linear or log?

[regularjackson]

I'm a total noob when it comes to electronics. I get some things and I've managed to build some circuits from schematics on this sub-forum, but every time I come across a pot in the schematics, I don't know if I should be using log or linear pots. What exactly is the difference, and how do I figure out which I should be using? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[Mikmo]

This might help:

http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm

http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm

[PHOBoS]

If you're using an existing schematic it's usually mentioned what you need. If there is no mention it's presumed to be a linear pot. There
are different notations, I grew up with A meaning linear and B meaning log, but apparently some manufacturers now use A (as in Audio)
for log and B for linear . So that might be confusing. I just use 'lin' or 'log' in my schematics.

Since you posted this in the Lunetta forum, you will probably use pots mostly for oscillators. You can use linear pots for these but personally
I prefer reverse log (if you can find them). You can also use a normal log and wire it backwards but that will result in the frequency
decreasing when turning the pot Clockwise.

[Draal]

I prefer audio pots for most stuff; the ear perceives the change more gradually with audio taper. That said, I use whatever is on hand, bro, these machines love whatever ya throw at em.

[JingleJoe]

I was going to post a link to one of those two pages mikmo posted, because of this. I often find that when purchasing log pots I can't find anything that says whether it is commercial or true log, so I tend to stick to linear pots. However as mentioned above, human hearing is not linear so log pots/anti log sound linear to us.

[regularjackson]

Great, thanks everybody!