If you want a British loco sound for the Digitrax, check the Digitrax Sound Yahoo Group, the guys on there have done some really spectactular things with a mediocre decoder, and many of them are more British outline steam locos. In most cases they are superior sounds to the ones available in the Sound Depot.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Gentlemen. I am seriously considering one of the Select Direct to replace the Digitrax sound decoder in my son's SD70ace. It looks like it will have excellent LED control for the ditch lights, which is my main frustration, much better motor control and better sound. I'll probably get it from Litchfield and have it shipped with the SD70 sound scheme. The Digitrax will get used in something that does not have much in the way of lighting needs, perhaps something British as there are a bunch of UK sound schemes for it.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Both have user laodable sounds (with the LokProgrammer), but the Select series you cna only load the entire sound set - like QSI. Each sound set contrains multiple prime movers and multiple horn sounds, and you switch between them with a CV, but you can;t actually edit the individual sounds. The Loksound 4 is the latest version of the 'full feature' decoder, with all the extra protocols and the capability to individually edit each sound. FOr example, their ALco 244 sound set for the Loksound 4 has a 5 chime horn in it. I need a Nathan M3. Their full library of sounds is also downloadable, in in there is has every horn, every air pump, every whatever that they have. So it was a matter of a couple of clicks to change the horn in the Alco 244 project to a Nathan M3. Now, I have to wit for the programmer and the decoder before I can actually do anything with it except look at it in the software and test the sounds on my PC. You can also alter the scripts, should you so desire, to really change the behavior of the decoder, or make something up for use other than a loco decoder. That's a little tougher, but WAY easier than Digitrax. You work with blocks that do something, like play a sound, connected to other blocks with conditionals, like "F3 On" or "speed increase"
Until recently, there wa snot an option for manual notching int he Loksound 4 decoders, I guess they felt that if North American modelers wanted this they could use the Loksound Select which is targeted at North American modelers (and according to the web site not sold outside the NA market). However, enough people complained that in the last coupel fo releases of the programmer software and decoder firmware, manual notching is now available in the Loksound 4 decoders.
Both Select and V4 have variosu decoders in different form factors, and the Micro versions are really small (as in, fiit in a 44 tonner small). Motor drive is incredibly good, as is typical of German decoders.
V4 decoders come with speakers, with others available. Select decoders do not come with speakers. Both now use 4-8 ohm speakers, not the 100 ohm of older V3.5 decoders. 4 ohms is recommended, 8 will work but probably reduce the volume somewhat. Loksounds has a huge variety of sizes and shaps of speakers with enclosures, so getting matchign speakers should never be a problem.
Can you tell I've been checking up on this lately? I just ordered a LokProgrammer and a Select Direct (Atlas/Athearn board repalcement style) decoder to put in my RS-3. I'm 99.9% certain that any and all future sound decoder installs I do will be Loksound.
Simon.
The version 4 is a completely customizable decoder that you can change individual sounds. The Select has pre-loaded sound sets that give you multiple whistle, bell, and prime mover sounds that can be selected using CVs instead of buying a programer.
The version 4 is similar to the version 3.5 except it has the 5th generation BEMF and uses 4 to 8 ohm speakers instead of the hard to find 100 ohm. It is completely customizable using the Lokprogramer and can even be loaded with custom made sound sets. It also has upgraded lighting effects that work great with LEDs. I did a GE ES44 about a month ago with ditch lights that were SMLEDs that actually dimmed down and brightened instead of on/off like other decoders do. Visually very realistic. The horn volume is much improved over the Version 3.5. I used 2 deep bass speakers one firing down under the motor and the other under the radiator that fired up. The rumble of the diesel is unbelievable!
I have only done steam sound sets with the Select. I am waiting for the PRR heavy steam sound set to be released to get a few more. Except for the loud steam let off when starting I am very impressed with the Selects. All 3 of mine are in brass locomotives. The micro is as good as the full size butt very small and fit the sloping Overland switcher tender with medium oval speaker.
I hope this clears things up a little.
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!
Can some enlightened individual explain what the difference is between a Loksound Select and a Loksound 4?
As I read the documentation on their it looks like the main difference is that the 4 supports other protocols in addition to DCC. As a DCC user, this does not seem to be an especially relevant feature. Am I missing something here that justifies the price difference?