I am working on an ad project for the LA Metro light rail that involves including train sound effects. The producers for the project sent me a bell sound and asked me to include the sound fx in all train scenes. The sound (linked below) is a fast repeating bell, and sounds to me like the bell sound associated with a crossing gate. I am not really familiar with these metro light rail trains, but I don't want to put the wrong sound in a scene. Is there any way I can tell if the bell sound I've received is indeed an onboard bell for a locomotive (vs a crossing bell)? Its my first time working with this client, so I wanted to get some input before I push back and ask them to double check. Thanks.
http://bigfins.com/temp/bell.mp3
Sounds like a crossing gate bell to me. Repetition rate is about double what I ever heard from an engine. It's also got that tinney flavor that I don't associate with engines, at least the older ones that had bells cast in brass. Sounds much like the light rail gate bell for the MAX line crossing that's a mile down the hill here in Portland. Get caught by it with some regularity.
John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQGCGCmvFmE
BTW the L.A. train's bell and horn sound is very similar to the light rail trains here in Minneapolis-St.Paul.
The sound in the mp3 in the original post is a crossing gate, no doubt about it.
Definitely a grade crossing bell. There ARE loco bells that sort of sound similar, but MUCH slower rate.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Can I assume that on a train there is generally a human involved (either pressing a button or something) when a bell sound is made on a loco, so bell sounds will often be irregularly spaced? Whereas a crossing gate is always a mechanical beat?
I'm imagining some of these light-rails play repeated bell sounds as long as the driver holds a button in the depressed state. And the driver beeps on the button (just like you would the horn in a car). So if he holds it down, you might get a few evenly spaced dings in a row. At least that's how it sound from looking at YouTube videos.
I don't know about light rail, but on freight locomotives once the bell is activated it rings until it's shut off. Older engines the bell was only operated by a separate switch. Modern (some being 25+ years old now) also have the bell actuated by blowing the horn. Sometimes you can run across equipment where, because of dirt build up, etc, the clapper doesn't always make contact with the bell. Or starts out strong, but fades to quiet.
Although the sound clip sounds like a crossing bell, some older GEs will, at times, ring at that tempo.
I'm starting to like the electronic bells instead of the old mechanical bells on locomotives. Yes, the sound isn't the same, but the electronic ones are a lot more reliable.
Jeff
The link in my earlier post (above) goes to a YouTube video entitled "Sounds Of Los Angeles Metro Rail". The sound of the horn and bell are heard within the first 30 seconds.
Yes the horn and bell would be controlled by the driver with a button. I believe depressing the button for the bell makes the bell ring continously until it is pressed again to stop it; but it may work like the horn that it only works when the button is depressed.
BTW, I'm not sure with modern light rail vehicles if there is literally a bell mounted somewhere on the lead and trailing unit, or if depressing the bell button just initiates playing a recording of a bell. If so, may be the same for the horn.
BTW if you feel you need more information, you might try also posting your question over on the "Transit" forum on the Trains magazine site. Just go into the small type above the name of this thread above (Home>>Model Railroader>>Forums) and click on "home" and then you can access all the trains.com forums.