Analogue-sequencer

Ok, Colin,

the reasons you give for preferring pots all seem to make sense.

Indeed, most encoders are cheap sh*t, like the encoders on my yamaha
A4000 sampler. They have rendered the control panel almost useless.
contact spray doesn't help, so i'll probably solder some new ones

When your pots are turned, is there an option to limit the note range
you can cover with one knob turn ?, let's say three octaves, so you
get some more precision



--- In analogue-sequencer@yahoogroups.com, "Colin f" <colin@c...> wrote:
>  
> > I was reading about the P3 and was wondering why pots were chosen to
> > control the P3 (those are pots, right ?). When loading a pattern,
> > wouldn't it be easier that the result of turning a knob just gave a
> > INC/DEC (endless rotary encoders), instead of an absolute value ? 
> > 
> > ...but maybe the OS and the way the P3 is structured doesn't 
> > allow this ?
> 
> I chose pots over encoders for two reasons.
> The first is feel.
> Typical rotary encoders only have maybe 24 or 36 pulses per
rotation. So if
> you are dealing with values with a range of 128, it could take you 5
turns
> of the knob to get from one end of the range to the other.
> It's possible to use an acceleration algorithm, where if you move
the knob
> more quickly it takes bigger steps through the values, but that
breaks the
> relationship between rate of knob movement and rate of value change -
> meaning you can't make rapid tweaks of values by touch alone, you
have to
> look at the display to see what the new value will be.
> Second reason was cost. The encoders you'll find in the less
expensive midi
> fader and knob boxes about are not expensive, but then they are not
designed
> for regular tweaking. The manufacturers have things like car stereo
volume
> controls in mind when they build these things, and they are spec'ed
> accordingly. You wouldn't want your P3 knobs flickering and ghosting
after 6
> months of regular use.
> Decent quality encoders that will last for years cost upwards of 2
or 3 ukp
> each - roughly 10 times the price of the pots used.
> So my personal preference is for pots, by a fair margin.
> 
> Cheers,
> Colin f