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Custom Sound, Sound Decoders?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:51 AM

This is the Digitrax "Sound Depot" site:

http://www.digitrax.com/sounddepot.php

You can download the "Soundloader" program for your PC, and the F40PH sound project.  You can play around with the sounds and listen to them on your computer.  You don't need a programmer or decoder to do this, so it's a zero-cost way of experimenting.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Villa Park
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Posted by CMucha on Monday, July 27, 2009 8:37 PM
Also, were are some websites I can download custom sounds other people have made, is there like a yahoo group that has them? Colin
Metra is the Real Way to fly!
  • Member since
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Posted by locoi1sa on Monday, July 27, 2009 4:17 PM

 QSI revolution is also customizable. QSI programmer is needed.

     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!

  • Member since
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  • From: Villa Park
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Posted by CMucha on Monday, July 27, 2009 3:21 PM
Im Looking for a Metra F40PH "Screamer" Sound with a P5, i would prefer a bell recorded off a train, which I have, but thats not my biggest issue
Metra is the Real Way to fly!
  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 27, 2009 2:04 PM

To download sounds into a decoder, you must have the appropriate programmer unit.  You can't do it through your DCC system the way you can alter CVs in a motor decoder.  Of course, each manufacturer (LokSound, Digitrax, others?) has a unique programmer for their decoders only.  The programmers cost as much as, or more than, a good sound decoder, so it's not typically a casual purchase.

I've got a Digitrax PR2 programmer, the predecessor of the current PR3 model.  It plugs into my computer, and I have to provide a power supply as well.  The software (Soundloader for Digitrax) is free, comes with the unit and can be downloaded from the Digitrax web site.

My LHS has a LokSound programmer, and he can download sounds into a decoder for his customers.

Check Digitrax's "Sound Depot" on their web site for more information.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Good ol' USA
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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Monday, July 27, 2009 11:27 AM

 Metra,

My Genesis HO SD45-2 has a LokSound system in which the horns were originally retrieved from dieselairhorns.com.  My friend custom edited it via his computer and LokSound programmer.  I think that he used a program that is similar to Vega or Audacity to edit the horn clip sound.  From my understanding, it's not an easy "1-2-3" process to get certain sounds, like horns, looped to sound smooth.  Becomes even more challenging if the sound samples contain background noises. Nevertheless he did an excellent job.

Is there a specific sound scheme (horn, bell, primemover combo) that you want?  It may already be available on sound decoder units that are currently available on the market.  Are you looking for a Metra MP36 scheme?  

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Villa Park
  • 185 posts
Custom Sound, Sound Decoders?
Posted by CMucha on Monday, July 27, 2009 10:15 AM
I think I might have heard something a while ago about these blank sound decoders that you can load up with custom horns and bells and things like that. I might be crazy though. If Im not crazy, were can I find a couple of those. Thanks Colin
Metra is the Real Way to fly!

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