Audio/Video How Can I Create a Touch Sensitive Volume Knob for My Audio Card?

AI Thread Summary
A DIY project is underway to create a volume knob with a touch-sensitive LCD screen for controlling various audio functions on a Sound BlasterX AE-5 audio card. The goal is to avoid using buttons and instead implement a physical scroll knob around the screen, allowing for a menu-driven interface to manage audio settings like computer audio, surround sound, and headphone output. The proposed connection interface for this device is USB-C. Challenges include determining how to control the audio card's functions, as it operates primarily through software. Research into the audio card's API or manufacturer documentation is suggested to identify any standard protocols for sound card controls. Additionally, utilizing components from old devices, such as laptop touchpads or smartphone screens, is recommended for building the controller. Resources for Windows audio control APIs are provided, indicating potential pathways for integrating the custom controller with the audio card's functionality.
alecudinov
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Hi,
I am trying to think how to make a DYI volume knob to control variable actions on my audio card. But I don’t want one with buttons to toggle the actions.. instead I want to make one with a touch sensitive lcd screen and make the scroll knob (a físicas one) around the screen bc I want to use the screen so I can build a menu (by writing a program) where I can choose what audio to control, computer audio, toggle surround sound, headphone audio front panel, speakers audio back panel etcetera. My audio card can control all of this and more but I don’t want to have to leave a tab or minimise a program and then open the audio card’s software to be able to control the mentioned actions.. Comes the audio controller knob!.

Something on the basis of what the “EPOS GAX 1000” screen do, but just as a controller you know? Any helps?
 
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What is your audio card plugged into? Or does it run stand-alone? What interface do you want to use to connect to this touch-sensitive LCD? USB? Bluetooth? Ethernet? Other?
 
If you are going to build it from components, this search will bury you with options:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=linear+resistive+touch+control
A touchpad from an old laptop computer could be the basis for parts, once you figure out how to interface it.o_O

Or the screen from an old cell phone. o_Oo_Oo_O
 
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Tom.G said:
Or the screen from an old cell phone.
First thing I've heard they're good for. :oldbiggrin:
 
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berkeman said:
What is your audio card plugged into? Or does it run stand-alone? What interface do you want to use to connect to this touch-sensitive LCD? USB? Bluetooth? Ethernet? Other?
It's a Sound BlasterX AE-5 (stand-alone), The interface would be USB-C since I already have a port I can dedicate to it on my motherboard.
 
Tom.G said:
If you are going to build it from components, this search will bury you with options:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=linear+resistive+touch+control
A touchpad from an old laptop computer could be the basis for parts, once you figure out how to interface it.o_O

Or the screen from an old cell phone. o_Oo_Oo_O
So I've came across a lot of round displays that are touch sensitive (IPS TFT, Etcetera), I'm having a bigger issue on finding if I can control the audio card's functions tough the controller I want to build bc since it's a stand-alone internal card, it does everything trough software.
 
alecudinov said:
it does everything trough software
So then you'll want to research or contact the manufacturer to find out the interface or APIs. I don't know anything about this, but I would be shocked if there wasn't some industry standard language for basic sound card controls. They do have to interface with the standard OSs.

Of course you'll have your own uP between the touchpad and the sound card, so this sounds like a SW documentation search to me.
 
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DaveE said:
So then you'll want to research or contact the manufacturer to find out the interface or APIs. I don't know anything about this, but I would be shocked if there wasn't some industry standard language for basic sound card controls. They do have to interface with the standard OSs.

Of course you'll have your own uP between the touchpad and the sound card, so this sounds like a SW documentation search to me.
I didn't think there was one since the PCIe connection would be just talking to a proprietary device who could do with those packets being received whatever it wanted, and he would have had to program his own driver right from scratch, from kernal bottom all the way up.

Of course though Window has thought of everything. Controlling the adapter.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...scontrol-interface-to-access-audio-properties seems to be way to do , Windows Vista on up.

Other Windows audio control for end device ie headphones, microphone. ( Not the card itself but through the card to the end device )
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/coreaudio/core-audio-apis-in-windows-vista

So this might be worth a look.
 
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