I just got the TCS newsletter and at the bottom it said upcoming release DP5 and sound! Oh and you N scale guys got some new decoders for Intermountain locos.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
I'm curious as to what these sound decoders are goign to be like. Hopefully user programmable sounds, and hopefully without the inrush problems of some.
I've noticed QSI has fixed their issues, the Rev-U and Rev-A decoders do not have startup inrush problems and they also work just fine on the program track, both read and write, unlike the OEM decodes they supplied to Broadway and Atlas and others. Soundtraxx seems to be the only one who hasn't figured it out, still saying their booster is REQUIRED - although that's not strictly true.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have only ever had one full and final refusal to my DB150, and that was from a Tsunami heavy steam decoder this past summer. I couldn't seem to get the decoder to reset, and boy did it need resetting. I finally got it to reset doing a combination of programming in Paged Mode and using CV8=8, and also Ops Mode using address "00" and then CV8=8. In fact, I don't really know what worked, except that the decoder finally tossed in the towel and conceded the match.
Whew!
"Soundtraxx seems to be the only one who hasn't figured it out, still saying their booster is REQUIRED - although that's not strictly true"
I have noticed that also. I have the NCE Power Cab and have had no trouble programing the Soundtraxx Tsunami's.
I have the Power Cab and can program the Tsunami. LokSound and Digitrax decoders with no problem. Maybe I am just lucky. Maybe it has something to do with following instructions.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
The Power Cab has a little more power for the program track. I have an old version 1.1 power cab that has never had a problem reading and writing to decoders. QSI, Tsunami, Soundtraxx LC, Blueline and Loksound have never been a hassle.
Whee ! ! More competition may drive other brand's prices down !
Some of the older DCC systems that pre-date the boom in sound do seem to have issues with programming the sound decoders. More recent models like the Power Cab and the Digitrax Zephyr fare much better. I too have never had an issue with programming or reading Tsunami or any of the others with my Z.
I really like TCS decoders, so will be very interested in what they bring to the table. This would not be the first time that they have announced something that did not then come to market. Remember at the NTS a couple years back they were showing throttle designs for a possible foray into DCC command stations. I never head another thing about it after the show, so I guess they decided against it?
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
rrinker I'm curious as to what these sound decoders are goign to be like. Hopefully user programmable sounds, and hopefully without the inrush problems of some. I've noticed QSI has fixed their issues, the Rev-U and Rev-A decoders do not have startup inrush problems and they also work just fine on the program track, both read and write, unlike the OEM decodes they supplied to Broadway and Atlas and others. Soundtraxx seems to be the only one who hasn't figured it out, still saying their booster is REQUIRED - although that's not strictly true. --Randy
Does Soundtraxx have downloadable sound file support yet for updating the decoder sound files ? I agree that downloadable sound file and software upgrades are important.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
simon1966Remember at the NTS a couple years back they were showing throttle designs for a possible foray into DCC command stations. I never head another thing about it after the show, so I guess they decided against it?
Work may be progressing on this. I saw a prototype controller last year. Remember TCS is a small company, things take time to get worked on.
Our club DCS 100 wouldn't program a factory Tsunami in an Athearn. Went over to the Lenz system in the other room and got it going.
Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com
jbinkley60Does Soundtraxx have downloadable sound file support yet for updatinbg the decoder sound files ? I agree that downloadable sound file and software upgrades are important.
Does Soundtraxx have downloadable sound file support yet for updatinbg the decoder sound files ? I agree that downloadable sound file and software upgrades are important.
Interesting that folks want programmable sound files. As an outsider, programmable sound files appear to be a bust for the most part for Digitrax and ESU. Tsunamis appear to be recognized as the better sound decoder in most situations despite not having programmable sound files.
Of course, my interest is steam so that could make a huge difference compared to somebody who wants modern diesel sounds.
Talking to folks who make videos, getting clean, correct sound tracks and files for engines that are no longer running is like chasing the wind (or trying to figure out colors for rolling stock and structures for my 1900 era layout). Memories so distant aren't exactly the most trustworthy as to what the sound should be. And any source recordings are incomplete in the amount of information carried in them.
Even if you can get clean, accurate source information, the resulting sound files comprise much of the cost of producing a sound decoder and its associated intellectual property, and is often what differentiates one decoder from another in the consumer's eyes. Posting them for free download gives away that advantage and income.
Finally, the number of model railroaders who are both willing and able to the work of improving and modifying sound files is very small. Even smaller is the number who are willing to do that work for free.
just my thoughts as to why downloadable sound files are not all that important
Fred W
I have a digitrax system (DCS100) and use a Digitrax MS100 with Decoder Pro to program decoders from my desktop computer. When I starteed geting sound I purchased a Power Pax to use with the MS100/Decoder Pro. Works great, but I never tried programing the sound decoders with out the Power Pax. Still in use on the home layout.
I recently purchased a Digitrax PR3 to use with my laptop as a stand alone programer with decoder pro. My job takes me away from home for long periods of time. I am spending this time upgrading my locomotive fleet to DCC & Sound. I have some Athearn BB SD40-2 that I am taking the motors out and putting sound only decoders for use in multi unit lashups as there is no need to have sound in every loco, and I don't need every loco to be powered, The PR3 with Decoder Pro works great. You can use it as a stand alone programer, even if you don't have a Digitrax system. So far, no problems programing any brand of decoder.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
fwright jbinkley60 Does Soundtraxx have downloadable sound file support yet for updatinbg the decoder sound files ? I agree that downloadable sound file and software upgrades are important. Interesting that folks want programmable sound files. As an outsider, programmable sound files appear to be a bust for the most part for Digitrax and ESU. Tsunamis appear to be recognized as the better sound decoder in most situations despite not having programmable sound files. Of course, my interest is steam so that could make a huge difference compared to somebody who wants modern diesel sounds. Talking to folks who make videos, getting clean, correct sound tracks and files for engines that are no longer running is like chasing the wind (or trying to figure out colors for rolling stock and structures for my 1900 era layout). Memories so distant aren't exactly the most trustworthy as to what the sound should be. And any source recordings are incomplete in the amount of information carried in them. Even if you can get clean, accurate source information, the resulting sound files comprise much of the cost of producing a sound decoder and its associated intellectual property, and is often what differentiates one decoder from another in the consumer's eyes. Posting them for free download gives away that advantage and income. Finally, the number of model railroaders who are both willing and able to the work of improving and modifying sound files is very small. Even smaller is the number who are willing to do that work for free. just my thoughts as to why downloadable sound files are not all that important Fred W
jbinkley60 Does Soundtraxx have downloadable sound file support yet for updatinbg the decoder sound files ? I agree that downloadable sound file and software upgrades are important.
It's no so much making your own sound files as it is getting the ones you actually want in one palce at the same time - say you wanted to use a Tsunami in a light Mike, but the prototype you are modeling uses a whistle sound that Soundtraxx only includes on their Hevay Steam Tsunami - you're out of luck. QSI may have the happy medium - you can change sounds but not use user-defined ones, you can simply load any of their sound sets into any decoder - huge advantage is there's no "out of stock" - every decoder is exactly the same, you just load (or have the dealer load) the particular sounds you want.
Then again - a couple of things come to mind that make the fully programmable ones highly useful. First is the improved sounds for the PCM Reading T-1 (Loksound decoder). I don't have any recordings of a Reading T-1 in action, but Nick Kulp did, and modified the supplied sounds to include several of those actual authentic ones. Not everyone is going to have the equipment or talent to record locomotives, but that doesn't mean they can't utilize the efforts of those that can do that. A more in-depth example is Fred Miller's Peter Witt streetcar sounds for the Digitrax decoders. I'm not a traction modeler and will probably never program that into a decoder, but I did download it to work with in the sound editing software, and it does things you might be inclined to say are not possible with the decoder based on the description and the Soundloader software. Fred went to a museum and recored an actual Peter Witt car in operation, and then discovered ways to utilize the decoder that I doubt even AJ thought of. Along the way he developed a softwrae application to make it easier to others (who may have the audio engineering skills but lack the PIC programming skills) to follow along. Bascially still waiting, but the potential is there.
Downloadable sound files aren't necessary for popular engines, but the allow us to put sound in niche models. I've got a sound-equipped trolley, thanks to traction modeler Fred Miller, who contributed the package to Digitrax.
I was looking for a "flange squeal" sound file a couple of weeks ago. I found a number of them, but I was amazed that almost all were for sale, not for free. Really, who wants a sound file of a noisy crowd in a subway station with some flange squeal in the background, anyway?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Fred,
I don't think it is as much as us modifying our sound files as it is the ability to download a new sound file, maybe one that is better than what is on the decoder now. Also, there may come a time where you want to reuse the decoder in a different unit and the existing sound file is not right for it. Lastly, a good decoder should be able to have its software upgraded for new features, bug fixes etc.