Jeff But it's a dry heat!
For example MRC's inexpensive sound-only "Sounder" decoder allows you to choose between an early EMD sound, an ALCO sound, an SD-60 or an SD-70...but if you can't program the CV's, you can't select the one you want.
So your choices would be (until you get a system that can program) to install a sound decoder like a Digitrax one (they have one made for an AC-4400, it's both a sound and motor/lights decoder in one) and accept the factory default settings as to horn, bell, volume etc. or install the decoder and take it to a friend or a friendly local hobby shop and use their DCC system to make the changes.
.. Or use your computer + Digitrax PR2 or PR3 + JMRI DecoderPro + a lenght of track to permit you to do programming/customization of your decoders.
Also some decoder require keybrd re-mapping/changes to get the sounds to respond to a specific function keys.
These are Bachmann EZ-DCC major limitations.
HackSaw wrote:I just purchased my first DCC controller. Now i want to put decoders in my locos. I want speed function, lights, and others that i can't remeber right now..lol....anyway my question is, i want sound too. Is that a seperate decoder?..thanks for being patient. I am modeling HO and have a small layout...roundy with a small staging yard and some spurs. thank you.
The correct answer to your question is NO. Decoders do not automatically come with sound.
I've installed my own soundtraxx decoders in several locomotives. They're OK but arn't near as good as a QSI sound decoder already installed from the factory. If I were you I'd buy my engines with a sound decoder already installed.
Until Tsunami or QSI start selling diesel sound decoders I'm not installing anymore sound decoders.