Geminars Documentation

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faq [2026/01/14 22:47] – [I cannot see the 'unlikes' on a Geminar!] adminfaq [2026/01/20 16:16] (current) – [I am the author of a Geminar. How much time do I have to in a broadcast? and when should I broadcast?] admin
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 If the amount of credits are not sufficient, then some usage (e.g. chats, beckoning the author, etc) merely gets suspended. The user's account is not banned due to lack of credits. If the amount of credits are not sufficient, then some usage (e.g. chats, beckoning the author, etc) merely gets suspended. The user's account is not banned due to lack of credits.
 ====If you do not do video hosting, where do I upload my videos?==== ====If you do not do video hosting, where do I upload my videos?====
-You can upload your videos to one of the free PeerTube instances. [[https://getpeertube.org|Peer Tube]] is a fantastic project from France, that encourages people to use their free software and start a "Peer Tube" server -- it is similar to YouTube -- but without advertisements. There are many PeerTube instances out there. We found [[https://makervideo.com|Maker Video]] and [[https://video.liberta.vip/|Liberta Vidéo]] to be useful. However there are many more. Choose from a [[https://instances.joinpeertube.org/instances?sort=-version| long list here]]. Read the terms and conditions of the specific Peer Tube instance you chose.  Also; it goes without saying, that you should have read our own [[tos|Terms and conditions]] and make sure you do not violate those too.+There are many options for obtaining free or quite economical hosting for Videos.
  
 +//**PeerTube**//\\
 +You can upload your videos to one of the free PeerTube instances. [[https://getpeertube.org|Peer Tube]] is a fantastic project from France, that encourages people to use their free software and start a "Peer Tube" server -- it is similar to YouTube -- but without advertisements. There are many PeerTube instances out there. We found [[https://makervideo.com|Maker Video]] and [[https://video.liberta.vip/|Liberta Vidéo]] to be useful. However there are many more. Choose from a [[https://instances.joinpeertube.org/instances?sort=-version| long list here]]. 
 +
 +//**File Garden**//\\
 You can also upload your videos to [[https://file.garden|File Garden]] free of cost. Currently (Jan 2026) they allow you to upload mp4 files and you can directly give the link to that MP4 in your geminar.  You can also upload your videos to [[https://file.garden|File Garden]] free of cost. Currently (Jan 2026) they allow you to upload mp4 files and you can directly give the link to that MP4 in your geminar. 
  
 Those are all free options that you have. Please use your own judgment. We are only providing some knowledge here -- we are not affiliated with any of them. If your video is on a website that gives you a public HLS link, you can give that also for your Geminar. The link would end in //.m3u8// Those are all free options that you have. Please use your own judgment. We are only providing some knowledge here -- we are not affiliated with any of them. If your video is on a website that gives you a public HLS link, you can give that also for your Geminar. The link would end in //.m3u8//
  
 +//**BunnyCDN**//\\
 If you are willing to pay for uploading and storing your videos, there are many more companies that offer those, of course. An excellent and highly economical service is [[https://bunny.net/stream/|Bunny Stream]] We have prepared a special script that can help you upload videos from your own computer to your account at Bunny Stream. [[bunnystream|See detailed help here.]] If you are willing to pay for uploading and storing your videos, there are many more companies that offer those, of course. An excellent and highly economical service is [[https://bunny.net/stream/|Bunny Stream]] We have prepared a special script that can help you upload videos from your own computer to your account at Bunny Stream. [[bunnystream|See detailed help here.]]
  
-//When you choose the service where you want to upload, make sure those video links are not blocked when used on other websites (such as ours). And those links should be permanently available. So do not upload to services that allow a file to be present for a limited time.//+//**GCore**//\\ 
 +You can also get an account at [[https://portal.gcore.com/streaming/video|GCore]] and upload your videos there. They too offer a CDN and they also have a generous pay-as-you-go system. We do not have a special uploader for GCore; but if you go to their dashboard and select the streaming section, and there to video; it is quite easy to use their interface. Note that you will have to give a credit card to activate your account. They give a 14 day trial... and after that they will switch you to the pay-as-you-go system. Please read their pricing system carefully. 
 + 
 +//**IMPORTANT**\\ 
 +When you choose the service where you want to upload, make sure those video links are not blocked when used on other websites (such as ours). And those links should be permanently available. So do not upload to services that allow a file to be present for a limited time.// 
 + 
 +Read the terms and conditions of the service that you chose.  Also; it goes without saying, that you should have read our own [[tos|Terms and conditions]] and make sure you do not violate those too.
  
-Read more on [[For Authors|how authors should use Geminars]] +Read more on [[For Authors|how authors should use Geminars.]] 
  
 ====Can I use a video on YouTube here?==== ====Can I use a video on YouTube here?====
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 Secondly, Geminars can only use videos that are publicly accessible from a link that directly accesses the mp4 file or HLS link of the video.  Or it should be a PeerTube's embedded link (explained earlier). Secondly, Geminars can only use videos that are publicly accessible from a link that directly accesses the mp4 file or HLS link of the video.  Or it should be a PeerTube's embedded link (explained earlier).
  
-YouTube never releases the direct MP4 link. +YouTube never releases the direct video link. There are illegal ways to detect the direct video link; and unfortunately, we do not allow such illegal approaches.
 ====Can I host a private geminar?==== ====Can I host a private geminar?====
  
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 We have tried our level best to reduce the chance of downloads of videos from our platform. However, please note that it is quite impossible to totally prevent download of //any// video on the Internet. At the very least, someone can stand in front of a computer playing a video, and record it using a phone or a camera.  So if you are worried that someone may download your video; then you must upload it with some watermark so that you have at least a claim on what was shown.   We have tried our level best to reduce the chance of downloads of videos from our platform. However, please note that it is quite impossible to totally prevent download of //any// video on the Internet. At the very least, someone can stand in front of a computer playing a video, and record it using a phone or a camera.  So if you are worried that someone may download your video; then you must upload it with some watermark so that you have at least a claim on what was shown.  
  
-====I uploaded to Bunny Stream. But I can't see the HLS link==== +====I uploaded a video to Bunny Stream. But I can't see the HLS link==== 
-We have given a script ([[bunnystream|see here]]) that you can use to upload videos to your own //Bunny Stream// account. Once the script does its job, the video is //not// available immediately at Bunny Stream. That's because Bunny Stream would be further processing the uploaded video at their end to generate the HLS files, etc. Please be patient and you would surely get the HLS link for the video you uploaded. +We have given a script ([[bunnystream|see here]]) that you can use to upload videos to your own //Bunny Stream// account. Once the script does its job, the HLS link is shown to you.  
 + 
 +However; please note that the video is //not// available immediately at Bunny Stream. That's because Bunny Stream would be further processing the uploaded video at their end to generate the HLS files, etc. Please be patient and the HLS link will get activated. If the video is of a long duration, this process can even take half an hour or more. 
 + 
 +By some chance, if the script had failed when uploading, run the command again; and it will resume the upload from where it had last left off.  
 + 
 +====How to create my own homepage with only my videos?==== 
 + 
 +Every person who registered at //Geminars// is considered an author. After all, it is easy for a viewer to become an author: //Just create a new Geminar!//  Every person has their own special Geminars page that displays ONLY their Geminars. If you had setup your username as "billgates" then your special home page would be https://thegems.space/of/billgates   In short; give a meaningful name as a username so that it would be easy for you and others to remember your special homepage here.  
 + 
 +(Note: Displaying your special home page will consume a tiny amount of your credits. So if you share it with a wide audience, make sure you have enough credits. The advantage of sharing is that the preview will be showcasing you -- with the image of your avatar)  
 + 
 +====Can I do live streaming at Geminars?==== 
 +Though //Geminars// are not really meant for //live video// it can easily be used for live video streaming too. This may look like a contradiction but frankly, it is the nature of the technology: //Geminars// does not itself do any kind of video hosting (be it //live// or //VoD//). All you have to is to get the video or HLS link from wherever the video is hosted.  
 + 
 +Luckily for those seeking to host live videos (though our philosophy is not aligned in that direction), you can host a live video session at //Geminars.// due to one subtle "loophole": An HLS link is not just used only for pre-recorded videos, but it is often used for live-sessions too. 
 + 
 + All you have to do is to select a live-streaming provider that gives you the HLS link for that live session. We tested this at GCore  (https://portal.gcore.com/) and found that the HLS link they give for a live video session does indeed play at //Geminars// too.  
 + 
 +But there are some important caveats: Make sure that the service you use has CORS support so that the link plays at //Geminars.// And such HLS links would have 30-45 seconds delay. Also, you need to configure OBS (Open Broadcaster Studio) or other RTMP software so that the live stream emerging from your computer is itself not stuttering. (That's because //most// home broadband Internet service provider //does not have enough bandwidth// to smoothly stream live-video)
  
-By some chance, if the script had failed, run the command again; and it will resume the upload from where it had last left off.  
 ====I was unable to register!==== ====I was unable to register!====
  
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 ====Why should I pay for a beckon, if the author never came to broadcast audio?==== ====Why should I pay for a beckon, if the author never came to broadcast audio?====
 True. When someone beckons the author of a geminar to join and/or broadcast live, there is no guarantee that the author would indeed land up at that page. So we implemented a rule: Clicking on the //Beckon Author// button does not immediately result in any credits being deducted. Instead, if the author did come into the Geminar within the next one hour, only then would the charges be deducted from that beckoner's account. So do not worry about wasting your credits by clicking //Beckon Authors// on those authors who did not respond. True. When someone beckons the author of a geminar to join and/or broadcast live, there is no guarantee that the author would indeed land up at that page. So we implemented a rule: Clicking on the //Beckon Author// button does not immediately result in any credits being deducted. Instead, if the author did come into the Geminar within the next one hour, only then would the charges be deducted from that beckoner's account. So do not worry about wasting your credits by clicking //Beckon Authors// on those authors who did not respond.
 +
 +====I am the author of a Geminar. How much time do I have to in an audio broadcast? and when should I broadcast?====
 +You can always start your broadcast anytime. You can broadcast for any amount of time.  But usually, making a short, sweet live audio broadcast would be liked by your audience. Make sure you have sufficient credits balance.
 +
 +Regarding when you should broadcast; it is totally up to you. It is good manners to broadcast to your audience, when one or more of them beckons you. Another useful tip: You can specify when you plan to go live with your audio-broadcast; and edit your Geminar to state that (Use the //oneliner// feature when editing) Then share the time you will be live on social media, with the link of that Geminar.
 ====I cannot see the 'unlikes' on a Geminar!==== ====I cannot see the 'unlikes' on a Geminar!====
 That's deliberate. Only the author can see the number of unlikes placed on that author's own Geminar. Others can surely click👎and register an //unlike// alright, but the actual //quantum of unlikes// can only be seen on the author's own dashboard. That's deliberate. Only the author can see the number of unlikes placed on that author's own Geminar. Others can surely click👎and register an //unlike// alright, but the actual //quantum of unlikes// can only be seen on the author's own dashboard.
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 We appreciate reports on //any// violation of our terms of service. Such as; the other user has uploaded a video that was offensive or you thought was belonging to someone else or if something inappropriate was mentioned in a chat message, etc.  We appreciate reports on //any// violation of our terms of service. Such as; the other user has uploaded a video that was offensive or you thought was belonging to someone else or if something inappropriate was mentioned in a chat message, etc. 
  
-Reporting on a user is quite easy. You can click on the tiny profile image of the person (or the name of the person, in its chat) and a report will reach us immediately. We may need to contact you by email to learn more (if required) If there was an offensive chat message, please do not delete it till we have resolved the complaint.+Reporting on a user is quite easy. You can click on the tiny profile image of the person (or the name of the person, in its chat) and it will open up more info about that person. There is a "Report" link at the top of that pop-up page. Click on it and a report will reach us immediately. We may need to contact you by email to learn more (if required) If there was an offensive chat message, please do not delete it till we have resolved the complaint.
 ====I made a payment. But my credits did not get updated!==== ====I made a payment. But my credits did not get updated!====
 Once you purchase credits from any of our payment gateways, a receipt would be sent to the email address you provided. There is a special code that is mentioned in the receipt: In case of //Stripe// it is the receipt number. In the image below you can see #1178-0807 -- So you should give //1178-0807// when you click on "Add Credits" in your Profile. In case of Razorpay, the code is the //Payment ID//, which is again seen in the receipt emailed to you. Once you purchase credits from any of our payment gateways, a receipt would be sent to the email address you provided. There is a special code that is mentioned in the receipt: In case of //Stripe// it is the receipt number. In the image below you can see #1178-0807 -- So you should give //1178-0807// when you click on "Add Credits" in your Profile. In case of Razorpay, the code is the //Payment ID//, which is again seen in the receipt emailed to you.
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 However, we may implement a "transfer" credits feature -- where you can transfer some of your credits to some other member.    However, we may implement a "transfer" credits feature -- where you can transfer some of your credits to some other member.   
 +
 +
 +====I am seeing some additional credits being deducted! Why?=====
 +
 +Some authors can charge some additional credits for certain //Geminars.// We gave this feature so that authors can also earn some credits in this manner. So if you interacted (chatted or beckoned author) in those //Geminars// that had these charges; then those extra charges would be deducted from you. This is in //addition to// the platform fees.  Our platform fees are seen in our [[https://geminars.com#pricing|home page here.]]
 +
 +When you visit any //Geminar// make sure you read the line below the title of the Geminar. You would see the additional amounts mentioned there.
  
 ====My credits are negative! What to do?==== ====My credits are negative! What to do?====
faq.1768427260.txt.gz · Last modified: by admin

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