<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div apple-content-edited="true">Hi Julian,</div><div><br></div><div>Like you, I've "gone around and around" on this problem (it seems like an appropriate expression).</div><div><br></div><div>I did many experiments trying proportional control of a parameter using the velocity of the encoder. It was a disaster, in short. Mostly much too sensitive, or much too slow. In the end, I finished up with a system like you suggest, where you can push the encoder for fine control.</div><div><br></div><div>Since LED rings only typically have 15 or 31 LEDs making the encoder resolution match the LED display is a small problem, but only a small problem. I would expect that the Nord synths use a pretty limited panel resolution and interpolate or filter the output to provide smooth changes in underlying parameter values. Essentially, the encoder might only alter the upper five bits of the parameter value, with the remaining bits filled in by filtering of some form. This could be 12-bits or 16-bits as easily as 7-bit.</div><div><br></div><div>Since I haven't got any LED rings, I haven't done these experiments yet, but that's how I'd approach it.</div><div><br></div><div>It's also worth pointing out that if they've got 48 cycles per rotation, they've got 48x4=192 separate states around one rotation. That *is* enough to control a 7-bit variable directly, assuming they took advantage of each change of state. This makes much more sense on encoders that don't have detents - do the Nord synths have detonated encoders?</div><div><br></div><div>HTH,</div><div>Tom</div><div><br><div><div>On 9 Jun 2017, at 11:30, Julian Schmidt <<a href="mailto:elfenjunge@gmx.net">elfenjunge@gmx.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">
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Hello All,<br>
<br>
I have a current idea that could vastly benefit from using encoders
instead of pots.<br>
My only gripe is that I never had an encoder where I liked the feel.
With the standard 24PPR encoders you have to make way too many turns
to get to a higher value.<br>
Rotationspeed based value speedups made the feeling even worse on
the machines I tried. Also a lot of people complain about encoders
on synths for the same reason.</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Best solution so far is something like on the midibox or AN1X where
you push the encoder for fine resolution.<br>
<br>
The only one people seem to like are the Nord ones with the LED
rings. I never had a nord machine in my hands, but Forum research
suggests that they somehow managed to line up the LED movement on
the ring with the encoder travel. So if you turn the encoder half a
rotation, the value LED is at half, too.<br>
<br>
Any idea how they've done this? looking up the specs it seems like
they are using Bourns <span class="postbody">ECW1D-C24-SE0049L
encoders (<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-50251.html">http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-50251.html</a>). <br>
49L is not specified in the datasheet, but my guess would be 48L
=> 48PPR which would still be too little resolution to even
bring a 7 bit value up to full range in one revolution.<br>
Is the front panel resolution just reduced and interpolated on the
nords? <br>
<br>
So if anybody has some hints how to give an encoder a more
potentiometer like feeling I'm all ears. Especially if we talk 12
bit instead of 7 bit parameter resolution.<br>
<br>
For practical reasons encoders would be great for layered UIs to
share a set of controls between multiple LFOs or preset saving.
LED rings are sexy as hell, too. But whenever I use encoders for
something other than menu diving and editing settings I wish for a
pot in my hands ;)<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Julian<br>
</span>
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