PBC:MediaConverter

PBC Media Converter Interface

The PBC Media Converter is a specialized service that allows users to easily convert and publish video content to PBC. It provides automated video conversion to the AV1 format, ensuring optimal quality and compatibility while maintaining efficient storage usage. The service handles the entire workflow from initial upload through conversion to final publication on PBC pages.

Why Use PBC Media Converter?

• Optimized Conversion: Automatically converts videos to high-quality AV1 format
• User-Friendly Interface: Simple drag-and-drop upload with real-time progress tracking
• Queue Management: Organized processing of multiple files with status updates
• Integrated Publishing: Direct publication to PBC pages with automatic categorization
• Quality Preservation: Maintains video quality while optimizing file size
• Batch Processing: Handles multiple files with shared metadata options

Workflow Diagram

Requirements and Limitations

Supported Input Formats

• MP4 (.mp4)
• M4V (.m4v)
• MOV (.mov)
• TS (.ts)
• AVI (.avi)
• WMV (.wmv)
• MKV (.mkv)
• WebM (.webm)

Video Requirements

• Minimum Resolution: 1920x1080 pixels
• Maximum File Size: 16 GB
• Recommended Aspect Ratios: 16:9, 4:3, or 21:9
• Frame Rate Support: Up to 120 fps

Browser Requirements

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• JavaScript enabled
• Stable internet connection

User Permissions

• User must be logged in
• User must have upload permissions
• User must be autoconfirmed or in a higher user group

Language Support

• Interface automatically adapts to user's wiki language preference
• Supports all main wiki interface languages
• Language can be changed using the wiki's language selector in the top menu
• Error messages, notifications, and interface elements are fully localized
• Default fallback language is English

Important Notes

• All videos are converted to WebM format using the AV1 codec
• The conversion process may take significant time depending on the file size and server load

Getting Started

Upload Tab

Upload Interface

The upload tab is your starting point for converting videos. You can add files in two ways:

• Drag and drop files directly onto the upload area
• Click the upload area to open file selection dialog

After selecting files, the service will:

1. Validate each file for format and size requirements
2. Generate preview thumbnails
3. Display file cards with basic information
4. Show upload progress in real-time

Tips for uploading:

• You can select multiple files at once
• Invalid files will be automatically filtered out with appropriate error messages
• Each file card shows a preview thumbnail and basic file information
• You can remove files before starting conversion using the delete button

Conversion Process

Conversion Interface

Once files are uploaded, you'll be automatically taken to the conversion tab. Here you can:

Before Conversion

• Review detailed file information for each video
• See input resolution, codec, frame rate, and other technical details
• Verify that files meet minimum requirements

Starting Conversion

Click the "Start Conversion" button to begin processing all uploaded files. The system will:

• Add files to the conversion queue
• Process files sequentially
• Show real-time progress for each file

Queue Management

• Files are processed one at a time
• Current queue position is displayed for each file
• You can see:
  • Total number of files in queue
  • Current active conversion
  • Estimated processing time

Conversion Stages

Each file goes through several stages:

1. Queued: File is waiting for processing
2. First Pass: Initial processing stage
3. Second Pass: Final conversion to AV1
4. Completion: File is ready for publishing

Progress Indicators:

• Real-time progress percentage
• Current conversion stage
• Preview thumbnails of converted files
• Detailed conversion status updates

Conversion Status Display

Important Notes:

• Don't close your browser during conversion
• You'll receive notifications when conversions complete
• Failed conversions can be retried automatically
• The conversion tab will show converted files with before/after comparisons

After Conversion

When conversion completes:

• File cards will flip to show the converted file details
• You can compare original and converted specifications
• The "Publish" tab becomes available
• Success notifications appear for each completed file

Technical Information Display:

• Output resolution
• Frame rate
• Codec settings
• File size reduction
• Quality metrics

Publication Process

Publication Tab Overview

Publication Interface

Once all files are converted, you'll be automatically redirected to the publication tab. Here you can prepare your videos for publishing on PBC pages. Each video has its own publication card with several important sections.

File Naming Guidelines

Main page: PBC:File_names

Filename Examples

PBC file names should be clear and descriptive, without being excessively long. While the file name doesn't matter much to the reader (they can reach the description page by simply clicking on the image), it matters for editors. It is helpful to other contributors and for maintenance of the encyclopedia if images have descriptive or at least readable file names.

Proper file naming is crucial for successful publication:

Requirements:

• Must be at least 5 characters long
• Must contain at least one letter
• Cannot start with dots, spaces, underscores, or hyphens
• Cannot contain special characters (#<>[]|{}/:*?\\")
• Should be descriptive and meaningful
• File extension (.webm) is added automatically

Good Examples:

File:Yes check.svg "Diego Mineiro Rhyheim Shabazz Gael Kriok OnlyFans 2023"

File:Yes check.svg "Calvin SeanCody SC0414 2006"

File:Yes check.svg "Chris Barron CorbinFisher ACM2878 Barron Works Out Chris 2023"

File:Yes check.svg "Malik Delgaty Argyle Grant Fall Winter 2022-2023 Fashion Show"

Bad Examples:

File:X mark.svg 345653456323523 (only numbers)

File:X mark.svg VID_12345 (only numbers and underscores)

File:X mark.svg .my-video (starts with dot)

File:X mark.svg vid1 (too short)

File:X mark.svg Concert.mov (don't include extension)

Video Description

Description Editor

The description field supports several important elements:

Actor Links

• Click the person icon to add actor links
• Actors are automatically linked using [[Actor Name]] format
• Multiple actors are separated by "&" or commas
• Actors are placed at the beginning of the description

Site Templates

• Click the link icon to add site templates
• Templates are added after actors using "at {{Template}}" format
• Start typing to see template suggestions
• Only existing templates are shown

Free Text

• Click the text icon to add free-form text
• Use for additional information or context
• Can include locations, events, or other relevant details

Example Description:

[[John Smith]] & [[Jane Doe]] at {{seancodylink}}, 2012

Categories

Category Management

Proper categorization helps organize and find videos:

Adding Categories:

• Type category name to see suggestions
• Only existing categories are shown in dark color
• New categories appear in red
• Click a category to visit its wiki page

Category Tips:

• Add both general and specific categories
• Use existing categories when possible
• Check category spelling and format
• Categories are case-sensitive
• Minimum one category required per video

For multiple videos:

• Use "Add Shared Category" to add categories to all videos at once
• Click "Copy Categories" to copy categories from the first video to all others

Date Information

Date Input Options

The date field has two input modes:

Calendar Mode

• Use for exact known dates
• Select date from calendar interface
• Best for recent videos with clear dates

Text Mode

• Use for approximate or historical dates
• Can include months, seasons, or years
• Supports descriptive date formats

Important:

• Always use the actual recording date, not publication date
• Be as specific as possible with dates
• Use text mode if exact date is unknown
• Date format should match wiki standards

Examples:

• Calendar: "2024-01-15"
• Text: "Summer 2023"
• Text: "circa 1995"
• Text: "January 2024"

Batch Operations

For publishing multiple videos:

• Copy Description: Apply first video's description to all videos
• Copy Date: Use same date for all videos
• Copy Categories: Apply first video's categories to all videos

Publication Process

Publication Progress

Before publishing:

1. Verify all required fields are filled
2. Check for red warning indicators
3. Review all information for accuracy
4. Ensure proper categorization

Click "Publish All" to start the publication process:

• Files are published sequentially
• Progress is shown for each file
• Success/failure notifications appear
• Published files become read-only
• Wiki and HTML links are provided after successful publication

After Publication:

• Use provided wiki code to embed videos in articles
• Copy direct links for sharing
• View published files in their categories
• Add videos to relevant wiki pages

Tips for Successful Publication

• Double-check file names before publishing
• Ensure descriptions are clear and informative
• Use specific, relevant categories
• Provide accurate dates
• Wait for all publications to complete
• Don't refresh the page during publication