Sure, PG's website (forums especially) is kinda quirky, but unique, and I find that I've gotten used to its quirkiness. So why bother changing the regular website. Now for mobiles and tablets, that's a separate issue that can be handled separately, way I see it.
I'm just curious, what you find quirky about the forums (aside from not being great on mobile). But let's assume you're on a desktop PC using the forums, what do you find weird about it, and what forum do you use that you don't find quirky? (just to clarify I'm asking specifically about the forums not the rest of the site).
I don't find anything particularly weird about the forums. And by "quirky" I mean non-standard. I'm a member of a lot of Internet forums on topics ranging from photography to motorcycles to guitars to composition software. I find that a company that wants to have a unique presence on the 'net frequently has its forums customized. Personally I don't care for this because invariably I have to get used to that particular company's way of getting things done with its forums. There are a few very popular forum software packages used broadly on the net and the good thing about them is, once you've gotten used to one's layout, you're used to them all. I don't see this as a bad thing, okay? Makes life easier all the way around. So, it's possible for an entity to customize the look of their software to any level they desire, while retaining the same function that a forum user like me is used to. PGM doesn't do this. They have their own forum design, and it's one I've had to get used to. But now that I'm used to it, I just really don't see the need to change it. Unless perhaps PGM wants to install one of these popular forum software packages so its forum behaves like the rest out on the net do. And I kinda doubt PGM will want to do this.
As for specific forum softwares, there are several that are popular. They often have commands/menu selections in common.
phpBB is a popular open source package that can be heavily modified Here's an example of a lightly customized phpBB forum: https://www.astronomyhouston.org/forum/
+1 I use a few websites that look pretty much like this. I don't particularly care what they look like as long as I can read the info without going through a lot of clicks.
Last edited by raymb1; 11/17/1708:12 AM.
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
My remark on small screens came from some research on the growing number of users. It's about not excluding the audience. I doubt anyone in this forum visits on a portable device, due to the nature of the program activity. The big display is so helpful. Formatting technology changes so regularly. At one time, web designers thought the displays would change according to the device detected. Didn't that turn out to be an underestime!
How interesting, Matt and John. Your comments took me by surprise, though this is an area I have lost touch with. I did grab the right edge of the screen and pull it to the left & was surprised to see the forum could still be read. Even without liquid CSS, the job gets done.
I haven't looked at Truefire's website in a long time. I noticed one of the instructors is Tommy Emmanuel, I bet that's a treat!
Personally I find background videos to be a distraction from the message imprinted over the video. I noted the background video was only used for the first and last screens of the homepage. The meat of the homepage message, which is a description of what the site offers, has a very simple background and static graphics.
I don't care for the front shade transition between screens either. A simple scroll would be more effective in my opinion.
My website provider, Wix, has an extensive collection of web templates. I sample new templates every couple of months just to keep track of new trends. I like eye candy but it can be a fattening distraction.
I'd like to see PG Music's website restructured so the site would be easier to search and navigate. I'm not sure what changes I'd want made though as I'm not a designer, I'm just a user.
Jim, a comment about searching (not navigating): some of us Google the PG site to find forum topics, rather than use the forum’s built-in search function.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
This forum software has served them well since 2000 when they made the change. Only thing I don't like about the search function is the 5 year limit. Most of Mac's posts have disappeared as a result. However as Matt mentioned this forum is indexed extremely well by Google, often within minutes of a new post.
If this is in regards to the main site, I did a 'view source' on the home page .. warning; this can not be unseen. There's a whole lot of old content just commented out and it is rough to look at. Also a lot of JS 'fixes', it really could use an update.
Quote:
At one time, web designers thought the displays would change according to the device detected. Didn't that turn out to be an underestime!
Can you explain that Ed? Isn't that what responsive design and Google's 'mobile first' initiative is all about? I know more and more devices come along every day but the goal is that the site does just that; change to fit the device.
Last edited by rharv; 07/08/1803:18 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Only thing I don't like about the search function is the 5 year limit.
rharv,
While the default search time period seems to be 5 years, a little while back the 'Advanced Search' function introduced a 12 year limit. I was surprised to discover this not so long ago.
Only thing I don't like about the search function is the 5 year limit.
rharv,
While the default search time period seems to be 5 years, not so long ago the 'Advanced Search' function introduced a 12 year limit. I was surprised to discover this not so long ago.
Noel
12 years is indeed news. That changes a few things. Thanks.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
In Reaper and KVR forums I can still go back and update/edit any old post. In this PG forum you can only edit it for a few days. I think that needs changing so the edit is always on and you can update info rather than having new post underneath like in Chord Picker Tool it ends up so long you have to scroll each post to take in all the info, when I could of just updated the first post.
In this PG forum you can only edit it for a few days. I think that needs changing so the edit is always on and you can update info rather than having new post underneath like in Chord Picker Tool it ends up so long you have to scroll each post to take in all the info, when I could of just updated the first post.
+1
I have written a few threads like that. It would be cleaner to be able to update the first thread.
By the way, although I don't think it has been explicitly stated, I think the limit on being able to edit a post is 24 hours. That's not a scientific answer though.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
..... In this PG forum you can only edit it for a few days. I think that needs changing so the edit is always on and you can update info rather than having new post underneath like in Chord Picker Tool it ends up so long you have to scroll each post to take in all the info, when I could of just updated the first post.
I agree. Also one should be able to edit the subject line. If someone has a problem and it is corrected 8 days later then they should be able to add solved to the subject line.
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Also one should be able to edit the subject line. If someone has a problem and it is corrected 8 days later then they should be able to add solved to the subject line.
+1
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
One thing to note is this forum changed format in 2000 (June I think). I wouldn't expect to be able to search the old format (anything over 18 years), but it would be nice if the history on this format could be accessible.
Edit Turns out it was end of May .. yeah, I probably wore out my welcome by now
Last edited by rharv; 07/10/1802:03 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
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Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
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20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
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Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
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New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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