Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
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Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
I just want to know.
The thing you twist to turn volume up or down is called a pot.
For potentiometer.
Now all of a sudden they are called knobs.
This is really inviting misunderstanding.
Why the change?
Is it an age thing?
The thing you twist to turn volume up or down is called a pot.
For potentiometer.
Now all of a sudden they are called knobs.
This is really inviting misunderstanding.
Why the change?
Is it an age thing?
Last edited by re:dream on Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
been called knobs for as long as I can remember and I'm 60, not new at all.The pot's the mechanism, the knob is the interface.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
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Last edited by TomViolenz on Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
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Last edited by TomViolenz on Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
Exactly. The knob is the part you see - the bit that's attached to the pot. The pot is the part behind the scenes.crofter wrote:The pot's the mechanism, the knob is the interface.
You don't call your car an engine. You don't call a light bulb a filament.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
A fader is a potentiometer too but you don't call it a pot do you? You call it a fader. Stop being pedantic.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
because they call chips crisps.shadx312 wrote:Why do brits call fries chips?
more importantly, they call sausages bangers.
true story.
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
Language = English (as in the adjective of England)
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
Because people are used to software, which has no voltage being measured and so no potentiometers.
Software has GUI elements which represent variables and can be adjusted, these "knobs" have as much in common with a potentiometer as a doorknob. No voltage.
Even on an analogue synth, I turn the knob, which is attached to the stem of the pot, which moves the wiper on the track which varies the resistance. The knob is the part I interface with.
Software has GUI elements which represent variables and can be adjusted, these "knobs" have as much in common with a potentiometer as a doorknob. No voltage.
Even on an analogue synth, I turn the knob, which is attached to the stem of the pot, which moves the wiper on the track which varies the resistance. The knob is the part I interface with.
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
Knobs might actually be pots, encoders, switches...who cares what you call them, just don't call me late for supper.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
OK, OK, I am a pedant
And it is probably a while since a real potentiometer ever sat under one of those , um, rotary encoders.
And it is probably a while since a real potentiometer ever sat under one of those , um, rotary encoders.
Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
"Most people on this board twist their knobs."
This is correct no matter what the interpretation of the noun in question.
This is correct no matter what the interpretation of the noun in question.
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?
You see what I mean. We already are subject to enough unkind stereotyping as it is. Guys.