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

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on creating a DIY touch-sensitive volume knob for the Sound BlasterX AE-5 audio card, utilizing a touch-sensitive LCD screen and a physical scroll knob. The proposed interface for the controller is USB-C, allowing for direct connection to the motherboard. Participants suggest using components from old devices, such as laptop touchpads or smartphone screens, and emphasize the importance of researching the audio card's APIs and software documentation for control integration. Key resources include Microsoft's Core Audio APIs for Windows, which provide access to audio properties.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of USB-C interfacing for hardware projects
  • Familiarity with audio card APIs and software documentation
  • Basic knowledge of programming for custom hardware control
  • Experience with integrating touch-sensitive displays in DIY projects
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Sound BlasterX AE-5 API documentation for control options
  • Explore Microsoft's Core Audio APIs for Windows for audio property access
  • Investigate touch-sensitive LCD options, such as IPS TFT displays
  • Learn about interfacing components like laptop touchpads with microcontrollers
USEFUL FOR

Electronics hobbyists, audio engineers, and developers interested in custom audio control solutions for enhancing user interfaces on audio devices.

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?
 
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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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