Hardware volume controller

silentk · Post by **silentk** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:48 pm

Okay, so as it is, i am running my laptop, into my E-mu 0202 interface, into my KRK RP5's, this is all working great, BUT, i have no other way of controling the levels other than reaching round to the back of the moniters and changing it on there. so im looking for something that goes between the interface and the moniters, and provides a nice big knob to control the volume, but i'm not really sure what I'm looking for. any help?

oh and BTW, I'm by no means rich, so possibly the unemployed side of 50?

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:58 pm

Can't you do it in software for nowt?

thetaco · Post by **thetaco** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:00 pm

two oh one wrote:Can't you do it in software for nowt?

doesn't your laptop have volume control buttons on the side somewhere?

silentk · Post by **silentk** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:08 pm

two oh one wrote:Can't you do it in software for nowt?

Yeah, but the slider in fruity only goes up so far and i cba to change the knobs on the moniters only to turn them down again later. basicaly im lazy :d

thetaco wrote:doesn't your laptop have volume control buttons on the side somewhere?

Yeah but unfortunatly they only work when im using the laptops built in sounds-like-shit-card

eastern electrics · Post by **eastern electrics** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:31 pm

half-OT:

i searched a bit and just found this:

http://www.thomann.de/de/spl_volume_2.htm

288 € .... what a rip-off. it just controls stereo volume...

silentk · Post by **silentk** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:39 pm

do you think you could tell me what sort of catagory of equipment these sort of things fall under? like,
"a box to plug my guitar into" comes under "audio interface" and,

"something were i can press keys and turn knobs and hear noises" comes under "Midi controllers",

what does "i want to turn a big knob to change the volume" come under?

eastern electrics · Post by **eastern electrics** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:47 pm

Sorry, forgot to post the other Link:

Monitor-Controller:

http://www.thomann.de/de/studio_monitorcontroller.html

Hope you´ll find a nice one.

deeply silent · Post by **deeply silent** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:03 am

A monitor controller is what you want. These from SM pro Audio look ok budget ones theres a site here that sells them for AUD $59.
Or if your into DIY style (this what I did) you can find stepped attenuators on ebay and put it in a box and put a knob of your liking on it and there you go. I bought one of these
all up with little box and knob it cost me about $40.
I did have to check some of the solder connections. Seems to work perfectly now. It doesnt have an effect on the sound as far as i can tell.

Steve AC23 · Post by **Steve AC23** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:10 am

any mixer will do the job

FSTZ1 · Post by **FSTZ1** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:53 am

when my mixer crapped out on me, I too wanted a REAL knob to control my volume

I looked into the mackie big knob and it it was too exspensive

so I bought this:

$100 was cheap and works great

I am sure there are all types of similar options as well

spire · Post by **spire** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:58 am

if you wanted to spend a little more, this ones nice

its about $150. really nice unit though. passive, so theres no coloring or anything.

http://www.smproaudio.com/index.php?opt ... &Itemid=67

FSTZ1 · Post by **FSTZ1** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:29 am

looks wicked

you use that?

spire · Post by **spire** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:41 am

not yet, ive got to use it a few times and its on my "to buy" list, after new subs and amps.

but its a really great unit, built like a rock, all the necesarry ins and outs, decent amount of useable buttons and switches. very very nice piece of gear if you ask me. price isnt too bad either really.

matthew_ · Post by **matthew_** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:43 am

I'm a fan of the big knob (no jokes please

)

nospin · Post by **nospin** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:52 am

Spire wrote:not yet, ive got to use it a few times and its on my "to buy" list, after new subs and amps.

but its a really great unit, built like a rock, all the necesarry ins and outs, decent amount of useable buttons and switches. very very nice piece of gear if you ask me. price isnt too bad either really.

multiple outputs and an easy way to switch between them is nice too, whether you get that piece or a different one

junglist · Post by **junglist** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:12 am

Mackie Onyx Satellite is what I've got. comes with Midi connectors, microphones, guitars and tones of other plug sockets. I don't have a fucking clue how much it is coz I cot it for free

theonelikepaul · Post by **theonelikepaul** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:25 am

Your using Fruity right??, simply right click on the volume slider and chose 'link to controller'.

Move the controller / slider of your choice on your controller keyboard, and bam, instant hardware volume slider.

Give yourself enough headroom on the main monitors and you'll be larfing.

There, no need to spend any money on a 'knob'!

silentk · Post by **silentk** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:14 pm

theonelikepaul wrote:Your using Fruity right??, simply right click on the volume slider and chose 'link to controller'.

Move the controller / slider of your choice on your controller keyboard, and bam, instant hardware volume slider.

Give yourself enough headroom on the main monitors and you'll be larfing.

There, no need to spend any money on a 'knob'!

I have been doing this, but when i turn up the moniters for some decent headroom, i end up having to turn then down again if im just listening to itunes or whatching movies or using sound forge which seems to have no audio out volume control??

abstractsound · Post by **abstractsound** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:43 pm

heh. when i read this title i thought you didnt know what a mixer was.

if you have multiple monitors then a box with an output source toggle switch would be a wise choice. but if you think you are going to add more inputs faster than more outputs, just buy a mixer.

sounds like this might be one of those instances where you should buy beyond the scope of what you are doing. that way youve got room to expand.

my 2 cents

silentk · Post by **silentk** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:02 pm

abstractsound wrote:heh. when i read this title i thought you didnt know what a mixer was.

if you have multiple monitors then a box with an output source toggle switch would be a wise choice. but if you think you are going to add more inputs faster than more outputs, just buy a mixer.

sounds like this might be one of those instances where you should buy beyond the scope of what you are doing. that way youve got room to expand.

my 2 cents

LOL @ that.

and yeah, perhaps this is a chance to expand. i'm looking to get a shure sm57 soon and i dont know what else so yeah perhaps a mixer would be the best option. i dont have multiple outs, and doubt i will for a long time yet. one pair of moniters will do me fine. looking into a sub soon also, but that wont require any more outs.

any advice on a small mixer? i hear the behringers are decent for the money? or have i been mislead?

Hardware volume controller

Hardware volume controller

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