4 ms·

I'm working on my own version that's going to be all buttons and sliders, but I'm hesitant to mention this anywhere because I'm only working on this sporadicall

I'm working on my own version that's going to be all buttons and sliders, but I'm hesitant to mention this anywhere because I'm only working on this sporadically as a learning exercise, and the first video already got me more attention than I thought I'd get. Since then I've changed to a Pi Pico, and using PIO (programmable pins) makes the touch-delay problems I had magically go away. PIO really is awesome. I've also replaced the DC motor with a tiny stepper motor, and now everything works peachy. Just waiting for some screens and stuff from AliExpress. Anyhoo, shooting myself in the foot: https://youtu.be/GjmFbgqFeMQ https://youtu.be/GjmFbgqFeMQ

jcul 2y ago
Looks great, thanks for sharing. That capacitive touch slider is really cool.
lloeki 2y ago
That physically moving progress slider that can also be operated is absolutely bonkers. It took me a few moments to completely let it sink in. Those physical concepts at 0:38 look very good.
- akdor1154 2y ago
  Agree it's an awesome build. FYI there is prior art for this sort of control - google 'motorised fader'. Used for audio tech mixing desks.
- bombela 2y ago
  It used to be like that, back in the days. It was... normal. If you get a chance, play with some old school hifi at a thrift shop. Many have at least a powered volume knob, for control via the remote. To this day, sound and light control in the entertainment industry and recording studios have 100s of motorized sliders. Modern consumer devices are the worst.
  - h0l0cube 2y ago
    > old school hifi at a thrift shop I don't think I've ever seen a physical seeking slider. Fast forward, rewind, sure. Maybe even variable fast forward and rewind, but nothing like this, not even on modern analog devices. The main reason would be that it is hard to make seeking accurate and to make the mechanism as well wearing as a button. What I have seen are remote controllable physical volume dials where pressing the remote will actually move the dial, and something like that might be acceptably robust in a consumer product. > entertainment industry and recording studios have 100s of motorized sliders Definitely a thing in professional settings, but haven't seen this on consumer level devices.
    - stavros 2y ago
      It's a motorized slide pot, they're usually used as faders in mixing consoles.
      - TeMPOraL 2y ago
        You guys say this like it's an obvious and ubiquitous piece of technology, but then whenever I see someone ask why can't we have smart light switches that work like physical ones (two states) and work both directions (i.e. toggleable remotely), suddenly all I see on the Internet is that it's a weird and stupid idea and why would anyone want that. It dawns on me that a two-state motorized light switch is a strictly simpler device than a motorized analog slider.
        stavros 2y ago
        Well, it is obvious, and it used to be ubiquitous. It's also complicated, which makes it expensive and easy to break.
        bombela 2y ago
        You are right, the seek slider was never common. My initial comment was more general. I too wish for a motorized light switch. One day I want to make one (I feel that I am slowly reaching the required skills and tools to build it). Of course, the house insurance might not like it. edit: To be clear, the motorized volume knob was common on consumer devices. It is merely a potentiometer with a motor attached. As far as I knoe it had no sense of position, just turn it until it reaches a hard stop, and the motor is too weak and simply stall. Motorized sliders were and are still common on mixing tables, for sound and light control, and those seem to have positional accuracy. It is quite fun to watch a mixing table move by itself during a performance. I have never seen them used for seek control.
- flir 2y ago
  I haven't watched the video (intend to, because it looks really cool) but my first thought is to repurpose a motorized fader from a mixing desk.
- pjc50 2y ago
  They're great, old technology but good fun. Only problem is the pricing: https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/PSM01-081A-103B2/3694106 https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/PSM0... that's over twenty of your US dollars for one of them. Professional mixing desks have hundreds of them, and can memorize the positions of the set to save a lot of sound engineer time.

jcul 2y ago

Looks great, thanks for sharing. That capacitive touch slider is really cool.

lloeki 2y ago

That physically moving progress slider that can also be operated is absolutely bonkers. It took me a few moments to completely let it sink in. Those physical concepts at 0:38 look very good.

akdor1154 2y ago
Agree it's an awesome build. FYI there is prior art for this sort of control - google 'motorised fader'. Used for audio tech mixing desks.
bombela 2y ago
It used to be like that, back in the days. It was... normal. If you get a chance, play with some old school hifi at a thrift shop. Many have at least a powered volume knob, for control via the remote. To this day, sound and light control in the entertainment industry and recording studios have 100s of motorized sliders. Modern consumer devices are the worst.
- h0l0cube 2y ago
  > old school hifi at a thrift shop I don't think I've ever seen a physical seeking slider. Fast forward, rewind, sure. Maybe even variable fast forward and rewind, but nothing like this, not even on modern analog devices. The main reason would be that it is hard to make seeking accurate and to make the mechanism as well wearing as a button. What I have seen are remote controllable physical volume dials where pressing the remote will actually move the dial, and something like that might be acceptably robust in a consumer product. > entertainment industry and recording studios have 100s of motorized sliders Definitely a thing in professional settings, but haven't seen this on consumer level devices.
  - stavros 2y ago
    It's a motorized slide pot, they're usually used as faders in mixing consoles.
    - TeMPOraL 2y ago
      You guys say this like it's an obvious and ubiquitous piece of technology, but then whenever I see someone ask why can't we have smart light switches that work like physical ones (two states) and work both directions (i.e. toggleable remotely), suddenly all I see on the Internet is that it's a weird and stupid idea and why would anyone want that. It dawns on me that a two-state motorized light switch is a strictly simpler device than a motorized analog slider.
      - stavros 2y ago
        Well, it is obvious, and it used to be ubiquitous. It's also complicated, which makes it expensive and easy to break.
      - bombela 2y ago
        You are right, the seek slider was never common. My initial comment was more general. I too wish for a motorized light switch. One day I want to make one (I feel that I am slowly reaching the required skills and tools to build it). Of course, the house insurance might not like it. edit: To be clear, the motorized volume knob was common on consumer devices. It is merely a potentiometer with a motor attached. As far as I knoe it had no sense of position, just turn it until it reaches a hard stop, and the motor is too weak and simply stall. Motorized sliders were and are still common on mixing tables, for sound and light control, and those seem to have positional accuracy. It is quite fun to watch a mixing table move by itself during a performance. I have never seen them used for seek control.
flir 2y ago
I haven't watched the video (intend to, because it looks really cool) but my first thought is to repurpose a motorized fader from a mixing desk.
pjc50 2y ago
They're great, old technology but good fun. Only problem is the pricing: https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/PSM01-081A-103B2/3694106 https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/PSM0... that's over twenty of your US dollars for one of them. Professional mixing desks have hundreds of them, and can memorize the positions of the set to save a lot of sound engineer time.