[sdiy] Panel hardware...

[Jay Schwichtenberg]

In the US there seems to be a number of encoders in the Digikey and Mouser
catalogs. Typically there are two types of encoders optical and mechanical.
The optical ones will last a long time but typically are expensive. Some
have phase output for turning left/right, absolute position or Hamming code
output. So in typical DIY fashion the mechanical ones are more practical. To
select them I would check their physical size, shaft diameter, life time
(usually speced in rotations) and since most are detented the number of
detents. You'll need to figure out how many detents you want. Start with how
large of a span you want your encoder to cover in numbers (50, 128, 512).
Take that and figure out the number of rotations you need to go from one end
to the other. You don't want to have to many rotations or you'll have to
turn the know a 100 rotations to cover the control span. If you want to do
it on the cheap and have good mechanical skills tear apart a mouse (computer
one that is) and use the encoders out of it. They will have about 1/8"
shaft.

Some comments on general user interfaces from some of the other posts I've
read. I generally divide the user interface into to categories. First there
is the programming of the overall sound. There it is nice to have full
access to everything in the synth whether it be soft or hard. Then there is
the aspect of performing with it and tweaking it live. To me the first case
can be handled with software on a computer. When I'm programming sounds I
want full control and having a nice small interface is great. In performance
mode I've found that I don't need to tweak everything so I don't need to
have a computer to use. I've been using a Peavey 1600 which is a
programmable MIDI controller with 16 sliders, 16 buttons and one knob. With
that and the synths I have I've been able to put enough tweakables out to do
what I want.

Jay

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Dave Peverley
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 6:28 AM
> To: synth-diy
> Subject: [sdiy] Panel hardware...
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>   I'm researching front panel stuff for my design I'm working on and was
> wondering if anyone has good insight to share on locating
> hardware. I think
> I'm settled on an LCD now, but looking into buttins and encoders.
>
>   Button-wise I'd like to get both illuminated and non-illuminated,
> preferably of the tactile/squidgy type, but I want to pay a
> reasonable amount
> for the blasted things. Likewise, for encoders it seems like the ALPS ones
> are rather expensive, but is there much loss in quality if using cheaper
> ones? Anyone care to suggest parts that look like a good deal but
> should be
> avoided?
>
>  I've scoured the RS/Farnell/CPC/Maplin catalogs and nothing seems to have
> jumped out at me as looking especially suitable...
>
> Cheers,
>
> ~Pev
>