Hi everyone!
I am building a Ford Model T railcar from an old kit. Some of you may have been following my thread about where to find the right sound http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/213279.aspx.
Thanks to Bob Frey I now have a lead on a possible sound source.
My question is: Will I be able to input the sound into the decoder (Loksound Select) so that the sound matches throttle changes? If so, how is that accomplished? Do I have to come up with various individual sound bites, and if so, how do I do that and what do I need (the LokProgrammer will obviously be required). The Loksound site doesn't offer a LokProgrammer manual to view.
The railcar bug has bitten me hard but before I start spending money I want to know exactly what is possible and what it will cost.
Thanks
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
You can download the Lokprogrammer manual, as well as the software - and even use the software to some extent without the hardware.
You will need to split up the audio sample into bits at different speeds, Audacity is a program for Windows that lets you cut and paste audio files into clips, and alter the characteristics to make them suitable for the decoder (loudness, bit rate, etc).
Typically, the sounds are controlled by a 'script' which has conditions (speed step increase and speed step above 10 - play this sound bite) sort of things. A place to start would be one of their existing projects for a motor car type of thing, which typically have more smooth operating speeds, not the typical 8 notches of diesl-electrics. One of them may be suitable to use simply by chopping up the Model T motor sound file and swapping out whatever pieces ESU already has in the sound project. - leaving the script as-is.
The hardest part will be chopping up the sound file to get the proper speeds and not have any extraneous sounds in witht he motor, since they are played continuously.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy:
Thanks for the quick reply.
Your last paragraph is what has me concerned. The recording Bob Frey linked me to has the sound of the car accelerating so the engine noise is constantly changing. To me it would seem to be difficult to put that into a loop without it sounding choppy unless the loop was long enough to record the entire acceleration process in one loop. I don't know if that is possible or not. Using an existing script might be the best answer, especially where gear changes are concerned. Loksound has a VW railbus in their selection.
The volume of the recording also fades as the car drives away. Apparently the recording device was not in the car. That means I still have to find a recording of a Model T engine at speed, as well as play with the diminishing volume of the acceleration sound.
I couldn't see a link to the LokProgrammer manual on the website. I will look again.
David
Thanks - I had forgotten I was looking at the V4.0 sound files when I found the VW railbus.
OK - I found the LokProgrammer manual http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/lokprogrammer/. It answered a lot of my questions.
The next step will be to see if I can find more Ford Model T engine sounds such as running at speed, under load, shifting gears etc.
Thanks for your help guys.
Creating your own drive sound schedule is a tedious task. Train engines have eight notches, which means you can have eight levels of steady engine rpm. The loop for the steady speed rate is actually very short - often less than one second. For the model T, it only has to be as long as it takes for all four pistons to fire, then loop it over and over. You will also need a transition file to fit in between the individual loop segments, along with an idle sound that will be looped. Don't forget the start-up and shut down sequence as well !
I spent the day with the ESU sound guy recording the raw files for the Alco C630 (it was recorded on the WNY&P) and it's not a ten minute job by no means. We recorded inside, outside and on top to get the best responses. We also recorded under load to get a good chug out of the engine. A minimum of ten seconds was recorded in each notch for every circumstance, in addition to the transitions between each notch. That was the easy / fun part.
Taking all those raw recordings and breaking them down so they transition and loop seamlessly is a lot of work. Don't expect it to be a one evening project. For the guy that KNOWS what he's doing, takes two or three full days to create a file.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to dis-illusion you on the prospect - it can be a lot of fun to see what you can come up with. I've created a lot of my own horns, but have yet attempted a complete sound schedule for an engine. I've tweaked the factory engine schedule to get it to throttle up quicker, and a few other tweaks, but that's about as far as I've ventured in that area .... yet !
The simplest approach would be to get all your raw recordings, edit them for loops and transitions (remember you need both up and down transitions), then open the VW bus file (don't recall if it's a 3.5 or 4.0 file - you might have to import it into the 4.x.x programmer if it's a 3.5 file) and just start replacing their files with yours. You'll know quickly enough if it's going to work or not.
There's also something to do with the bitrate that the decoder uses, and your created file needs to be the same - maybe Randy recalls that tidbit.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
You might want to consider joining the Loksound Yahoo Group ....
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loksound/
There's some VERY talented guys there that do a lot of their own programming.
Mark:
Thanks for the link to the Loksound users group.
I think you have pretty much explained what is going through my head in terms of what is required to do what I want to do. Translating recordings of a Ford Model T engine into a realistic sounding decoder program is a big task, to put it mildly.
I am coming to the conclusion that one of my two Model T kits will be silent, and the other will become a Gallopping Goose with sound when it becomes available.
I am actually beginning to build the first frame and suspension which can be used for either a goose or a model T. Here is what I have done so far:
The wires on the upper part of the front suspension will be formed around the front truck wheels to provide all wheel power pickup.
This wee beasty will have to be heavily weighted to maintain constant contact with the tracks, but there will be lots of space inside the car body for that.
I have ordered a Jordan bus kit so the project will be on hold until the kit arrives.