High resolution encodersBear in mind that I'm not as electro

Stafford · Joined: Oct 31, 2022 Posts: 1 Location: Arizona

Bear in mind that I'm not as electronics-savvy as most here, so be gentle on me. Smile

I like the concept of endless encoders, I have a BCR2000 which I think is kind of brilliant. What I would like to have though, is a BCR2000 which isn't limited by the MIDI resolution. The encoders on the BCR will go from 0 to 127 on a full turn. I would like an encoder to go from, say, 0 to 65535 (16 bits) instead, on a full turn.

It is true that the BCR actually supports 16 bit (or is it 14 bit) numbers, but using a greater range like that doesn't improve the resolution on the knob, it just means that you can keep turning past 127 and the value will keep going higher. I don't want to have to turn like a madman to reach a higher value.

So is it possible to find parts to build such a thing? I guess what I want is basically a monome arc without the fancy looks and huge knobs. I just want to try a knob, however basic, that will let me feel an instant and precise response when I turn it. Plus I have to be able to get it to send values into a computer somehow (if I wanted to make a DIY analog I could just use any old pot).

Any ideas, hints or preferences? Maybe there already is such a thing to be found somewhere?

I admit I haven't started looking at parts sites yet, I figured there's probably someone here that can give me a good starting point. Smile

Blue Hell · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 4:34 pm Post subject:

It used to be that rotary encoders with lots of steps per revolution would be bloody expensive ... no idea how that is now, or what commercial products would be available with such encoders .. 65536 steps is an aw-ful, or -some, lot though.

When i'd make something myself .. i'd do some software magic I guess .. where when you turn fast bigger steps are being made and then when you are near and start turning slower there would be more resolution ... but again, unfortunately ... i have no idea about what one can buy :')

or with a button .. for fast / slow switching maybe.

Anyway, welcome

Stafford and may an expert step in :')

Sven · Joined: Mar 10, 2017 Posts: 46 Location: Norway