Need Logrithmic Output Volume Control

[cmx]

This has been discussed in the past.

Need logrithmic volume control on MM player itself. Lower output levels are not granular enough to coincide with human sound level perception. "It's too loud at the lowest level."

I've figured a workaround, "gotten used to", or ignored pretty much all other MM "holes" and idiosyncracies....but for those of us with MM connected to external amps, this is not something that can be ignored or worked around simply....it is apparent and unable to be "ignored" at pretty much each use of MM.

Thanks for any consideration regarding this issue.

[Macarena]

Pls, if there has been a discussion before, paste all the relevant links here.

Do you know of such an implementation in current devices? e.g. Is there a high-tech amp with such a function?

Cheers, M

[cmx]

Just search for volume, output, log etc...it has been discussed here before several times.

Any device with a potentiometer style "pot" volume control operates in this manner...from the cheapest cassette deck or radio to the most sophisticated state of the art equipment.

Human ear is "tuned" to detect slight variations in low sound pressure levels...at higher sound pressure levels we have correspondingly less variation sensitivity....

MM outputs on a linear scale...like 0-100 in 1% increments...so one increment blows us out at low levels and hardly makes a
difference at higher levels.

It is an issue with me because I am feeding a power amp with a feed from a router using MM as volume control....MM does not allow wide enough range.

It could easily be argued that this is not an MM function....MM should just act as the "line level" out and volume should be controlled at my amp....

BUT, in my set up, it's just the same as if someone were listening on their computer speakers and used the volume control on MM to adjust output level from the computer speakers...MM is feeding and controlling the "line in" to the soundboard on the computer....not "audiophile" level quality, but plenty good enough for my house sound system.

This "linear" functionality is an artifact of digital technology imo and is a good example of practical real life usablility being lost in the technical shuffle.

[Macarena]

Just search for volume, output, log etc...it has been discussed here before several times.

Logarithmic Volume Bar / Audio Output Range Issue
Volume Control Level Range Inquiry

Any device with a potentiometer style "pot" volume control operates in this manner...from the cheapest cassette deck or radio to the most sophisticated state of the art equipment.

I haven't found a proof for this while browsing Google. A lot of devices are just cheap linear, fake-logarithmic with two resistors, see article below. Only high-ends are perfectly logarithmic.

I do not think there is a sufficiently strong "base-camp" for implementing it yet (not too much user pressure). It's true it is better for human ears:
Programming Volume Controls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer

I personally, second the feature; but it's gonna hurt to implement it, see the same Programming Volume Controls.

And there is some SW which claims to run smoothly in the background:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ex ... me+control. Does that work for you? If yes, is there still necessity to have it in MM?

Cheers, M

[cmx]

Thanks for response macarena, the one article from dr-lex is a good explanation for everyone about what we are talking aboput.

cmx wrote:
Any device with a potentiometer style "pot" volume control operates in this manner...from the cheapest cassette deck or radio to the most sophisticated state of the art equipment.

I haven't found a proof for this while browsing Google. A lot of devices are just cheap linear, fake-logarithmic with two resistors, see article below. Only high-ends are perfectly logarithmic.

No proof on google..MY GOD!!!...lol. Possibly I wasn't clear, I was talking about physical potentionmeters. Pots are inherently and physically logrithmic...there is an actual knob turning or sliding thru resistance. This is a good example of my point about the "artifact" effect of the proliferation of cheap digital technology...people are simply not aware of the logrithmic audio output functionality...everything is linear...so it is just accepted.


I know equipment makers that are having a hard time finding manufacturers for pots. There is simply no mass market anymore and they have gone out of business or simply moved on. Pots are difficult to make well and clean pots for audio even more so...they are now VERY expensive.

do not think there is a sufficiently strong "base-camp" for implementing it yet (not too much user pressure). It's true it is better for human ears:
Programming Volume Controls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer

Personally I don't think "pressure" should be needed to create an audio device that works correctly. Of course there will be people who then hate log output...so the devs could just make it a user selected choice.

personally, second the feature; but it's gonna hurt to implement it, see the same Programming Volume Controls.

I don't see why it should be hard or a problem...wouldn't it just be software implementation of a simple algorithm? I would take a simple generic x to the 4th algorithm noted in your citation over the current linear and be STOKED!. What is difficult?

And there is some SW which claims to run smoothly in the background:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ex ... me+control. Does that work for you? If yes, is there still necessity to have it in MM?

No, it would serve no purpose. I need the output of MM, my "audio device", to be logrithmic not the computer. As described above, I use an output dll to send MM output an Airport on the local net. MM's volume control should simply work as, IMO, any audio device should.(and I don't toss in global hook SW like that on my systems...over time I've found that stuff never works out ...not to mention the installation and maintenance issue on multiple computers...forget it)