Appreciate the suggestion but I need to explain futher. Imagine a potentiometer/ reostat (I think a reostat is a better example) . These devices would not have an "stops' and would turn 360 degrees freely. The resistance would go from none to high as the "wiper" goes around the resistance media (carbon, wire wound.etc.) and back to the start of continuity. Now take (8) of these pots with one continuous shaft thru all of them. Each "body" of the pot would be indexed 45 degrees clockwise or couterclockwise (either direction but same direction on all of them) in sequence one below the other.
Lets think of them as volume controls into amps. there would be 8 volume controls, 8 amps, and 8 speakers. lets number the assemblies as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. in a circle (clockwise or counter clockwise, doesn't matter). No.1 would be at max volume and no. 2 at 75% of max , no.3 at 50% of max, no.4 25% of max and no. 5 would be at 0% of max or minumum volume , no. 6 at 25% of max, no. 7 at 50% of max and no. 8 at 75% max when the shaft s NOT turning. As the shaft turns each speakers volume would rise and fall from minimum to maximum SMOOTHLY sequentially 45 degrees from each other causing an effect of sound going around in a circle. Think of a light chaser with 8 LEDs in a circle going around at variable speeds (but thats just switching). I am looking from some kind of solid state device that would do this electronically as opposed to a mechanical device which are availible (and expensive).
The digital pots have caught my interest and I will pursue futher. thanks for any input (now and in future). I will keep on with this project and will pass on what I find.