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Does anyone like 360 degree MIDI knobs?
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ArcaneInquisitor
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jan 27, 2010 17:53:28
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So nearly all the MIDI controllers I look at advertise that they have 360 degree assignable knobs that can just keep going around and around.
At first that seems nice but when you think about it, what parameter would need more than 360 degrees of rotation to go from 0% to 100%? I can't think of any one of my VST instruments requiring anything like this.
Then one day I was borrowing by brothers little MIDI controller with 360 degree knobs and I hated it! I would assign the knob to say, the cutoff, then have to turn the knob a FULL rotation just to get the cutoff to go from 0% to something like 50%!
These things don't have one to one tracking! (I'm sure you can specifically configure that but why should you have to?) Right now I have a controller with knobs that only go about 330 degrees and they are great. Every parameter I assign them to is one to one tracking right off the bat.
So does anyone know what the big deal with these stupid knobs is? The only thing I could think they would be good for is scrolling through a menu. |
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GyPsynate
GyPsy
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687
Posted : Jan 27, 2010 19:00
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It is just a setting.
I think most pro quality controlers are equiped with these 360 knobs.
These controlers can be set to use a range of knob and slider slope speeds.
The small cheap controllers that I own dont have an option to set the slope for a reason they use less than great components.
It all comes down to a personal opinion on what feels better to you.
For me its more of how the knob feels when it is turning. Is it smooth or kinda weak and knotchy.
I dont mind setting my controllers up it is worth the time when you realy get going.
 \\\"Invoking the inner dancing buddha with future frequencies from beyond\\\" ~GyPsy
D-A-R-K Rec, Anomalistic Rec.
Cerebral Theater
http://www.molecular.cc/GyPsy/ |
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ArcaneInquisitor
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jan 27, 2010 22:22
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So, does anyone actually like the ability to go more than one full rotation for adjusting a parameter? And if so what do you like it for?
Maybe I've just being narrow minded but I have a hard time imagining how this could be useful in any context.
I suppose it could be useful if you set it so that a full rotation moves a parameter 25% (or some other amount) so that you can have very fine control over that 25%. But I can't say I would ever need that.
I guess your right, it just allows more range of customization for the user. But I personally find it to be more of a bother which sucks because it is hard to find a good MIDI controller that doesn't have 360 degree knobs. |
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PsyGZ
Started Topics :
5
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38
Posted : Jan 27, 2010 23:38
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no, I believe it just makes it easier.....if your level is at 0 on the screen, but your knob is maxed out, it is going to make it hard to turn it up...if it is 360 degrees, then it will essentially allow you to adjust it at anytime, without worrying about what level it is at already. |
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
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Posted : Jan 28, 2010 02:34
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if you talk about the LED midi that has no limit then its totally useful
because the parameter from controllers change and it will have no "jump" from the inital parameter spot to where your knob is..
not sure if you get me but if anyone did and it has something to do with the topic .... 
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Alekzis
Started Topics :
0
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81
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 07:38
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Quote:
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On 2010-01-28 02:34, Elad wrote:
if you talk about the LED midi that has no limit then its totally useful
because the parameter from controllers change and it will have no "jump" from the inital parameter spot to where your knob is..
not sure if you get me but if anyone did and it has something to do with the topic ....
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+1 |
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Frizz
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
48
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 09:04
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I have m-audio axiom 25 with those knobs and i find them totally useless because you cant get them to follow the knob on the vst. Theres different settings but not so that it the knobs turn in same way if you know what i mean. Maybe other controllers have it different way. |
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-aeon-
Aeon
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
546
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 09:56
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if they are good quality 'endless rotary encoders' then yeah, they have their uses...
if they are cheap clicky plastic ones then no.
http://www.myspace.com/aeonaeon |
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ArcaneInquisitor
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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104
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 16:01
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I guess my brothers controller was a cheap one (good chance it was). The knobs felt solid but I do remember that the parameter would jump to their current value when I first moved them (I could be remembering wrong, it was nearly a year ago). So maybe I should try out the real deal before I shun this feature.
Now on the other hand, I'm not sure how great the "no jump" would be (for me). When i use MIDI controllers I like to look at the actual knob to see where the parameter is, not the screen. But looking at an endless knob its hard to see where max and where min is, and if it finds where the parameter is then it (the max/min positions) would always be changing, wouldn't they?
Also, how do you go about establishing one to one tracking?
I'll just need to rent a professional controller to find out once and for all if I can come to like these things (I must say, some of you are convincing me that it may be worth my while). But currently my heart is still telling my to stick with the old fashion, one to one tracking, 330 degree knobs. |
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makus
Overdream
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3087
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 16:02
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soulfood
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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875
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 16:09
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Quote:
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On 2010-01-28 16:01, ArcaneInquisitor wrote:
Now on the other hand, I'm not sure how great the "no jump" would be (for me). When i use MIDI controllers I like to look at the actual knob to see where the parameter is, not the screen. But looking at an endless knob its hard to see where max and where min is, and if it finds where the parameter is then it (the max/min positions) would always be changing, wouldn't they?
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That's why you invest with a controller with LED meters around the knobs so you can see exactly where the setting is at.
I need to get me something like that. I think my evolution 249 is a bit out of date now. |
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ArcaneInquisitor
IsraTrance Junior Member
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104
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 20:45
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I looks like this is coming down to "you get what you pay for". |
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makus
Overdream
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3087
Posted : Jan 28, 2010 20:47
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ArcaneInquisitor
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posts :
104
Posted : Jan 29, 2010 02:55
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I wasn't referring to specifically, but what did you mean then? |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
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Posted : Jan 29, 2010 19:24
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It depends on the purpose. If you want a controller to handle many different instruments and tasks then endless encoders is pretty much a must.
When playing live I don't like to have multiple functions for a knob, so then endless encoders is not needed.
Having said that, they work just as well as regular encoders for that as well as long as they have LED's to indicate position.
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