Good points Randy. I've been very impressed with the LokSound system. A friend of mine has the programmer and the many combinations it enables scores an "A+" on the cool factor.
Case in Point: Air Pop-Off.
On my Lok Sound equipped locomotive (SD45-2), I noticed that air pop-off sound was a very short burst (Tsh!) on the sound scheme used. I commented to my friend that the air pop-off on prototype 1st and 2nd generation EMDs and GEs tended to get longer as they aged. Using the programmer, he found and uploaded the pop-off for a Baldwin unit after testing some pop-sound choices. This well pronounced "Tsssssshhh!" sounds very much like the pop-offs I used to hear SCL units make back in the day. I'm very satisfied with it. .
I agree with you regarding the diesel Tsunami's drawback of not being able to alter the sound schemes.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Horns are the hardest thign to match. This is why you almost need to have the sound programmer for whatever decoder you end up using. That way you can download a sound set that has the horn you want but wrong motor and put the horn into the one that has the correct motor but wrong horn. You really can't expect a each manufacturer to have every possible combination available - you'd be all day sorting through the files. Heck, the same model of locomotive ont he same railroad can have diffeent horns - later refits, repairs, or aquisitions from another railroad could mean a 3-chime horn on one GP35 and a 5 chime on another. It's not difficult changing the horn sounds from one sound project to another so you can get exactly what you need. This is the downside of the Tsunami - you can't change the sounds, you're stuck with whatever they've programmed in. Sure they give you a few options for horns, but what if the one that fits your model isn't in there?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It's a very good guide. Only disagreement I have with it is the suggested "horns" for such-and-such locomotives. Prototypically, after WWII on thru today, most Class One railroads chose their preferred horns for their units as multi-chimers increased in popularity.
In the 70s, Southern Railway SD45s were typically equipped with Nathan P5 horns while its neighbor, the SCL, preferred the Leslie "S" series horns for their SD45s as well as various 4 and 6 axle road units.. .
Just a matter of a modeler wanting sound to do a little research.
Overall, ESU Lok Sounds are excellent! I plan on getting more for my small fleet (as my wallet allows)..
Found a website that tells you what Loksound decoder goes with what locomotive. Some of you may already know this site but I'm just letting everyone know. Its really helped me so far.