Analogue-sequencer

> The only way to reach the goal we're attempting to reach via these LED
> ringed encoders is to incorporate some sort of plasma display 
> around the
> encoder itself. (I have seen this done in a mixer somewhere... I can't
> remember where though.) That display can show the range as well as the
> encoder's position within that range. I guess there are other ways of
> doing this, but my point is that they're all ridicuolously expensive.

I think the least expensive way to provide encoders with a constant display
of their current position would be a number of extra PLED displays above
them.
Some P3 values aren't numeric, and there are lots of different scales for
values, so the extra level of detail required really calls for alphanumeric
display.

My bigger gripe with encoders is their inherent lack of resolution.
Anything more than 24 or 36 steps per rotation costs a lot of moolah, making
an acceleration algorithm fairly essential.
Try moving an encoder knob from one end of the range of 128 to the other on
a Korg microControl, for example.
It takes an age, and if you turn it too quickly, it can lose track, and jump
backwards !

Best regards,
Colin Fraser
Sequentix Music Systems Ltd
http://www.sequentix.com