Volume control on keyboard?

[DavidX]

I'm basically getting real lazy!
The volume control is on the subwoofer and, of necessity, the subwoofer is quite a stretch away. It's a pain having to use the volume control in the software mixer (and it's inaccessible in full-screen games anyway).

I don't really want to splash out on one of those keyboards that has a volume control on it. (I only just got this standard keyboard and I like it.) But I do like the idea.

Is there any way to program an ordinary standard Win95 keyboard so that I can use two of the keys as volume controls? The + and - keys on the numeric keypad would be ideal - say, together with the Alt key so that it can distinguish between normal commands and volume.

Anyone know of any programs already written for this?

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 07-06-99).]

[BBA]

Hmm... I like it already...

Lessee, any takers?

Please!!

BBA

[socalgal]

hmm, I'm thinking a keyboard macro to the mixer device...????

Well, now this looks kinda neat, not exactly what you were looking for tho.. scroll down to "VolumeTray" here:

http://www.winfiles.com/apps/98/sound-misc.html



[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 07-06-99).]

[DavidX]

Thanks for the link, socalgal! As you said, not precisely what I was looking for but it's freeware, it's only a tiny program and it works perfectly. A heck of a lot easier than using the mixer. It just sits on the taskbar and when you position your pointer over it (not even a click required), pressing the left mouse button increases the volume, pressing the right decreases it. It's from Russia (with love?) and it's kinda cool (no Siberia jokes please). I'll buy you a beer next time I'm in Southern Cal. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Unfortunately, of course it won't work in full-screen games. Now, as you suggested, a keyboard macro to the mixer device . . .

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 07-07-99).]

[socalgal]

Okay. How about this?

www.tblabs.com/ (http://www.tblabs.com/)



[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 07-08-99).]

[BBA]

Hmmmmmm.........

Looks good, but I think I'm just gonna get a keyboard with all the extra's.


I like it though! Thanks socalgal!

BBA

[socalgal]

I'm going to check them out too. I didn't know they had keyboards like that! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Bleeding Edge]

Browse the audio/speaker section of the local comp stores and you'll find audio line cables with volume control knob/dials. Much like Cambridge has on their SoundWorks/MicroWorks speakers.

Seems easy enough but you may still prefer the soft solution.

[Wiruz]

Well, I am one of those lazy ones to, and i just bought a Sillitec Easytouch SK-720 keyboard. I know u wanted a software/shortcut solution, but if u are really lazy, then buy one of those sillitec's... making that software/shortcut idea work is just way to much work...

Greetz, Wiruz

[DavidX]

Wow, socalgal! When you research, you research! Thanks for the extra link. However, I think maybe I'll eventually just go for the hardware approach after all. Think I'll just hum along with this Volume Tray for the time being, then go for either Bleeding Edge's suggestion or perhaps a new keyboard like the Silitek mentioned by Wiruz. I've seen those Silitek keyboards and I think IBM also do one.

Wiruz
Is that a master volume control on the Silitek or does it just work for CDs?

[socalgal]

Don't blame you DavidX, I didn't even know there were boards out there like that! And Edge always has good ideas too. They do sound like a better solution than soft! I wonder if they have em at Fry's......

[BBA]

The one on the HP keyboards are the master volume control, so I like it.

Plus it has 5 other configurable "Hot Keys" up in the corner, and a mute key.

BBA

[Ed_S]

Found several keyboard utils at Ziff-Davis' library
http://hotfiles.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?fcode=000DLQ&b=

I use KBMacro, which is freeware program which allows programing of hotkeys, using any key you program, plus the Windows key to start app. For example, I use <win><Q> to start Quicken.
Anyway, there's bound to be a util to do what you want, a search of their database using "hotkey" returns 50 possibilities!

[This message has been edited by Ed_S (edited 07-09-99).]

[DavidX]

BBA
I believe the HP keyboard is probably a re-badged Silitek, possibly one of Silitek's SK-2500 series. (Silitek make keyboards for many of the big brands. The brands just put their own logo on it. You'd be amazed how many Silitek keyboards there are around, hidden under other brand names!)

Is it similar to this one: www.silitek.com/sk-2500a.htm (http://www.silitek.com/sk-2500a.htm) ? It looks quite good and I'll probably get one eventually. The keyboard I'm using now is a Silitek (SK-710W, under another brand name) but it's just a standard one.

Ed_S
Thanks for the help. I was going to try your KBMacro and maybe one of the others but I can't seem to download any of the files at the moment. I'll try again later.