I also adjust by ear, but my first task after addressing a new engine is to change the master volume to about 50% of its range. I then fiddle with individual volumes for bell, hiss, and whistle/horn. I even turn down injector sounds or blow-down. Then, when I am operating, I will mute all but two or three engines.
Note that the QSI decoders (that I know of) can be mute-adjusted. The mute can be at 50% of the set volume all the way down to completely silent. This is handy if you want some quiet steam sounds nearby, but not a strident cacophony.
If I were operating my engines at a club setting, I would become familiar with the CV for Master Volume and get used to raising it to the 70--80% range.
-Crandell
I just adjust by ear. If you want them measurably exact, you need a sound meter to measure the volume in decibels and adjust each loco so it reads the same as the same distance. Even then, gettign them all precisely identical to the ear will be tough, some locos blast the sound ou tthe top of the shell, some out the bottom, some out the fuel tank, some out the coal pile in the tender, some out the bottom of the tender. I've seen fancy installs, in larger scales at least, that put a small speaker int eh stack and a larger one in the firebox area for a more realistic distribution of the sounds.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Greg
While I have some sound decoders that sound great in my train room when I take them to shows and run them on the modules you can hardly hear them. Sound is very subjective. There are so many variables to adjust. One setting would be good for one loco or sound but another would sound distorted or too quiet in another. I have a Loksound diesel decoder that the bell is audible across the street but I have to put my ear on the shell to hear the horn. The horns volume is set to max and the bell is set at 25% volume. My Bueline J1 whistle made the shell rattle so I turned it down and placed some tape inside the shell.
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!
OK - maybe I've just missed the discussion, but has anybody thought about a consistent method of ensuring sound-equipped locos are all adjusted to about the same volume? It seems that almost every decoder, out of the box, needs the volume turned down. But to what volume? Does everyone adjust the volume by ear?
I was thinking that a sound meter such as those used for adjusting stereos and surround systems might provide some objective and quantitative evidence of volume from a particular locomotive. Adjusting locos to a given decibel level might provide a 'sane" starting point.
My guess is that the volume needed to "sound good" varies from layout to layout because layout room size, building materials and coverings will play a part. Owner's age also factors in. Those of us who are aging do not hear as well as we used to!
Inexpensive meters can be had from Radio Shack. I thought I might purchase one and do some experimenting.
Thoughts?
Regards,
Greg Shindledecker Modeling the =WM= Thomas Sub in the mid-70s