Knobs
Knobs fit on controls, e.g. potentiometers or sliders, push button and rotary switches.
Use with potentiometers
Splined push on knobs fit splined pot shafts. Pots with with round or D shafts require knobs with plain holes that if not push fit, have set screws to hold them in place. Most spline shaft pots have a slightly smaller diameter shaft than round or D shaft. Usually splines are 6mm while most round ones are 1/4" (6.35mm). So 1/4" setscrew knobs will end up slightly lopsided when tightened onto a 6mm spline shaft. Knobs fastened by a collet require a box spanner to fasten them.[1][2]
Knobs in common use
Aries, Macbeth, Modcan B
Aries modulars used ridged knobs which these days are mainly used by Ken Macbeth and on Modcan B modules.[3]
Buchla
Buchla synths use Rogan knobs, [4] and also Davies Molding knobs on 100 and 200 series modules.[5] Available through group buys at Muff Wiggler forum or at:
- Mouser, Davies Molding small: 5164-1610AA
- Mouser, Davies Molding big: 5164-1600BM
- Thonk, Davies Skirted Knobs
EMS
The EMS VCS3 knobs were made by Cliff Components, part number CL1606. Available in two sizes, the cap insert was satin or shiny silver, or with any of nine colours. Cliff no longer produce the knobs with coloured inserts.[3] Available at:
- Thonk, ‘EMS’ Style Knobs
- Bridechamber, Knobs
Eurorack
BugBrand, Analogue Systems and Metasonix use Re'an Soft-Touch 16 mm skirt knobs for 6mm T18 shafts, however these are no longer manufactured.[6][7][8]
Doepfer, TipTop and Plan B use 16mm wide knobs on 6mm T18 shafts.[6]
Frac
Blacet use Re'an Soft-Touch knobs for 6mm D shafts, however these are no longer manufactured.[9][6]
MOTM
MOTM uses ALCO PKES90B1/4 knobs. Available at:
- Bridechamber, Knobs
MU
Moog style "fluted taper skirt" control knobs also used by Synthesizers.com, STG Soundlabs, etc. are manufactured by Cosmo Corporation.[3] Available at:
Serge
References
- ^ knurled vs round shaft pots, Muff Wiggler forum, March 2012
- ^ Wikipedia: Control knob
- ^ a b c Control knobs, YuSynth
- ^ Rogan knobs group buy, Muff Wiggler forum, May 2011
- ^ Rogan Unskirted Knobs and Buchla Davies Knobs, Muff Wiggler forum, March 2013
- ^ a b c https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32814 Rean P300's are bags of win for Doepfer], Muff Wiggler forum, Apr 2011
- ^ eurorack widths of panels?, Muff Wiggler forum, May 2009
- ^ resolved, Muff Wiggler forum, Jan 2011
- ^ resolved, Muff Wiggler forum, Jan 2011
- ^ eurorack widths of panels?, Muff Wiggler forum, May 2009
External links
- The Good Knob (and Pots + Encoders) Thread, Mutable Instruments forum, February 2012
- Retro Knob Suppliers, SOS forum, 23 March 2011
- Knob Shopping (& pot questions), Muff Wiggler forum, April 2012
- How close together is too close to place knobs?, Muff Wiggler forum, December 2014
Suppliers
- Knobs, Thonk
- Knobs, Strings Direct
- Knobs, Small Bear Electronics
- Knobs, Tayda Electronics
- Knobs, Das Musikding
- Tuning knobs, OKW Gehäusesysteme
- Knobs, Rapid Electronics
- Knobs & Dials, Mouser Electronics
- Control Knobs Index, Surplus Sales of Nebraska