I was all set up to do a mini project today, then accidentally found an open source project that has already achieved exactly what I wanted to do AND still has complete units in stock ready to purchase so you don't have to order PCBs and do some dodgy surface-mount soldering and program the controller and tweak the 3D prints to fit.
That project is the #Ploopy Knob, a USB-connected high-precision scrolling dial: https://ploopy.co/knob/
(Ploopy also make cool trackballs and a trackpad)









