Support KORG Forums by making a donation.

Bill Komotini · Post by **Bill Komotini** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 6:02 pm

Done from the deepest of my heart.
Such forums must keep going in any cost!
Happy to help a bit.

Best Regaqrs
Bill

Akos Janca · Post by **Akos Janca** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 7:34 pm

Sharp, how can the forum sustain "itself"? You pay for it so better to say YOU sustain it, not?

Post by **Sharp** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:09 pm

Akos Janca wrote:Sharp, how can the forum sustain "itself"? You pay for it so better to say YOU sustain it, not?

Correct, but for 2 years I've been trying to work something out with KORG Inc, KORG UK and USA to see if they would split the costs between them for the dedicated server we needed.

It's a very long story but basically the idea is still alive and it's KORG USA who are stepping up to the plate. The hope and plans that are being made are that KORG USA are going to give us a server at KORG USA. They will maintain it and provide it to us for free with no strings attached at all. Really...!!!! We still remain totally independent even though it's KORG USA who own the server.

I hope to have more news on this over the coming weeks.

Regards
Sharp.

Pastor-of-Muppets · Post by **Pastor-of-Muppets** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:44 pm

kudos to Korg USA for considering that - that is a pretty cool way to support the user community - I hope it works out

(I'm not saying they couldn't do more, or they couldn't release an update for your favourite gear, or whatever bugs you - I would still think it's cool if they help cover the costs of the forum and let it stay independent)

kenackr · Post by **kenackr** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:05 am

Done here too! Even though I might not be on right now as much as I have in the past, there is little doubt in my mind that I will be again.

There really is no forum that I have been a part of that equals this one. Further, Sharp deserves not only financial support from those of us who learn here to cover the server costs but his time as well.

Finally, James is to be commended in the highest manner for such excellent guidance and effort to keep this "home" for all of us running so well.

To me it feels like it is a "local" pub or club, etc for the worldwide use of musicians who enjoy using & sharing thoughts and questions about the gear and the music we make to help make the world be a better place to live in.

With great respect & gratitude,

Ken

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:38 pm

Sharp,

I would assert this forum provides an experience (content and interaction) which people should be willing to pay for. Also, this site has been around long enough so you should not have to be administering it for free.

I would suggest modifying this forum into a two-tier annual subscription service:
-- Level 1: charge amount X (e.g. $10 a year) for users to browse and search
-- Level 2: charge amount Y (e.g. $25 a year) for users to also post

Advantages as I see it:
-- forces everyone to recognize the value here
-- allows people to decide their level of involvement
-- potentially allows the site to pay for itself

I also would not mind if this forum was opened up to banner sites. Something like the V.I. forum banner ads are hardly noticable:
http://www.vi-control.net/forum/index.php

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:25 am

Sorry Martin, but i dont believe your 'Level 2' option would go down well with many people...pay to post a reply?? Do such forums exist? I've never come across one.

Regards
Billy

ozy · Post by **ozy** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:23 pm

billysynth1 wrote:pay to post a reply?? Do such forums exist? I've never come across one.

it's widely used.

"foreigners" can scroll the forum but they can't post (of course: can't post anything, not just "replies"

), they can't see the forumers' private details, can't message them, can't download files, etc.

It's a fairly common and sensible option:

* the "emergency" and "public service" [and "advertising"] role of the forum is saved, google can map it, etc,

but

* whoever uses it deeply and consumes space, must contribute to the forum's survival.

I understand that this is not Sharp's choice, but it would be fair and it exists.

Pastor-of-Muppets · Post by **Pastor-of-Muppets** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:57 pm

ozy wrote:"foreigners" can scroll the forum but they can't post (of course: can't post anything, not just "replies" ), they can't see the forumers' private details, can't message them, can't download files, etc.

It's a fairly common and sensible option:

* the "emergency" and "public service" [and "advertising"] role of the forum is saved, google can map it, etc,

MartinHines suggested charging even just to browse though, which would not keep that role of the forum

cello · Post by **cello** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:41 pm

Maybe charging a nominal amount for membership is a good idea.

One major benefit would be that spambots wouldn't be able to register and post cr@p!

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:14 pm

billysynth1 wrote:Sorry Martin, but i dont believe your 'Level 2' option would go down well with many people...pay to post a reply??

The idea is simple -- this forum needs money to survive, given Sharp is tired of paying the full cost out of his own pocket. Donations just aren't enough to cover the cost, since they are voluntary. Therefore the issue becomes how to collect money from people who use and value the forum.

One could have a single price model where everyone who wants to use the forum in any fashion (browse, post, etc.) pays the same price. There isn't anything particularly wrong with this idea.

I am suggesting the "second tier" as a way to collect more money from people who value the forum enough to pay extra to have a deeper level of involvement.

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote: MartinHines suggested charging even just to browse though, which would not keep that role of the forum

Given the low amount of donations made, it is clear to me this site can not be funded on a voluntary contribution basis. Many people have a tendency to want something for free if they can get it.

Given this is a specialized music forum, I think charging a fee to all members (even those who only want to browse) is required to keep the individual cost low.

ozy · Post by **ozy** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:16 pm

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:MartinHines suggested charging even just to browse though, which would not keep that role of the forum

I didn't discuss his proposal,

I refuted the idea that the two-tier sistem is unheard of.

one tier can be free, the other paid for.

I just said that the two tier idea is feasible and common

kenackr · Post by **kenackr** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:50 am

Sharp,

Are you getting any more and are you still in too deep and need more help?

Ken

Post by **Sharp** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:51 pm

Hi Ken.

I'm forever grateful to those who made the effort, but I have to say that I'm bitterly disappointed by the desperately poor response from a membership of 30,000 people.

I'm going to leave the donation button up for 1 more week and then that's the end of it, it will be removed. I am seriously tempted to put the forum into maintenance mode for the last 3 days of that week which would mean everyone is locked out during this time and all they will see is the Post. Seems most people don't care, and are not even reading the thread. Maybe 3 days of no forum will get the point across.

Regards
Sharp.

cello · Post by **cello** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:03 am

Sharp - what's the shortfall? Would be good to know if you had a target in mind so that we can step-up and hit the target you need.

Like any Market, you're not going to get 100% strike rate - 80/20 rule applies! But those of us who want to (can) help, will.