Device Resists Outdated Design, Adopts Tangible Control Method
In the world of DIY electronics, [Maker Vibe] has created an innovative solution for controlling PC audio - a physical audio control box equipped with three volume sliders and mute buttons. This setup, which employs Bluetooth gamepad emulation and Voicemeeter Banana, offers a unique and accessible way to manage audio levels and settings.
### Materials Required
To build this control box, you'll need the following components:
- A Bluetooth gamepad - An Arduino or microcontroller (optional) - An enclosure to house the electronics - Buttons and potentiometers for manual control - A USB cable for connecting your gamepad or Arduino to the PC - Voicemeeter Banana software for audio routing and control
### Steps to Build and Configure
#### 1. Configuring the Bluetooth Gamepad
Begin by connecting your Bluetooth gamepad to your PC and pairing it. If necessary, use emulation software such as vJoy or x360ce to emulate your gamepad as a virtual controller on your PC.
#### 2. Setting Up Voicemeeter Banana
Download and install Voicemeeter Banana from the official website, then configure its inputs and outputs to use your PC's audio output and any input devices (like a microphone).
#### 3. Creating a Physical Control Box
Drill holes for buttons and potentiometers in your enclosure, assign buttons to control Voicemeeter's functions, and use potentiometers to create volume sliders.
#### 4. Implementing Custom Control with Arduino (Optional)
Connect buttons and potentiometers to an Arduino board and write code to send keyboard or gamepad commands when buttons are pressed or potentiometers are adjusted.
#### 5. Integrating with Voicemeeter
Assign the Arduino's output to simulate keyboard shortcuts that control Voicemeeter's functions, and optionally, write scripts to automate complex actions in Voicemeeter.
### Example Arduino Code
Here's an example of simple Arduino code for a button press:
```cpp const int buttonPin = 2; // Pin for button const int ledPin = 13; // Built-in LED
void setup() { pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT); pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); }
void loop() { if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH) { // Simulate a keyboard press here (e.g., using a library like Keyboard) // For example, to simulate a 'V' key press for volume control Keyboard.press('v'); delay(100); // Delay to ensure the press is registered Keyboard.release('v'); digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Turn on the LED delay(500); digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // Turn off the LED } } ```
### Final Setup
Connect your physical control box to your PC via USB, and use the Voicemeeter Banana interface to adjust audio settings and ensure that your gamepad or Arduino device controls the audio as desired.
[Maker Vibe]'s control box is housed in a 3D printed box on his desk, with each volume slider connected to a linear potentiometer and three LEDs to indicate which audio channels are muted or active. The process of creating front panels for electronic devices is now another entry in [Maker Vibe]'s archive.
For the Bluetooth gamepad emulation, [Maker Vibe] used a Seeed Studio Xiao ESP32S3. As Windows does not expose audio controls in an easily-accessible way, [Maker Vibe] chose to use Windows and employ Voicmeeter Banana. The control box could be referred to as a fader due to its design, and [Maker Vibe] even used a conductor's baton as an alternative to volume sliders for audio control.
In the realm of DIY electronics and home-and-garden projects, you might consider merging your electronics and lifestyle by creating a custom audio control box. This gadget, employing technologies such as Bluetooth gamepad emulation, Voicemeeter Banana, and Arduino or other microcontrollers, could become a unique addition to your home-and-garden setup, improving your everyday audio management and turning it into a fashionable statement.
