Analog control is the easiest way to get going with the amplifier board. No microcontrollers are required. Just wire up a single 1Kohm potentiometer to select the volume. The potentiometer sets the volume for both channels. There is no way to control channels individually.
Before you begin, perform the Basic Test, to make sure that the amplifier is overall working! Then you can add volume control
If you want to use I2C volume control, do not solder in the potentiometer
Preparation
By default, the amplifier breakout is in digital mode. To put it in analog mode we need to close the three solder jumpers labeled Analog, AD1 and AD2.
When finished, your amp should look like this, with all three jumpers closed.
When you power up the amplifier and feed in audio you won't hear anything! This is normal! If the potentiometer is not installed, it will default to lowest volume.
Now place the potentiometer that came with your kit into the three holes labeled Pot Vol - don't solder them in yet, try to just touch the pads to the pins so that you can adjust the volume. As you twist the pot, the volume will go up and down
Now place the potentiometer that came with your kit into the three holes labeled Pot Vol - don't solder them in yet, try to just touch the pads to the pins so that you can adjust the volume. As you twist the pot, the volume will go up and down
Once you have that working, you can solder wires to the Pot Vol pads, so you can place the volume adjustment pot elsewhere (say mounted to the outside of a box)
If you want a potentiometer that will fit exactly in the slot, check out this side-adjustment pot http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/bourns-inc/3362M-1-103LF/3362M-103LF-ND/1088401
For mounting onto a box or panel check out https://www.adafruit.com/product/1789
