potentiometer "W" stand for?

wakeuptone · July 29, 2011, 09:48:48 AM

Any one know potentiometer "W" stand for ? (audio, linear, reverse) Thank you.

bean · July 29, 2011, 09:52:21 AM

From left to middle it's reverse audio, from middle to right it's audio. So, the middle portion of the taper is linear.

Steve Mavronis · July 29, 2011, 10:00:42 AM

This may help:

If you look at this pot taper comparison graphic below you can see in the bottom left graph when the W taper is at 50% rotation it is at half the total volume range. In the top left graph the A taper has to be at roughly 75% rotation or so to have equal volume output.

wakeuptone · July 29, 2011, 10:04:03 AM

Thank you for all answer.

1) Where I can find "W" Potentiometer.? or any alternative potentiometer?
2) "M" Potentiometer also anyone know stand for. Is it same as "W"?

Steve Mavronis · July 29, 2011, 10:17:30 AM

Quote from: wakeuptone on July 29, 2011, 10:04:03 AM
"M" Potentiometer also anyone know stand for. Is it same as "W"?

No. Look at the graph in my post above.

wakeuptone · July 29, 2011, 10:19:07 AM

Steve.. I got it

Vince_b · July 29, 2011, 10:26:08 AM

You can buy them from small bear http://www.smallbearelec.com/home.html

MetalGuy · July 29, 2011, 05:20:59 PM

Actually almost all EQ's require W-taper pots/slide pots for smooth frequency adjustment otherwise the pot will have narrow sensitivity range at both ends.

runmikeyrun · July 29, 2011, 09:23:12 PM

Every DOD pedal i've ever opened has W pots... always wondered what that meant. Thanks!

Brymus · July 30, 2011, 04:41:09 PM

Why would anyone use an "M" taper ?
Its hits 100% at 50% rotation,so half the dial is the same setting, full on.

MikeH · July 30, 2011, 05:07:48 PM

In short, W = "wacky" taper.

FiveseveN · July 30, 2011, 11:15:25 PM

Quote from: Brymus on July 30, 2011, 04:41:09 PM
Why would anyone use an "M" taper ?
Its hits 100% at 50% rotation,so half the dial is the same setting, full on.

So is the "N" taper, only the other side is "full on", or off. The point is to use them together, just as it says on the box: "For dual unit use".
Why? I'm sure there are applications that require such a strange thing but I haven't encountered one yet.

Paul Marossy · August 01, 2011, 12:06:26 PM

I've never even heard of a "W" taper until now!

Hides-His-Eyes · August 01, 2011, 02:44:05 PM

Looks similar to an 's' taper to me, so maybe W stands for "Wah"!

DiscoVlad · August 01, 2011, 11:28:56 PM

Quote from: FiveseveN on July 30, 2011, 11:15:25 PM
Quote from: Brymus on July 30, 2011, 04:41:09 PM
Why would anyone use an "M" taper ?
Its hits 100% at 50% rotation,so half the dial is the same setting, full on.

So is the "N" taper, only the other side is "full on", or off. The point is to use them together, just as it says on the box: "For dual unit use".
Why? I'm sure there are applications that require such a strange thing but I haven't encountered one yet.

They (Dual-gang M+N Taper) are used as left/right Balance controls in stereo circuits.

egasimus · August 02, 2011, 05:16:12 AM

^ idk, didn't this application require a dual-ganged log + reverse-log pot?

The image above solved for me the long-standing mystery of what 'D'-taper pots were, though. A shop in my town stocked them, and I never figured out what they were. Pity it's closed down now, there doesn't seem to be any place near me where I can buy audio taper pots anymore.

DiscoVlad · August 03, 2011, 08:07:55 PM

Quote from: egasimus on August 02, 2011, 05:16:12 AM
^ idk, didn't this application require a dual-ganged log + reverse-log pot?

It is dual log/antilog, but only for half the rotation.

The idea of these potentiometers is that in the centre position the output is at maximum, and turning the knob either way attenuates one channel while leaving the other at a constant level.

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potentiometer "W" stand for?