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Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:33 pm
by re:dream
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?

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:49 pm
by crofter
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.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:57 pm
by TomViolenz
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:20 pm
by regretfullySaid
Why do brits call fries chips?

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:49 pm
by TomViolenz
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Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 10:29 pm
by 102455
crofter wrote:The pot's the mechanism, the knob is the interface.
Exactly. The knob is the part you see - the bit that's attached to the pot. The pot is the part behind the scenes.

You don't call your car an engine. You don't call a light bulb a filament.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:37 am
by clydesdale
A fader is a potentiometer too but you don't call it a pot do you? You call it a fader. Stop being pedantic. :mrgreen:

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 6:58 am
by H20nly
shadx312 wrote:Why do brits call fries chips?
because they call chips crisps.

more importantly, they call sausages bangers.

true story.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 7:35 am
by dazzer
Language = English (as in the adjective of England)

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:09 pm
by Angstrom
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.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:40 pm
by doghouse
Knobs might actually be pots, encoders, switches...who cares what you call them, just don't call me late for supper.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:19 pm
by TheNobleNemesis
You don't turn a door lock, you turn a door knob.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:24 am
by re:dream
OK, OK, I am a pedant :oops:

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'?

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:35 am
by mikemc
"Most people on this board twist their knobs."

This is correct no matter what the interpretation of the noun in question.

Re: Why do people call pots 'knobs'?

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:51 am
by re:dream
You see what I mean. We already are subject to enough unkind stereotyping as it is. Guys.