How to Use a Linear Pot for Logs

In audio applications, potentiometers are essentially volume controls. They enable you to incrementally increase or decrease their power output, which effectively raises or lowers the volume from the input audio source. Linear potentiometers are far less expensive than their logarithmic counterparts. However, linear potentiometers increase or decrease power output in a straight or linear fashion. The human ear receives sound in a parabolic, or logarithmic, manner. If you'd like to cut costs in your audio project and would like to avoid having to purchase a logarithmic potentiometer, convert a linear potentiometer to output parabolic power.

Things You'll Need

• Linear potentiometer
• Resistor

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Select a 1 percent resistor that offers resistance between one-sixth and one-tenth of your potentiometer's output power. For example, using a 150,000k potentiometer with a 15,000k resistor only blocks one-tenth of the potentiometer's power.

   • 2

     Wire one end of your 1 percent resistor to a common ground, shared by your potentiometer.

   • 3

     Wire the opposite end of the resistor to the output on your potentiometer. Your preamp will connect to the resistor and potentiometer output junction.