NSDash09 - not on a Select, but n a V4 you can do all that. In the software you can create your own sound 'scripts' which you do basically by linking boxes with an action (play sound slot xx) to other boxes with actiosn such as "speed increraseing" or "function f5 turned on" and things liek that. You cna runt he software without the LokProgramemr hardware to play aroudn with it. Select decoders do not allow you access to the 'script' part of things so you cannot swap out individual sounds. You can get a V4 and load the same basic sounds and then swap out a given sound for one of your own withotu altering the script portion if all you want to do is saw swap the air compressor sound - that part is actually quite easy to do.
Pete - I don;t think many of the CVs actually carry over between Select and V4. With Select they went full-on QSI mode and made indexed CVs (although only single index, it seems - liek the original QSI, so it's not quite as tough to figure out), the V4 is closer to the 3.5 with the control and configuration CVs since to really alter the sound behavior you can just edit 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.
Page 39 of the Select manual describes the sound on / off at power up. It is an indexed CV 403. First set CV32 = 2 then CV403 = 32 to have the sound on at start up. By default the sound does not come on unless F8 is pressed.
Being a European decoder the V4 should be the same. The manuals are free for the downloading on the ESU web site.
The V4 would be the decoder to make custom sound projects for. The Selects firmware does not allow single sound changes. Just volumes and timing. The UKDCCSOUND Yahoo group has individuals that boast custom sound projects for the V4 and V3.5 decoders. The Select is not very liked by some on that group due to its all or nothing sound sets.
I am a steam guy and am very happy with the Select decoders. I am on my 4th instal and waiting for the PRR steam sound set to be released. The introduction of the Banshee whistle will require a firmware upgrade and add another whistle sound to make 17 different whistles that can be selected by changing a CV.
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 you write your own sound set? For example, if you were really good with coding you could possible force a select sound package to have a modern ge air compressor instead of the standard one if you replaced the right parts of the package.I might call Loksound and see if they have a better answers as the ones who created it. They might also know about the start up difference. When you turn on your layout do all of your locomotives start up? I would prefer that mine don't without the use of isolated track.
Selects follow the QSI model - you can replace the entire sound set, but not any of the sounds contained within it. If the supplied ones for a given set of prime movers do not match your horn requirements, you are out of luck with the Select. There are usually a couple of variations of prime mover plus a bunch of horns you can change between WITHOUT using the LokProgrammer - a CV selects which horn will be used from the provided sounds.
The V4 is completely customizable. You can change individual sounds out, and even redo the 'script' that controls which sounds play when. You can use sounds from EDU's library or record your own. All such changes require the Loksound Programmer.
Both have upgradeable firmware - this requires the LokProgrammer.
Both have amazing motor drive.
ESU seems highly responsive to improvement suggestions, and the end-user updateable firmware allows them to make these changes available. My previous example was manual notching, apparantly not much used in Europ (not to mention plenty of diesel-hydraulic locos that don;t have notches). Loksound Select had this, because they designed them for the NA market. V4 did not - but enough people asked for it int he V4 that it is now an available feature.
The current Loksound decoders are 4th or 5th generation. Contrast to QSI that is on effective the 2nd with the Titan (firmware updates to the older ones notwithstanding), and Soundtraxx, which is on their second generation with Tsunami. In fact, from the time Tsunami was announced until it was delivers, ESU went from Loksound 2 to Loksound 3.0 to Loksound 3.5
ANother neat thing, if you don;t feel like making your own keep-alive, and feel you need it - Loksound can use the Lenz power module for an off the shelf solution that won't void the warranty.
The sounds on the Select are not designed to be changed. There is 16 horn and whistles on Select. V4 is totally customizable right out of the box. A programmer will change any sound you want in V4. Select decoders are whole sound set changeable only. There was an older blue box programmer on E-bay a week ago for $30. I bought mine for $50 a couple years ago. Any Loksound programmer will do.
I really like the Loksound select I have, I'm not sure how many more V4's I'll buy, they're ~$40 more than the select. I think the selects have sound packages, or complete sound sets you can program but not individual sounds. Is it possible to add a custom horn, etc. to a Loksound select or do you need a V4 for that? I'll have to wait on the programmer, after the two V4's I bought and the new BLI J Class.
4 functions means 2 others in addition to the headlights, so there are 2 more to use for ditch lights. There are other versions with more function outputs if you need more than 4. The outputs are completely remappable so what they call them really doesn't matter as far as far as how you then configure them to be controlled by a function key.
Not sure about that, haven't palyed round enough yet to see, but they ahve added a bunch more features to the V4.0 to better fit the needs of North American modelers, but you need a Loksound Programmer to update the. On example of somethign they've added is manual notching - the V4.0 did not originally have this.
There is only one whistle/horn in a given sound set for the V4. It's not liek the Select, with multiple options. You need the Loksound Programmer to change that. I did that to make a V4.0 for my RS-3, the horn included with the RS-3 sound set is the wrong oen for my prototype, but they have the correct one in their sound library. A few clicks and I changed the horn to the correct one.
I've been most impressed by the Loksound line, so I invested in the Lok Programmer hardware and every sound decoder I install from now on will a Loksound, either a 4. or Select. They have various sizes and form factors of each decoder, plus a huge selection of speakers of all sizes, not to mention sounds for all the locos I would ever run. The motor drive is second to none, and since you cna load any sounds in any decoder, there's never an out of stock issue.
I have three questions. First: does the loksound V4 have aux 3 & 4 functions? There are currently no wires for them but there are solder pads on the decoder (that should be fun...) The website says 4 function outputs but i suppose they could count headlight and backup light as 2... If not could i get a digitraxx function only decoder and wire that to the ditch lights and have it activate with f2?
Second: Can you change F8 so the default is off? On my loksound select I can turn the locomotive on by pressing F8 and back off again in the same manner. The Loksound V4 decoders start up as soon as the power hits the tracks which i find unprototypical.
Third: If i want to change the horn will i need the programmer or does it come with multiple horns?