Volume control

[Justin]

I'm sure most of you already saw this posted on the main page:
http://www.3tronics.com/arcade_volume.htm

This is exactly what I need, but it is too pricey IMHO for what it is.   Anyone know how to build one?  Or maybe where to buy a cheaper one?

TIA!

[OSCAR]

I put together a page detailing how I made one.  It's very similar to the one you linked.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/volume

[Lilwolf]

There is also a pc speaker -> analog speaker writeup around.  

This is what I did... and it works great!

I also got the volume control to the outside of my cabinet by taking off the knob, putting a straw (hard plastic kid straw) on the pot on the PC speaker board... and then put it in the knob on the outside of the cabinet (through a drill hole).  

It worked great.  Nobody knows that there is plastic in it.  And it only came out when I moved my cabinet up 2 flights of stairs.

[Justin]

OK, I actually built a volume control similar to the one eTronics sells, using the following RadioShack components:

-Stereo Volume Control Potentiometer (#271-1732)  $3
-Headphone Extension Cord (#42-2562) $6
-Control Knob (#274-402) $2

Split the cord in half, strip wires, solder wires to pot, and you're all set!

I can post some diagrams etc., but what I did is not too different than what OscarControls has at:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/volume

What's so nice about this solution, is that you don't have to tamper with your existing speaker wires etc!

[pmc]

What I did (see similar thread on extending the volume control shaft) is to gut a set of PC speakers. The volume control was on a small circuit board inside the plastic housing of the left speaker. I simply drilled a hole for the volume shaft to stick through and bought a more interesting knob at radio-shack. The only trouble was extending the shaft. Hollow aluminum dowels expoxied to the original pot did the job and it looks and feels like a professional installation.

If I had used my own speakers (I have an extra set of 4" speakers from an old car) and my own amp, I'd have done what OSCAR did and build my own control.

For those who figure they'll use the Windoze software volume control, I can say that this is a GREAT addition to the cab. I use a couple of emulators and also play stuff like a Win95 port "Sonic the Hedgehog" and other PC games. Everything plays at a different volume and it can come up suddenly and blaring during a full screen no-access-to-windoze-right-now moment at 2AM. There's nothing like being able to instantly twist the volume up or down as you wander from game to game by having a knob a small reach away from your joystick.

[Justin]

It just occured to me that it would be great if one could control the volume of the Windows sound setting, by using the spinner of the cab.

For this, one would need a utility that would allow for a shortcutKey+Mouse to alter current volume.

So, for example, a utility that allowed for Alt-Control-MouseLeft and Alt-Control-MouseRight to lower/increase volume would do the trick.

Any such Windows util out there?  Anyone willing to write one?  

[Sprucemoose]

It just occured to me that it would be great if one could control the volume of the Windows sound setting, by using the spinner of the cab.

For this, one would need a utility that would allow for a shortcutKey+Mouse to alter current volume.

So, for example, a utility that allowed for Alt-Control-MouseLeft and Alt-Control-MouseRight to lower/increase volume would do the trick.

Was just reading through posts to get an idea on what I want to do for my volume control.  I googled some stuff and came up with this application:

Volumouse
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/volumouse.html

It appears that you can select this freeware program to increase/decrease the cabinet volume by pressing the alt (remappable) and then scrolling the mouse (or spinner I would imagine).  I am going to try this when I get home, but I thought this might be a cool addition to a cab or jukebox.

[Sprucemoose]

My bad.  Looks like this is used for the mouse wheel, not the mouse itself.  I wonder if there is a way to alter the program?

[kelemvor]

Depending on how much you like your speakers you can just get some of the Creative Labs ones that have them built in....

Walmart has a $20 set right now that sounds really good and has a volume/power control wired in.

[whatzcrackn]

how do they sound.? I hate when something has bass and it is muffled or sounds really disorted.  not that I would be trying to have a concert but I would what to play music too.

[kelemvor]

See the other post in this forum about them.  They sound surprising good for onlyt $20.  Other reviews online have said others that were also happy with them.

[whatzcrackn]

See the other post in this forum about them.  They sound surprising good for onlyt $20.  Other reviews online have said others that were also happy with them.

kool, thx

[RayB]

I am a fan of volume knobs.
Especially when you load up a LOUD game. You will not want to be fumbling around for your ALT key combo....