A nice Volume Control Alternative

[drventure]

I've been using CabVol in my buffet project for a while now, and while it generally works ok, I've noticed that quite often, it'll just "stop". The spinner will no longer control volume for some reason.

Plus as you adjust the volume there's no visual feedback, which would be nice.

Also, at least under Win7, it's not adjusting the Master volume, but something else, I'm not sure what.

And finally, there's no way to "force" the volume to specific value when booting up.

So I started doing some digging.

I ended up with a bit of a Frankenstien solution, but so far, anyway, it's worked very well, is stable, works consistently across everything from XP to WIN7 and addresses all those issues I just mentioned.

So, what are the parts?

1) 3RVX  
http://matthew.malensek.net/software/documentation/3RVX.html
This is a really nice looking skinnable Volume control. It supports custom hotkeys, so if you only need keyboard support for adjusting volume, this might just be the ticket.
The skins are easy to build, but the included ones are very nice themselves.

2) AutohotKey (I use the _L version)
http://l.autohotkey.net/

3) COM.AHK
http://www.autohotkey.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=22923

No Longer needed if you use the _L version of Autohotkey and the 2.1 version of VA.AHK

4) VA.AHK
http://www.autohotkey.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=23792
Be sure to grab the 2.1 version

There's good write up on how to install and use those two AHK files here:
http://htpc-hell.zxq.net/?p=22


And finally, a script I cobbled together from several AHK scripts on the net (see attached file).

As it is, the script is setup for NO HOTKEYS, and it uses LShift as the "trigger key" for the mouse.

In other words, to control volume, press LShift and move the mouse left and right (in my case the spinner is the x direction of the mouse).

If you've got 3rvx running, you'll get a popup visualization of the volume change (and an audible indication if you select a skin that supports that).


Of course, with AHK being scriptable, the sky's the limit on what you can do once you get the basics operational.


NEW: Added support for forcing initial volume to 32 (about 25% up), but this is easily changeable.
Also, added more comments, removed use of COM.AHK (don't need it with AutoHotkey_L).

Finally, AutoHotkey_L supports local LIB folders, so to keep things together, just create a LIB folder in the same folder as the VolumeKey.AHK script, then put the VA.AHK in there, and you should be good to go.

[drventure]

Whoops. Looks like I spoke a little too soon.

VA.ahk is specifically designed to ONLY support Vista and Win7. Using it ONLY for volume will fail under WinXP.

I've attached a new VolumeKeys.ahk that fixes that (simply by testing the current OS and using either the VA functions or the built in SoundGet/SoundSet.

Be sure to rename the file and remove the .txt extension if you use it.

[Connorsdad]

Brilliant app

I have a problem using it with hyperspin, to increase the volume to the max I have to hold my trigger key and rotate my spinner right, let go of the trigger and spin back to the left, then hold my trigger and spin to the right again to achieve full volume. The same for lowering the volume.

[drventure]

Sorry to hear about the probs.

I don't use hyperspin so I can't say for sure. I do know I've seen several other comments from people around here indicating that HS seems to want to do things to the keyboard while it's running. Again, no idea whether it's HS or not at this point, but the solution here seems to work just fine for me using Mala.

How about if you run it without HS running at all? Does everything seem to work in that case?

If so, I'd guess HS was intercepting keyboard and or mouse events and not propagating them all through in some cases, but again, that's just a guess.

[Connorsdad]

Yes it works great outside of Hyperspin

Damn you hs lol

Sent from Amstrad CPC464

[jelwell]

I bought a broken Mame cabinet on craigslist recently, for my brother in law. It had one of these inside:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRZ2K/

The control pod was zip tied just inside the coin door. Brilliant!
My current setup is atrocious. I used VolumeTray with XYNTService and I have 2 dedicated buttons on my control panel for volume control. Sadly I only ever want to do one of 2 things. Turn the volume completely off, or set it to some specific level.

I'm planning on buying one of those Logitech speaker systems with the wired control pod for my cabinet. With the control pod, you can spin the dial to whatever setting you want, and everytime it reboots it will still physically be set there. There's also a button you can depress to kill the entire system. So you have volume control with the ability to recall after a boot and you have an easy mute option that doesn't interfere with reboot recall.

I'll put some button placers over the, unfortunately, dedicated volume buttons on my control panel and give them new life.
Joseph Elwell.