- Used one for the GPT-3 Leta Series back in 2021 (all 60+ episodes!).
Still got mine!
- Yippy! I feel like I'm 15 years younger
- >Of course, modern controllers exist that offer many more literal bells and whistles...
Anyone have a favorite 'modern controller' for those of us who no longer have a PowerMate?
- I have this and it’s great https://binepad.com/products/bnk9
Customization is possible https://blog.lanzani.nl/2025/customizing-the-binepad-bnk9-fi...
- I don't have one, but Ploopy's knob is intriguing (https://ploopy.co/knob/).
LilyGo/TTGo also has some interesting knobs with some unusual features features (force feedback or LCD touchscreen on top of the knob, depending on model) but again I don't have firsthand experience and these might take some DIY
- Not commercial, but “Engineer Bo” on YouTube has an interesting series about building his own very professional looking scroll knob:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYK5tmZIBWtHYt4w8Y6P6ba-I...
- Surprised Loupedeck hasn't come up here. The Live and CT both have weighted main dials with real damping — which is what made the PowerMate feel different from a regular rotary encoder, more than the software integration ever did. Pricier than most of what's been mentioned, but the closest I've found to the tactile feel. Everything in the sub-$50 range (Drok, generic Aliexpress encoders, etc.) works fine for mapping to volume or scroll, but they all feel like plastic clicky knobs. Fine for utility, not for fidgeting.
- There was a poster on HN a while ago that recommended¹ the Drok USB volume knob because it can be reconfigured to send keystrokes or mouse actions. Just Google for "configure drok usb volume control knob" for instructions. I reconfigured mine to send mouse scroll events for scrolling through documents.
- Microsoft Surface Dial is nice. You'll also need to write a driver...
- As usual there is very very very good Linux support for a device (this device, the MS Surface Dial), better than anywhere else. https://github.com/daniel5151/surface-dial-linux
Some are calling it the most obvious trend of all computing. And that was before the agentic age super put its finger on the cosmic scales of justice+hacking.
- Surface Dial is a good hardware target.
- some elgato stream deck models have knobs. 3Dconnexion also still around
- Elgato and Corsair have also made a keyboard that has the Stream Deck buttons + knobs on it.
https://www.elgato.com/us/en/explorer/products/stream-deck/g...
- This is awesome. I know I have one someplace that I stopped using because of lack of drivers, now all I need is to find it :)
- I was wondering whether BetterTouchTool would support the PowerMate, and I sure didn't get disappointed: https://community.folivora.ai/t/griffin-powermate/30169
Disclosure: I have no idea whether this would still work, and I have no way to find out.
- I love this. PowerMate was the ultimate fidget tool when not scrolling, editing, etc.
- I have one of these and now all I need to do is find a reason to use the Mac.
- I have two of these, near-permanently affixed to my Zynthian .. but now I think I want another one for the desktop. Anyone know of similar devices available currently?
- Damn I always wanted to one of these! So cool
- I check eBay from time to time, they are usually very expensive.
- I have one of those, but never used it too much—if the button got pressed while my Mac was asleep, it immediately woke up and kernel panicked. I don’t know if there was something odd about my machine or my particular PowerMate or what?
- Lol I wrote a new driver for the bluetooth one a few months ago.
- Curse you! Now I have to go clean out the attic to find mine.
