[sdiy] Rotary encoder response

[Colin f]

> I've done some experiments using rotary encoders to set the 
> value of a large variable - say 12-bit, 0-4095. This is not 
> as easy as it sounds, since a typical rotary encoder only has 
> 24 pulses for one full rotation, so if you increment the 
> value each pulse, you finish up having to turn the knob 
> nearly two hundred times tot get from one end of the scale to 
> the other. Which is obviously not ideal. So...

<-- very familiar sounding research process snipped -->

> Has anyone else done any research in this area? Any examples 
> of products that do this well that I should look at? Any clues?

The approach I took on the Cirklon sequencer was to use encoders with a
centre-push switch.
Turning encoders normally increments by 1.
Holding in the encoder while turning increments in larger steps, appropriate
to the value being adjusted (e.g. 10's for most things, octaves for notes).
I think it works pretty well.

Cheers,
Colin f