I want to put some sound effects on my layout for a harbor scene and thought I read somewhere about inexpensive digital recorders or playback cards that were just right for ths. Has anyone done this or know of what type of record/playback card/unit I could use? I would also use it for other scenes that would benefit from sound enhancement.
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I have 5 of these sitting on the floor under my layout:
http://www.allelectronics.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=saw
The electronics are a small black plastic box. I haven't actually recorded sounds in them yet. My plan is to put them under the subway station, and trigger the sound to start with a magnetic reed switch which will activate as a train enters or leaves the station.
For the price, it has to be worth a try, right?
If you're really looking for a constant background sound, though, I would think about an old CD player.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I highly do NOT recommend MRC's city & country sound system. I got one really cheap, but even so am very disappointed in both the quality, variety, and control of the sounds.
MR B,
Coincidentally, I was going to say that. I have an old CDman and external speaker and a CD recording of mountain streams I plan to put under my creek. IT is an hour I plan on running on continuous play. I have a similar CD player that will play .Mp3s I plan on collecting saw mill sounds and mixing them. I can run either four or 8 tracks with some software I have. It should be no problem to mix up an interesting blend of saw mill sounds.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
SpaceMouseI plan on collecting saw mill sounds and mixing them.
I'll hide a microphone under the bed for you. My wife snores.
I have used an old cassette player with a loop tape of background sounds on my old layout. Once my new layout gets to the point, I will probably use it again. The tapes were sold for model railroad background sounds. You might try searching the Internet and see what you come up with.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
There is the cheap DIY stuff, and then there actually exists "real" systems for background sounds.
Fantasonics is a very good example of a good system.
A friend of mine is installing it on his layout, and I am considering it myself as well.
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
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I saw something like this some years ago on the Internet but do not have the site now. Try a Google search for
hacking a sound greeting card.
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.