Topic: Forum Layout Request

could we not have separate forums categories for all the difference models, its not like there are hundreds of them, it would make using this forum a great deal easier to use -  if that is something you'd be interested in doing for your customers.

Re: Forum Layout Request

Since similar devices (i.e. HDSP cards and external units) will often share similar issues, it is pointless to have a separate subforum for each device - then UCX users would end up having to look around the subfora for FF400, FF800, and UFX to find answers..... So much for "easy to use"...

As it were, we recently joined the Firewire and USB forums, considering that UCX and  UFX have both connections....

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Forum Layout Request

Sorry, this will not only clutter the forum and hurt it's usabyility, but will need a lot time for our moderators to check all forums for new posts. Imagine you have to open all forums every hour. We already have 15 forums (public and non public), which needs a lot time to handle. We also have a lot interesting readers who click through many postings and don't want to mess with to much forums.

best regards
Knut

4 (edited by stoolzo 2012-11-05 15:17:52)

Re: Forum Layout Request

What a bizzare idea, that ordering the forum in a more sensible manner more condusive to customer use would some how clutter it..., seems to me the forum is setup this because it's easier for you to manage and not that its better for your customers. All you need is one forum section for each product, you would have a one stop shop for checking for fault resolutions and help. You dont need seperate forums for fireware and USB either, it would still be much quicker to find an issue if there were only one section to search in and it was only going to draw back a few posts that definiately related to your card.

What you also might be forgetting is that you dont have to have the forum setup one way, it is just a database and that information can be displayed in any way you choose. Basically you could setup one for admins which worked better for them and one for customers to help them find the specific information with the least of fuss.

The customer is not always right but they are paying your wages smile

Re: Forum Layout Request

stoolzo wrote:

What a bizzare idea, that ordering the forum in a more sensible manner more condusive to customer use would some how clutter it...,seems to me the forum is setup this because it's easier for you to manage and not that its better for your customers. All you need is one forum section for each product, you would have a one stop shop for checking for fault resolutions and help.

IMHO the assumption that the layout you suggest would be in any way helpful to customers is simply wrong. If you look around, most problems are not so product specific, many circle around computer issues, or possibly driver or Totalmix operation related questions. Since both the drivers and the mixer cover several devices, splitting things up makes no sense at all, on the contrary. A FF UCX user may not find a previous thread/solution in the hypothetical neihboring UFX forum, thinking it does not apply to him.

If you wish to search for product specific threads, just use the search function which will allow to limit the search to individual subfora.

You dont need seperate forums for fireware and USB either

You may have noticed these have now been combined, because several devices have both interfaces.

it would still be much quicker to find an issue if there were only one section to search in and it was only going to draw back a few posts that definiately related to your card.

See above, you would miss a lot of threads that might just apply to your problem, but with another device. Makes no sense.

I would take the lack of support for your cause as an indication that there does not seem to be a widespread desire for individual subfora per device.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

6 (edited by stoolzo 2012-11-05 17:37:52)

Re: Forum Layout Request

With my system your first search would be of a relatively small number of posts and if it is a common problem you won’t have pages and pages of unrelated stuff to troll though. The issue I have with your current setup is that where you get lots of stuff you might have missed you also get loads of useless stuff that hinders your search. The best way to search for something on a forum is to have the ability to narrow down the search as far as possible first, a keyword search just cannot do that.

A multi tiered system would be better where you can search in your own section for most common issues and the if required dig deeper in the global sections for less common and non card specific issues. The main section would be “USB and FIREWIRE”, this would then be broken down into devices and a totalmix section at the botton, this would cover issue relating to totalmix specifically for these devices.

Yes it would be a change and some posts would end up on the wrong section initially but they would still come up with a global search and over time you would have a far more useful forum.

I would have thought what I am suggesting would also be more useful to your RME too, you’d be able to see which cards (instantly) had the most forum action and for what reasons.

The lack of interest in this thread could suggest nobody agrees but It could also suggest people know that RME have a reputation for not being particularly customer focused and that adding +1 is just a waste of time, or they spend so much time trolling through pages of unrelated stuff they can’t be bothered to spend any more time on this forum then they need to.

Dont get me wrong, you should be applauded for having a forum at all when most dont,  however as your suppport section is  almost none existent people have to rely on it.

7

Re: Forum Layout Request

> however as your suppport section is  almost none existent

While I agree with one or the other aspect of what you write, this statement is ridiculous. We do have our own support in many countries, plus the distrubutors who take over support in others. So you either missed our real support (outside this forum) completely, or you never had a real problem so far...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

8 (edited by stoolzo 2012-11-05 18:16:45)

Re: Forum Layout Request

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_support.php - this is not your support section then?, which is essentially just a list of general FAQ's no card specific sections.

NOTE: I am not doubting that if we contact you direct we will always get the required support but if you need someting there and then all you have is a list of FAQ's and a forum full or unrealted posts to troll through. I'd like to see a support section for each card, it need not have much in there other than a rollup of the known issues, even if these issue effect other cards too, they could all point to the same FAQ in that case.

9

Re: Forum Layout Request

> which is essentially just a list of general FAQ's no card specific sections.

It is a list of supporters that you can contact via telephone or email. Everything else is in the manual.

(I had to write this one :fryingpan

Anyway, I understand what you mean, but this is completely over the top for a small company like ours. Even worse, once you implement support structures like the ones you refer to the existing ones will be gone - and I doubt that would serve our users...just our competitors...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: Forum Layout Request

I must admit I still fail to understand your problems with the forum. That is a) because I think many problems are not as product specific as you seem to assume and b) if you are looking for product specific threads, you can procure a nice list with the search function. If even in that narrowed-down list of topics you can't find anything that applies to your case, then by all means do post a new topic, which will either be replied to in due course or someone will know and point out threads covering similar problems...

And browsing through lots of subfora for topics to look at and reply to not only makes life unnecessarily hard for us IMHO, but also for all the other helpful users who come here not only to seek, but to provide help....

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Re: Forum Layout Request

MC wrote:

> which is essentially just a list of general FAQ's no card specific sections.

It is a list of supporters that you can contact via telephone or email. Everything else is in the manual.

(I had to write this one :fryingpan

Anyway, I understand what you mean, but this is completely over the top for a small company like ours. Even worse, once you implement support structures like the ones you refer to the existing ones will be gone - and I doubt that would serve our users...just our competitors...

I really like the current forum layout.

I like to be able to look at things by 'connection method', so it works great for me.

just my $0.02

Isaac P

12 (edited by Timur Born 2012-11-07 23:10:36)

Re: Forum Layout Request

Agree with Isaac. And the linked page says:

"E-Mail Support international

support@rme-audio.de"

And then:

"our local support specialist:

    Please choose your country on the map or click on the first letter of the country (name in english):"

On another page about the forum it says:

"Please note also the forum is not an official support substitute. A gapless reply to support question is not possible, due to the plenitude of postings. Please use our support contacts."

Re: Forum Layout Request

I am suggesting an additional layout which runs along side the current one, you could view problems as they are or by card model. You would just need a button to switch from "global" to "product specific" So, if someone wanted to buy one they could instantly look through all the current issues with the card, or lack of them. I had this problem when researching this card, there we loads of glowing  reviews online but the best place to look for issues is always forums where all the dirty linen is laid out. When I searched for the UC card I was presented with loads of junk to read and in the end I just took chance and bought one. I havent been dispointed with it other than the midi connector, its a fantastic card and a real step up from a lot of the dross out there.

14

Re: Forum Layout Request

> You would just need a button to switch from "global" to "product specific"

Can you show me just one forum, if possible PunBB based, that offers such a functionality?

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

Re: Forum Layout Request

it doesnt matter, I think you know what I am getting at and if you are small company then the forum is probably as good as it needs to be for now, its just that if you tag every card with the same there is no scope in the future for upgrading your forum as you are effectively setting up a database for one single device. If you do decide to split in the future you wil have to start again from scratch as you will have no way to distinguish between a post for a UCX from a post for a FF800 or any other device without reading every single one.

Check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/, best hardware forum out there by a long shot, its for mobile phones but the same applies.

Please dont think I am having a rant, this was only a suggestion as i love your gear.