problem or that searches are failing. Knowing what to look for is. Besides, you can't post a question at Wiki and the people overseeing the site often edit out correct info simply because it doesn't appear elsewhere on the www.

IMO the Wiki thing is a disaster. MOTUNation is very useful and the go to site for all things MOTU. And frankly, if a user can't find this forum by asking a general question about a MOTI product in a search engine, they've got some basic computing skills that need work.

But if you think "we" should do it I say go for it kemosabe. I'll be with the posse.

bayswater · Post by **bayswater** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:25 am

There is an audio wiki with a DP section. It has been there for a long time but has only 50 entries. Maybe that can solve the hosting problem.

http://en.wikiaudio.org/Category:Digital_Performer

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:06 am

Hosting problem? I say the owner of this site should make a paypal donation link permanently visible for all visitors. Then contributing is something WE can all do. I'm thinking a $5 suggested for casual users. Heavy users such as myself should probably thing $20/year.

twistedtom · Post by **twistedtom** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 1:42 am

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:Hosting problem? I say the owner of this site should make a paypal donation link permanently visible for all visitors. Then contributing is something WE can all do. I'm thinking a $5 suggested for casual users. Heavy users such as myself should probably thing $20/year.

He did that before and very few of us gave.

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:04 am

We can still do it. With this many members and all the help they get it should be a no brainer. The ultimate plugin in for DP: answers to your toughest questions on demand 24/7 365. Let the board go down for 10 minutes and people panic and post how they couldn't get in. Imagine it gone for good! I'm ready for Mr Lincoln's close up Mr. DeSteele.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:32 am

By the way, folks, the current DP Tips Sheet is pretty easily searched. I did my best to use keywords and titles that make for easy searching with the COMMAND-F in Safari. Type in a string like "Tracks Window," "Recording," "Editing," "Selection," and so forth, and you'll be able to use COMMAND-G to zip through all the results. (or the arrows by the number of results found)

It doesn't take long to figure out the keywords I used for things. Sure, it's not the perfect solution, but when I go there to find something, I can find it in seconds. All the main tips are on the first page, within one of the first three posts.

Shooshie

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:33 am

The problem is that this is NOT my livelihood. I have other things going on. I plain don't know how to implement such a thing, not do I wish to drop everything to learn how. I may be able to make a Google search button to search the site a bit better than the built in search. Other than that... I just really plain don't have time.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:39 am

Also, as someone posted, I removed the voluntary donation button was phased out years ago. I recall allowing a max donation of $1 or so. I averaged 2 donations a month.

MOTUnation.com