Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: lisowskikevin on January 19, 2015, 06:57:03 pm

Title: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: lisowskikevin on January 19, 2015, 06:57:03 pm
Hey everyone, I just purchased a Griffin Powermate to be used as my volume control knob. My question is.....does anyone have any suggestions re whether I should install in on the control panel or beside the speakers of the arcade machine.

Or anywhere else for that matter.

Thanks for any advice!
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: yotsuya on January 19, 2015, 06:59:13 pm
Hidden behind the coin door.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: thomas_surles on January 19, 2015, 08:23:18 pm
I put mine in between the speakers under my marquee.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: Fast351 on January 19, 2015, 08:36:50 pm
Hidden behind the coin door.

This!
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: AzureKnight on January 20, 2015, 01:55:35 pm

Does your CP overhang the sides of your cabinet?  I put mine coming out the side of the cabinet but hidden behind the CP.  You don't see it from the front or left side at all, but it is within very easy reach when needed.  I've only really had the thing running for a few weeks but I do find I change the volume a lot from game to game.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: BadMouth on January 20, 2015, 02:12:24 pm
Hidden behind the coin door.

This!

I disagree.  There's too much variation game to game.  I adjust the volume constantly.

I'd recommend on top the cab or under the CP.
Somewhere it can't be seen, but is within reach for quick adjustments.
Might not look bad on the panel that the speakers are mounted in, depending on your cab.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: yotsuya on January 20, 2015, 02:22:10 pm
Hidden behind the coin door.

This!

I disagree.  There's too much variation game to game.  I adjust the volume constantly.

I'd recommend on top the cab or under the CP.
Somewhere it can't be seen, but is within reach for quick adjustments.
Might not look bad on the panel that the speakers are mounted in, depending on your cab.

I have it behind the coin door so other people don't mess with it.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: BadMouth on January 20, 2015, 02:39:43 pm
I have it behind the coin door so other people don't mess with it.  :cheers:

 :notworthy:
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: yotsuya on January 20, 2015, 02:48:25 pm
I have it behind the coin door so other people don't mess with it.  :cheers:

 :notworthy:

I put an external volume control on my jukebox as a nod to my wife, who wanted to be able to turn it down, but what happens is people also want to try and play "Let's Blow Out The Speakers" as well.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: johnrt on January 20, 2015, 02:57:49 pm
I use The Force to control the volume.
(http://deliciousbass09.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/kenobi1.jpg)

If that doesn't work, I also have a volume knob inside the cab. (I don't have coin doors, so I just open the front- or back door).
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: lisowskikevin on January 20, 2015, 08:08:06 pm

Does your CP overhang the sides of your cabinet?  I put mine coming out the side of the cabinet but hidden behind the CP.  You don't see it from the front or left side at all, but it is within very easy reach when needed.  I've only really had the thing running for a few weeks but I do find I change the volume a lot from game to game.


Ya mine overhangs so I could definitely do it, I actually like the sea the more I think about it.

Thank you to everyone for their valued opinion. I am definitely going to avoid the temptation to put it on the control panel...it would be dumb to put it there in hindsight. YOU GUYS ROCK!
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: DeLuSioNal29 on January 20, 2015, 09:17:51 pm
Pics of your cabinet may help too.  :-)
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: pbj on January 20, 2015, 09:31:12 pm
I find the variation in volume to be authentic but I know this forum is flush with those that never stepped foot in an arcade.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: ChanceKJ on January 21, 2015, 02:13:12 am
What's an "arcade"?

Here's what I did with my PowerMate, it's on the fron of my control panel, out in the open and I don't think its "dumb".  :D

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15992633660_e9d00d86ab_c.jpg)
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: keilmillerjr on January 21, 2015, 06:13:12 am
If you set your computer volume to max and then adjust your amplifier to the loudest you want your cab, having an os volume adjustment for the end user is no big dea and is not dumb.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: yotsuya on January 21, 2015, 09:39:45 am
So the moral of the story is that everyone does it differently, so do whatever you want.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: pbj on January 21, 2015, 10:21:01 am
So the moral of the story is that everyone does it differently, so do whatever you want.  :cheers:

Go take your moral relativism elsewhere.

Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: yotsuya on January 21, 2015, 11:14:22 am
So the moral of the story is that everyone does it differently, so do whatever you want.  :cheers:

Go take your moral relativism elsewhere.

Your momma wears combat boots.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: UFO on January 21, 2015, 02:46:11 pm
Hidden behind the coin door.

+1 ... that's what I have done...
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: lisowskikevin on January 21, 2015, 06:41:38 pm
What's an "arcade"?

Here's what I did with my PowerMate, it's on the fron of my control panel, out in the open and I don't think its "dumb".  :D

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15992633660_e9d00d86ab_c.jpg)


haha sorry Dumb may not be the right word. Your setup is very clean looking. Nicely done.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: bulbousbeard on January 22, 2015, 11:11:45 am
I disagree.  There's too much variation game to game.  I adjust the volume constantly.

MAME has a volume arg that makes adjusting volume for MAME games pointless.

Set your volume to be correct for the most quiet game.

For the louder games, just setup your frontend to run with something like "mame.exe sf2 -volume -12," which will run it with -12dB attenuation. Problem solved. Every game is normalized, and you never have to adjust the volume.

Problems might come up with butt sucking programs that don't let you adjust the volume, but I think almost all of them do. Most native PC games have a volume setting, and most standalone emulators do, too. It can be set up perfectly.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: bulbousbeard on January 22, 2015, 11:18:58 am
I find the variation in volume to be authentic but I know this forum is flush with those that never stepped foot in an arcade.

And smelly, rude ---uvulas--- breathing down your throat while you play would be authentic, too, but it'd also be about as appealing as not having normalized sound volume. What's great about our options today is that we can get exactly what we've always wanted: all of the quality gaming with none of the STINK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrch66gdjjk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrch66gdjjk)
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: DaOld Man on January 22, 2015, 02:04:41 pm
I have used a hacked pair of computer speakers, using the amp's pot in it for the volume control.
I have unsoldered the pot and placed it away from the amp, but its best if you can leave it soldered to the amp.
I have mounted the knob on the control panel once. Didnt care much for that, cant remember why.
All the others have been mounted between the two speakers below the marquee.
The knob on computer speakers is small and not that noticeable, but I can see when the knob on a powermate might stick out like a sore thumb.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: michelevit on January 23, 2015, 02:57:59 pm
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Multi-Touch-Touchpad/dp/B005DKZTMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1422043060&sr=8-3&keywords=wireless+keyboard+and+mouse (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Multi-Touch-Touchpad/dp/B005DKZTMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1422043060&sr=8-3&keywords=wireless+keyboard+and+mouse)

this is the best option...
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: AndyWarne on January 26, 2015, 09:07:20 am
Note that if you are using an I-PAC board you can program any controls for volume up/down.

So you can also use the shifted controls to avoid the need for any dedicated control, for example Start1/Player 2 UP for volume up and Start1/Player 2 DOWN for volume down.
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: EMDB on January 26, 2015, 09:19:48 am
Note that if you are using an I-PAC board you can program any controls for volume up/down.

So you can also use the shifted controls to avoid the need for any dedicated control, for example Start1/Player 2 UP for volume up and Start1/Player 2 DOWN for volume down.
I use Shifted Joystick 1 up / down to control the volume...
Title: Re: Volume control knob --- cp or beside speakers?
Post by: jasonbar on January 26, 2015, 11:58:31 am
Don't put it next to the coin door, filling the hole left by an old bill acceptor... Unless you want your 2-year-old to mess with it...  :-\