Lionel Train Sounds vs. Rail Sounds ????

[chuck]

RailSounds was Lionel's Premier Sound System (Legacy is now the top dog). There have been several variations since the system went full digital in vrs 2.5. While RS (and Legacy) will work in conventional mode, you can only access a subset of the full sound set. You need to use TMCC/Legacy to access ALL of the sounds. Many of the sound effects are assembled on the fly by the RS processor and the recorded snippets. In Legacy, you can actually "play" a whistle/horn using the CAB-2 remote. Multiple sound streams can be triggered/controlled.

TrainSounds is Lionel's full digital but conventional only sound system. It is a step down from RailSounds in that the processor is less complex and can generally only handle one sound effect at a time. You use horn/bell buttons and voltage swings to control the effects (similar to QSI's sound effect system and uses QSI's licensed technology).

Signal Sounds is Lionel's basic digital sound system. Horn/Whistle and Bell effects only. There is no variation in the sound effects, just straight playback. Some of the newer engines have RS/SS switches on the chassis. This allows you to turn off all of the sound effects except the basic whistle/horn/bell.

All RS boards are connected to the TMCC receiver by a small jumper cable to deliver the digital commands. The command signal plug is a "standard" you can install a TMCC upgrade appropriate for the locomotive in question and still have access to all of the existing "conventional" sound effects AND gain access to the TMCC ones as well.

[Pennvalley]

Jason

 Yes, I used a tmcc board from ERR &  Railsounds4 board from Digital Dynamics. There is a cable & extra wiring with the ERR kit to connect the railsounds board. I would email ERR with your board version & see what they say.

[jmkk]

Hey Paul is that Railsounds under TMCC control? If so how did you accomplish that. I have a Lionel Santa fe El Captain with railsounds and the only thing keeping me from converting it to TMCC is loosing the railsounds.

[Berk765]

philo426

Here is a short video of a Trainsound-equipped GP-7.Dosen't sound too bad!   

Dang that sounds good!

[alank]

Railsounds, Trainsounds what ever happen to imagination.   While I have locomotives with both, I often shut them off when I am running.   I like to run my trains, and all the noise I don't enjoy.   Only my Berk do I use it when I am running around the holidays.    When I was a kid, I used to hear all that noise, without it beng produced.    Engines like my #41, and my coal loader didn't see a lot of action, just because I didn't want to listen to the noise.  

[Pennvalley]

 Here is my Williams PA1 with Railsounds installed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jGhv_zIyU

 

 

[philo426]

If you want to hear a great sound-system,check out this MTH PA-1!   

[philo426]

Here is a short video of a Trainsound-equipped GP-7.Dosen't sound too bad!   

[trainsBuddy]

For some reason no one mentioned that another difference is that Trainsounds tender will cost you $100 while Railsounds will set you back $450 - ridiculous price of a DSP chip and 1 inch speaker!

[bfskinner]

There is more than one version of both systems; but, in my opinion, other things being equal:

RailSounds are  good, perhaps very good; TrainSounds suck by comparison. TrainSounds is better than no horn or bell, but once you've heard RailSounds you probably won't be happy with TS.

Kids seem to like TS all right. 

 

>

[USNRol]

I own both Railsounds and Trainsounds equipment.  Trainsounds are great especially if you just want some sounds to go with your trains.  The Diesel/Steam sounds cutting out when I blow the Horn/Whistle isn't a big deal but it does bother me when ringing the bell causes the chuffing to stop.  Steam sounds whistle (Trainsounds) is a little atypical in my mind.  Diesel sounds are better.  Railsounds get's you a little more realism and also coupler noises (Neat as heck) and polyphonic capability.

Roland

[railroaded]

  Oddly, it seems like the trainsounds tender makes a diesel style horn blast opposed to your railsounds tender that sounds a lot more like a real steam engine, unless it's just the video-over-the-internet quality that makes it sound that way.

 -Thanks

-B in B

[Berk765]

Well trainsounds are cheaper but don't sound as good in my opinion. when you blow the whistle the other background noises like chuffing is cut off.

Heres a vid of an engine with trainsounds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crf1w9ejPxQ

Heres a vid of an engine with Railsounds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bji5T_TI1c

its a matter of preference I guess.

[railroaded]

  What is the difference between Railsounds & Trainsounds?

 

-B in B