Controlling Volume Levels of Specific Windows Applications with USB Piano Control Knobs

Controlling Volume Levels of Specific Windows Applications using USB Piano Control Knobs

In this article, we will explore how to control the volume levels of specific Windows applications, such as Spotify Premium and Discord, using USB piano control knobs. We will focus on using AutoHotkey as our primary tool, although we will also discuss some alternative methods.

Why Use USB Piano Control Knobs?

USB piano control knobs offer a unique and intuitive way to control various aspects of your computer, including volume levels. They are often more tactile and responsive than traditional keyboard and mouse controls, making them ideal for musicians and other power users who require precise control over their software.

Using AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is a powerful scripting language for Windows that allows you to automate repetitive tasks and create custom keyboard shortcuts. We will use AutoHotkey to map the USB piano control knobs to specific volume controls in Windows.

Step 1: Install AutoHotkey

To get started, download and install the latest version of AutoHotkey from the official website. Once installed, create a new text file and save it with the extension .ahk.

Step 2: Identify the USB Piano Control Knobs

Next, we need to identify the USB piano control knobs in AutoHotkey. Unfortunately, the KeyHistory command in AutoHotkey does not detect the control knobs, so we will need to use a different approach. One way to do this is to use the ControlGet, OutputVar, List command to retrieve a list of all connected USB devices. We can then filter this list to identify the control knobs.

ControlGet, OutputVar, List, , Control
StringSplit, ControlList, OutputVar, `n
Loop, Parse, ControlList
{
    IfInString, A_LoopField, USB
    {
        MsgBox, Found USB device: %A_LoopField%
    }
}

Step 3: Map the Control Knobs to Volume Controls

Once we have identified the USB piano control knobs, we can map them to specific volume controls in Windows. To do this, we will use the SoundSet command in AutoHotkey. For example, the following script maps the first control knob to the master volume control:

#NoEnv
#Persistent
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%

ControlGet, OutputVar, List, , Control
StringSplit, ControlList, OutputVar, `n
Loop, Parse, ControlList
{
    IfInString, A_LoopField, USB
    {
        ; Map the first control knob to the master volume control
        ControlGet, DeviceID, List, HWND1, ControlID, , %A_LoopField%
        SoundSet, %DeviceID%, +10
    }
}

Alternative Methods

While AutoHotkey is a powerful tool for controlling volume levels with USB piano control knobs, there are some alternative methods that you may want to consider. These include:

• Using a dedicated USB MIDI controller with built-in volume controls
• Using a third-party software program designed specifically for controlling volume levels with USB piano control knobs
• Using a hardware mixer or audio interface with USB connectivity

In this article, we have explored how to control the volume levels of specific Windows applications using USB piano control knobs. We have focused on using AutoHotkey as our primary tool, although we have also discussed some alternative methods. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to create custom keyboard shortcuts that allow you to control the volume levels of your favorite applications with ease.

References

• AutoHotkey
• General MIDI Level 1 Specification
• USB MIDI 1.0 Class Definition