Karaoke Forums

Hey everyone ~

There are so many different topics regarding the changes that I have made recently to the Singer's Showcase, that I thought I would put it all in one topic.

When you submit a song:
If you select Rank = "Yes" then you will automatically allow comments and/or critiques. It doesn't matter if you select comments = "No"
It is set up so that if you request to be ranked you will receive comments/critiques. If you wish to be ranked you should allow for the person ranking to provide reasons for the rank that they provided. Of course, if they wish to only provide a comment, there is nothing that I can do about that.

If you select Rank = "No" then you have the option to select comments.

If you select Rank = "Yes" it states "Please Critique this submission" otherwise it states "This submission is Just For Fun" on the song page.

The default is now "NO or Just for Fun" if you wish to be ranked you will have to select YES.

I am considering removing the "prefer not to rank option" This way if someone listens to your submission that you have requested a rank, you will receive one. I am not certain of the outcome of this. This will not take effect until after I have installed the new rank system (1-5 stars.)

Please note that if a member has not yet submitted a song they cannot rank. You must first submit at least one song prior to being able to rank.

It is being discussed in another topic to allow "visitors" to leave comments. If this were to be implemented, then these visitors would not be able to rank either.

I am still uncertain about allowing "visitors" to comment.

1. It is a rather simple process to become a member of the site and it is FREE!
2. It would involve a great deal more moderation.
3. It would entail a lot of script/code modification.

Therefore, this probably will not occur.

Also, it has been requested that a submitter should be able to elect whether they want to be critiqued but not ranked. I am working on this option.

When you submit (or edit) you can select whether it is part of the "Theme of week" submission. I corrected the "Theme of Week" to default to 'No.' If your submission is part of the weeks theme you will need to select YES.

Under the 'comments' column you will see the following:

C = Critique/Rank
J = Just For Fun w/Comments
L = Listen Only

I have heard from some people that they had requested that their submissions be NOT RANKED however, the system didn't accept it.
Please note: For a limited time I am allowing you to go back and edit any submissions to be changed from ranked to not ranked. This will not normally be allowed. Once you have selected the option to be ranked you cannot change this later.


I am hoping that the new rank system will offer a better and more desireable results for all.

Further, I am going to increase the amount of characters for comments & replies.
[edit] ---
* Comments have been changed from limit of 400 characters to 1000!
* Replies have been changed from limit of 255 characters to 500!
That should be more than plenty of space. One would hope.
--- [/edit]

I have noticed that some people are placing other information in the song title. Please list the Song Title Only! No other characters ( ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ - + = { [ } ] | \ : ; " ' < > , . / ? ) or information should be included in that section. This prevents the song search from working properly.

If you would like to inform people of something, do that in the description area. In the past I have gone through and edited this information, however I have been too busy lately to do so.

I am also, working on adding an option to indicate if the song is a dedication, request, or challenge.

If anyone has additional suggestions for improvement - I am always open to suggestions. (This doesn't mean they will be implemented)

Many thanks to all our contributing members,

PHiLL
(aka webguru)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Phill, I'm pretty new to SS and KS, but I think the changes will help a lot! I especially like the column on the Latest Submissions page where the "J" or "C" is next to how many comments have been given. That makes it super helpful (some people want to just critique and some want to listen just for fun!) Awesome job!
~MANDA~

Please don't do that -- there are so many people that like to listen to a song and will comment on it but don't feel comfortable ranking that I'm afraid listening will go down then too. Plus some members may not listen at all anymore.


Like that idea very much! Can they at least comment though but just not rank?



Could this be a "COMMENT ONLY" option instead of "critiqued". Sounds less harsh and more 'user-friendly'.



Nice going! Like the changes!

The way this will function is:
If you select Rank="NO" then you will have the option to choose Critique or Comments.

So it will be, Comment Only, if you so choose.



They can comment but they cannot rank until they have at least one submission. (Note: It must be them singing - just for clarification)

PHiLL

Phill,

I think you have done a great job accomodating a lot of the requests.

Regarding critique and ranking. After your new 5 star system is implemented I don't think it is unreasonable to remove the "prefer not to rank" option. Since, a) it is anonymous and b) you only have 5 stars to choose between it should be easy to provide your honest opinion. Furthermore as we discussed earlier, if you don't show ranking until a number of people have ranked the sub, you may never see the rank unless everybody ranks it.

When you subsequently implement the break down of the ranking, you can then let it be up to people to use the complete ranking or just the simplified version.

Happy holidays,

Morten

Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh God what a NICE Surprise!!!!!!!!!

I'd read about the extension on space for comments etc...I just went to go checkout my latest sub...and WHOA!!!! A LONG Critique!! I couldn't be happier!!

Thank you so much Phill for making so much more space! It really helps!! And also...a HUGE Thank you to MissyGG for her critique. I know her feelings on them, and I know she's trying...so thank you girl!! It was very much appreciated!!!


WAY TO GO PHILL!!!!

Nicole

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your welcome butterfly and it has helped being able to have the extra space so i could explain exactly what i meant

wtg phil...and yes the changes are great there will be no confusion now

i don't understand the ranking process.....how is a song ranked and when does a song show up on top ranked songs....sorry, but as usual I'm a slow learner

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

I will attempt to explain as best I can.

On the song page:

A submission will not show a rank until at least 3 people have submitted a rank for it. Until then it will display rank unavailable.

On the top ranked songs page:
First is displayed weekly by default, you can select from the drop-down menu other time periods.

A submission will be displayed in top ranked order. Submissions with the highest ranks then with the most ranks provided (greater than 3) and the most comments (at least 5 comments.)

For example:
Submission A - has a rank of 10 with 5 people ranking and ten comments
Submission B - has a rank of 10 with 5 people ranking and 8 comments.
Submission C - has a rank of 10 with 4 people ranking with 20 comments.
Submission D - has a rank of 10 with 3 people ranking and 100 comments.

A would be displayed first, then B, and then C. D would not be displayed.

Hope that helps.

PHiLL

thank you

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

Phill, During past discussions regarding this issue, what was tossed about regarding just a "comments", or "feedback" box ? No ranking, or critiquing in public as an option.

Since the primary objective is a "for fun" venue. My thoughts are ranking in public only serves to create an element of distance by separating the members within the community. The individual benefits from a thought out evaluation of their performance, and that option can exist privately. Does creating an element of competition in this setting have any over-all benefit ? Does it unify a group, or set up barriers ?
Perhaps it doesn't do either, I'm just wondering

doesn't a singer choose whether to have their sub ranked or not....a little competetion is healthy.....it creats a challenge, which in and of it's self cause those who particpate to push themselves to do better....I have noticed that the word competetion brings out a lot of negitive responses, in this fourm and the others....yes karaoke is for fun....and not everyone wants the challenge of competeting....but there is a choice to be ranked or not....so where is the problem....and if I understand correctly only those of us who have subbed songs can rank subs anyway....

there are thousands of good singers out there....many of which are better than those few who become well known preformers....karaoke is for fun, but for some of us it's more than that.....it's an oppertunity to be that star if only for a few minutes.....competion only heightens the experience...

the words contest and competetion stir up a lot of emotion arround here, but no one is ever forced to compete....I heard it said that all contest do is breed hurt fealings....if I loose in a competition, it only strenghens my resolve to do better next time....and believe me I loose more than my share....

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

Hi Kkid,

Yes a contest does stir things up a bit. If you take Paltalk where they have many singing rooms, the ones that hold contests are always on top.

What a great thing it would be if we had a live singing room on Singers Show Case like Paltalk. There you go Phill, is that too much programing to fit that one in.

Not only could we listen to members tracks but all meet up in a live singing room and really get to know each other and sing live as they do on Paltalk. Why should Paltalk have all the fame !!!

What do other members think about that. bearing in mind its not easy to create a singing room like Paltalk, takes a lot of skill and know how in Programing, Maybe Phill is going to read this and give his views.

Cheers,

Peter

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www.finnpeter.uni.cc

kkid.. I agree that a little competition is fun and healthy.. my thoughts on the rating game here and in other similar forums is that it is never fair. And it never will be as long as anybody can rate. Friends will be biased.. people who are upset with you for one reason or another will knock you down... people who are 'popular' will get more votes ... so many reasons it just doesn't work... basically.. the people you are competing with are rating you... that makes no sense! BUT.. I think having the option pleases everybody and I wouldn't want to see it taken away just because it's got it's flaws. It's harmless as long as it's used simply as a tool to get some feedback .. no prizes are won here. But it's always the newcomers that start to get upset with the unfair system and start crying foul... then these threads about "ratings" once again start up and so on and so on....

As for the Paltalk idea... someone here could open a room.. and let us know where it is.. a live chat room here would be pretty cool too.. I think Phill has been working on something like that..... cool idea!

makes sense about the ratin' thing...too bad it has to be that way
i guess it would be nice if we could expect all members to rank fairly, and not by who their friends with or who their mad at.....integrity is sometimes in short supply.....giving 10s to a sub just because the singer is your buddy screams of no integrity at all.....you think that everyone would want to be rated fairly....but then again maybe not....

I thought this ranking thing was a nifty idea....just think people all over the world hearing the music and expressing their oppinion by f7airly ranking the song....

I have heard singers here that are truely gifted and some others who could make your ears bleed.....it really is a sad comentary of our members if the gifted singer ranks lower than the bad ones just because their someones friend.....I'd want my friends to be honest...

I don't believe there is a way of ranking songs that is consistant and fair...after listening to what has been said here....

so now I'm going to go watch my team win.....GO STEELERS.....GO BIG BEN!!!!!.....

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

I think some people can be honest and fair... but ... it's not like a real contest where there is a lot at stake. So people don't give much thought to a rating as say a judge in a contest would. We've seen people here get pretty upset when they don't get their 10... all of a sudden... the horrid 8 or 9 giver must be jealous and trying to sabotage them... so it's no wonder some people don't want to be responsible for an upset.. so honesty is important.. but when it's over something as silly as a song... it's not worth gettin' beat up over! Not sayin that's right... just sayin'

This is why I don't rate or get rated... just gets too complicated.



GO STEELERS!!!

sheree said


i got my webcam fired up now where is my leopard thong ........


oh by the way the steelers lost hehehehe....i hate the Patriots so.......

GO PHILLY !!!

_________________
Gladly helping Kappy to become cyber immortal !!

Hey ~ Hey ~ Hey~ you watch that now... I'm a fan of yours.. you wouldn't wanna disillusion me now, would ya???

GO PATS

_________________
[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

I posted this elsewhere but I thought I would add it here as well...

First, I need to explain a few things that are apparently a bit confused.

1) I am a sub-contractor to Karaoke Scene. I am not a paid staff member.

2) I moderate these forums, answer your web site questions, make adjustments to your accounts, submissions etc. for FREE!

3) Any modifications to change the fuction of the site that I would require payment for must be approved by the owners prior to them occurring. Many of the changes I have done because I want you to enjoy the site and have done them again for FREE!

4) I always welcome anyone & everyone's suggestions. Not all will be implemented, however I still like to hear them and make notes as to what you would like to see.

5) I work on several different web site projects and unfortunately cannot devote my entire time to just this site. Further, web design and hosting is just one of my careers. I am also a full-time real estate agent, as well as, a part-time fugitive recovery agent (Bounty Hunter)

I understand the reasoning with regards to something improving the site and I know that some other sites may have features that we do not.

However there are two major determing factors.
#1 - of course is funding! There is quite a bit of expense that is involved in programming. A lot of the features require hours of testing and verify that the code scripts function. The 'fees' paid by members basically covers the cost of the server and bandwidth used each and every month.

#2 - the time required to develop and the usefulness of the function. Will it be something that all members will benefit from.

I hope that sheds some light on this. I am looking into the suggestions and if I can attempt to implement them. If they require me to hire an outside source to develop this is an expense that must first be approved by management.

Phill