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Automatic Settings on ESU LokSound Select Micro DCC Decoder

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  • Member since
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  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Thursday, September 5, 2013 12:28 PM

Even though it's the same sound  playing (coal shoveling), that sound file is probably programmed into two different sound slots. One for the random sounds and one for the individual function - each with their own individual volume control.

Some engines, I prefer to turn the random sounds volume way down or even off, but this doesn't effect the volume level of one of those same sounds that are individually controlled by a function button as each sound slot has its own volume control.

That being said, if you have the 4.0 decoder (or earlier 3.5) you can shuffle the individual sound files into different sound slots (add different sounds to the random sequence for example), but you don't have options like that with the Select decoders. 

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 10:03 PM

rrinker

 I very much doubt that. There are random functions, which have no control via a function key, and there are those sounds that randomly or automatically come up but also have a function key assigned. I'm pretty sure if you crank the volume for the coal shoveling, it will be loud both when triggered by the function AND when it randomly appears.

                     --Randy

 

Well, that is sort of why I'm asking my question.  Loco1 says that he hears the shoveling as a random sound, but can also activate it with a function key.  The instructions describe a CV that gets changed to adjust the volume of what they are calling random sounds, but also describe a CV that gets changed to adjust the volume of the shoveling individually.

Either the volume is different depending on how the sound gets activated, the CVs are fighting each other, or the instructions are incorrect.

Curious minds want to know.

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 9:12 PM

 I very much doubt that. There are random functions, which have no control via a function key, and there are those sounds that randomly or automatically come up but also have a function key assigned. I'm pretty sure if you crank the volume for the coal shoveling, it will be loud both when triggered by the function AND when it randomly appears.

                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by locoi1sa on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 8:16 PM

Maxman.

 That is a good question and one I have not fooled with. I will have to break out the programmer and try it.

      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!

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 5:52 PM

locoi1sa
The coal shoveling is a random sound.

The reason I asked about whether or not it was a random sound is because it has an independent volume control CV.  There is also a table in the instructions where they give a CV for volume control for random sounds.

I guess what is happening then is that when the shoveling comes on randomly it can be at one volume level, and then when you use the function to make it come on it can have a different volume level.  Is that correct???

Thanks

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Posted by locoi1sa on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 4:35 PM

The coal shoveling is a random sound. When I first installed the first Select decoder in my 2-10-0 I sped up the random sound timer and there were many sounds that come on randomly. Injector, blower, water fill, coal shoveling, oil injector (for the oil burners), and air pump. All of these sounds are activated by a function button also. Since all my steamers are coal fired I turned down the volume of the oil injector and I also set the random sound timer for a lot longer than default. And yes if you activate coal shoveling with the function button it stays on until you press it again. (Lenz throttles can be configured for momentary function button or full on and off.) The remapping of the functions I did was to put dim headlight and air pump on F4. F5 has the water fill, F6 has the injector, F7 was shunting mode but is coal shoveling. F8 is still mute on all my sound decoders. F9 has the blower. These are pretty much the amount of sound functions I use. They are pre war steam and don't need radio chatter, cow and sheep sounds, and the conductor yelling all aboard.

   The open cylinder cocks and rod clank are automatic and some sound sets have a brake and release sound when stopping and starting. As soon as the Banshee whistle comes out I will reprogram all of the ones I have.

       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: Jacksonville, FL
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Posted by gatrhumpy on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 5:21 AM

I guess what I'm looking for. I wanted the coal shoveling operation to be automatic like on the tsunami. Hmmm.

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Posted by maxman on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 11:07 PM

locoi1sa

The coal shoveling is a random sound. If you increase the frequency you will also get the other random sounds too. Coal shoveling is function 11. Can be triggered at any time.

                Pete

Unless I miscounted on the chart, I think that coal shoveling is function 12 (counting 10 up from the bottom on both charts).

I'm not certain that I would call the shoveling a random sound.  I say this because it apparently has CV 371 to control sound volume.  There is also a random sound volume table that identifies CV 451 as the volume control.

I don't see how the sound can be made automatic.  Is this one of those sounds that when the function is activated manually continues until the function key is pressed again?

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Posted by gatrhumpy on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 7:44 PM

You mean increase the probability that it will be played at random?

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Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:42 PM

The coal shoveling is a random sound. If you increase the frequency you will also get the other random sounds too. Coal shoveling is function 11. Can be triggered at any time.

                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
    July 2006
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Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:39 PM

The list of functions are on page 7. Each can be remapped to any function button you desire. Let me know and I can fire up my programmer and give it a go and let you know what CVs need to be changed.

           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
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
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Posted by gatrhumpy on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:26 PM

Yeah, sorry. Tsunami on the brain

Can the coal shoveling be made automatic?

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Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:22 PM

According to the Select Manual there is no fireman Fred and blowdown on the Select decoder sound sets. Do you mean coal shoveling and steam hiss?

     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
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Posted by gatrhumpy on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:01 PM

Not an ESU programmer, just my NCE DCC system.

So the Fireman Fred cannot be made automatic?

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Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 5:53 PM

I don't think those two sounds are an automatic sound but rather one of the random sounds that come on at idle in neutral. Both can be configured to the same function button that can be pressed when stopped. Do you have access to a programmer by chance?

          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
    March 2008
  • From: Jacksonville, FL
  • 913 posts
Automatic Settings on ESU LokSound Select Micro DCC Decoder
Posted by gatrhumpy on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 5:31 PM

I want to have the automatic steam blowdown and Fireman Fred get triggered automatically every time I stop my Bachmann N Scale 2-6-6-2. Does anyone remember how to do that with the ESU LokSound decoder?

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