Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Nacimroc on March 23, 2010, 10:04:50 pm

Title: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Nacimroc on March 23, 2010, 10:04:50 pm: How do i go about making a volume control knob to control the volume of my amp ? I bought a 50k pot and want to change the volume on my amp and not my pc. It would be a pain to try unsolder and re-solder the pot on the amp's board.

The way its connected now is: PC (via phono cable) -> mini ebay amp -> sub (that uses passthrough) -> speakers

Thanks
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: BadMouth on March 23, 2010, 10:50:36 pm: Search for "Amis LC-1 LC1 Remote Volume Bass Sub Control Knob" on fleabay.

Simplest way I can think of...
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Ginsu Victim on March 24, 2010, 12:35:40 am: Oscar Controls mirror on BYOAC
http://mirrors.arcadecontrols.com/OscarControls/volume/index.shtml (http://mirrors.arcadecontrols.com/OscarControls/volume/index.shtml)

That's what I used and it works great.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Nacimroc on March 24, 2010, 09:20:14 am: Thanks! Was exactly what I was after!
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Zebidee on March 27, 2010, 01:10:29 pm: You should check out this description of how to install a volume pot. It makes everything very clear and has great pictures:

http://scarvell.net/wiki/index.php?title=VOLUME_CONTROL_MOUNTING_AND_WIRING (http://scarvell.net/wiki/index.php?title=VOLUME_CONTROL_MOUNTING_AND_WIRING)
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: IG-88 on April 01, 2010, 09:07:56 pm: Because I'm such a cheap bastiage, can you guess what these are?
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: protokatie on April 01, 2010, 09:43:29 pm: Ooo, nice! Using Wire Nuts as knobs! I'll have to remember that!
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: IG-88 on April 01, 2010, 09:50:09 pm: Sounds silly I know but they really don't look too bad... ;D
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Nacimroc on March 29, 2011, 04:06:20 pm: Ok, finally got around to making this but ran into some trouble. I ordered 2 of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=300517743651&si=xN0AYcNi8CWuD3lp0E9yX4Jv4Fs%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT#ht_500wt_922 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=300517743651&si=xN0AYcNi8CWuD3lp0E9yX4Jv4Fs%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT#ht_500wt_922)

BUT.....I am only getting left channel.

I tried the second pot just to make sure, but figured I'd ask the experts here before hacking up another cable to test. Im using a 3.5mm to phono cable. (was a tv out cable, but i disregarded the video lead) So just red and white. I have wired this twice and checked it loads of times against the two links above and I can't see the problem.

I tried 3 different inputs on my amp (which has both channel working fine - tested to make sure)

Thanks
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Zebidee on March 30, 2011, 02:01:40 am: Maybe your PC is outputing mono?
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Nacimroc on March 30, 2011, 10:06:29 am: Tried a PC and 2 phones and all just output single channel. I reckon it is either the cable (doubtful as I checked it before I cut it up and I joined in twice to 2 pots in different parts of cable.) OR the 2 pots are faulty maybe ? So frustrating.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: SavannahLion on March 30, 2011, 10:41:23 am: The male four conductor 3.5mm (TRRS) is probably shorting out in the three conductor 3.5mm (TRS) female. I've seen this behavior when plugging in mono cables into a stereo jack. I believe the right channel shorts directly to ground.

Of course the right channel could be floating or going through the video side. Not sure. can't remember what happens between a TRRS to TRS there.

When you tested it, did you plug it into whatever used three phones or did you test it directly in the setup you have there?
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Nacimroc on March 30, 2011, 12:27:33 pm: SOLVED!!! ;D ;D

One of the output cables from the pot to the amp was faulty and shorting! When you said shorting I said I'd check and discovered it!

Thanks again for help! Still best forum around. :applaud: :applaud:
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: TheSlim on March 30, 2011, 09:04:59 pm: This is a bit off topic but anyone know the best way to do a volume knob when I am using a LCD montior with built in speakers and the sound and video are coming from a HDMI port. I build a slim cabinet with this set up and would like a volume knob.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: DaOld Man on March 30, 2011, 09:58:14 pm: It a bit on the pricey side, and I couldnt get mine to work reliably, but someone on here has a write up on how to fix it.

A Griffin Powermate plugs into your usb port and controls windows sound by turning it's knob.
Search for powermate.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: SavannahLion on March 31, 2011, 12:55:16 am: Quote from: DaOld Man on March 30, 2011, 09:58:14 pm
A Griffin Powermate plugs into your usb port and controls windows sound by turning it's knob.
Search for powermate.

Wow, that's still being manufactured? I thought that was discontinued...
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Blanka on March 31, 2011, 02:44:44 am: What do you need a volume knob for?
Just program your iPac or so to have a shift key with joystick up/down for volume control.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: TheSlim on March 31, 2011, 06:00:39 am: Quote from: Blanka on March 31, 2011, 02:44:44 am
What do you need a volume knob for?
Just program your iPac or so to have a shift key with joystick up/down for volume control.

That taKes up more buttons than necessary. A knob you be better, I considered a powermate but they look terrible and have bad reviews.
Title: Re: How to make a volume knob ??
Post by: Blanka on April 04, 2011, 03:48:53 am: Quote from: TheSlim on March 31, 2011, 06:00:39 am
That taKes up more buttons than necessary. A knob you be better, I considered a powermate but they look terrible and have bad reviews.
What do you mean. P1 start is the shift key already, and you just combine it with the P1 joystick for volume control. That is no extra buttons at all, just some programming. And if you don't like it, you can always drill an extra hole.