swisstrainAnd I would say I got great value from the Bachmann 2-6-0 SoundValue that I bought - I paid $100 for a new engine with DCC Sound (!!).
I have one and am very happy with it as well, as I am with my Bachmann SV FAs and F7s. Engine (chuff), horn (whistle) and bell and I'm good to go. I love all the extras on my Loksound-equipped locos, but with our 28-scale-mile mainline, the dispatcher barking clearances, the 20th Century Limited waiting on me for a meet and the San Diegan breathing down my neck, engine-horn-bell is all I have time for. :)
Aaron
I also can't seem to follow the actual problem.
And I would say I got great value from the Bachmann 2-6-0 SoundValue that I bought - I paid $100 for a new engine with DCC Sound (!!). (Very) well running and sounding engine with exhaust chuff, bell, whistle, airpump, steam release and blower - pretty much everything anyone uses running trains casually.
And I am not quite sure where the notion comes from that it is supposed to be a Tsumani (pun intended ), the quick start guide that I have claims that it is Soundtraxx, and that the functions are limited.
When you opened the box did you find the brochures contained within. These are the instructions and explnation on how to use the Bachman Sound equiped engines. In one of the brochures they list the sounds and what buttons to engage inorder activate the sound you want. I have my list posted on my bench where I run the DCC. I also have some other lists posted for my QSI and Sound-Trax decoders.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line, SC
Having a hard time following the actual problem. The SoundValue decoders are not marketed or intended to be a Tsunami. The motor control is the same as a Tsunami. The quality of the sounds are the same as the Tsunami. But the amount of, or quantity of, sounds are less than a Tsunami. That is very clear, and has been very clear since their introduction.
If someone is buying a SoundValue expecting to be able to resurrect sounds that are not offered, they are making an incorrect assumption. If the manual says there are a couple of sounds that can be activated but ultimately cannot, that really isn't misrepresentation IMO. Its more likely poor editing of the manual.
- Douglas
Supposedly, SoundTraxx can reprogram them if you send one back - if this is true, then they have some proprietary method of connecting to the microcontroller, likely not through the track interface, which would have to be reverse engineered. Then you'd have to figure out the format of the sound clips themselves. I don't see that happening, especially since it's effectively illegal in the US due to the DMCA.
Insteadof wasting all that effort to try and reverse engineer something, just get a Loksound which by design allows the sounds to be changed. My time is worth more than spending it trying to reverse engineer somethign they don;t want you doing vs the cost of just buying a different decoder that I know works.
As it turns out sometimes "value" isn't always a bargain... If Bachmann made anything I could use, I would want a plain DC version so I can install my own decoder. Same with any recent BLI offerings. I'd want a plain DC version.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
If he does not stop misspelling "Tsunami" I swear I'm going to complain to moderation.
The situation has been slightly complicated since ThrottleUp! introduced the 'Econami' line as its basic product for less-expensive manufacturer's choice, prospectively including those from Bachmann. The technical manual provided by Soundtraxx for these is here. and it appears that any actual technical reference for the earlier 'SoundValue' products, if ever provided on that site, is no longer there. I do note how carefully both Bachmann and SoundTraxx dance around the technical issues with the SoundValue decoder and its programming, maintaining a couple of flackery paragraphs about its 'great features' without listing them comprehensively or explaining what changes were made to what is probably a nominal 16-bit circuit to produce the cheap/dedicated SoundValue devices.
It is, I suppose, possible that there's a way to 'hack' additional sounds into the memory on one of these devices, and then get them to play upon sending some command value through DCC. Likelihood of having this published on a company Web site: vanishingly small. Likelihood of seeing this in a Model Railroader forum post: not too much greater. It would still be interesting to see someone try, though.
Bachmann sound value made by Soundtraxx is not a Tsumani sound decoder.It has a bell horn and prime mover diesel sound.If your lucky you get a start up a shut down of the prime mover and a dynamic brake fan sound and a sdjustable rpm efect with the diesel rev by the touch of a button.That is it .It is missing the other 10 or so sound effects that a Tsumani has along with all the Eq's for reverb and boost 7 band equalizer .They have BEMF to run te cheep Bachmann good ,but basically a 3 sound effect sound decoder. Really a let down after you find out what it does not have.When they first came out they listed them with more sounds then they had on the Soundtraxx site then they called them misprints.Funny they made them so they should know right.There a Scam by both Bachmann for not having a manual and Soundtraxx the company that made them and then put up false documentation on there web site.Then actually blamed Bachmann for giving them the incorrect information to publish on their site .And they are still doing this in 2019 with Bachmanns latest sound value releases for their cv adjustments.Buyer Beware both Companys are a fraudwith these!
Bachmann factory installed decoder in the HO 2-10-0 with brake squeal sound expect is not Sound Value. Read CV 7, if not 82 it is not a Sound Value.
RR Baron
Interesting, since I have a pretty early Bachmann engine with the SoundValue decoder (a 2-10-0) that does have the brake squeal sound. As you quote the rep above, it does have to be turned on - I don't have the CV list in front of me, but there's a CV you have to set to a certain value to turn on the brake squeal sound, another for the sensitivity, and of course another for the volume. True they could have made it a lot easier, but it does work.
Funny you say that after 5 years.Since to this day Soundtraxx still does not have the correct documentation for these sound decoders.Although they did correct the early errors with the Alco s2 and s4 showing a compressor sound function.Now with the newest Bachmann releases sd40-2 and gp 30they show cv 196 for brake squeal sensativity when it does not have.But,If you call Soundtraxx to verify this Josh in their customer service states Quoting him now that they have it ,but it has to be turned on.It does not and they still havnot corrected it along with cv 112 auto fan and comperessor setting. These cv were corrected from earlier models.
wjstix Not sure why this is being resurrected after five years but anyway...no one said it was a Tsunami. Soundtraxx brought out the Tsunami line to be their 'top of the line' sound decoder, and as I recall eventually dropped their other lines (like the LC "low cost" line). When Bachmann came out with the SoundValue equipped engines, they said something along the lines that the decoders had the sound and operating quality of a Tsunami, but with fewer options as far as CV settings. That's why I said the SoundValue decoders were basically a simplified or stripped-down version of the Tsunami. The quality of the sound files and the motor and lighting controls are basically like a Tsunami, there are just many options that are missing from the SoundValue.
Not sure why this is being resurrected after five years but anyway...no one said it was a Tsunami. Soundtraxx brought out the Tsunami line to be their 'top of the line' sound decoder, and as I recall eventually dropped their other lines (like the LC "low cost" line). When Bachmann came out with the SoundValue equipped engines, they said something along the lines that the decoders had the sound and operating quality of a Tsunami, but with fewer options as far as CV settings. That's why I said the SoundValue decoders were basically a simplified or stripped-down version of the Tsunami. The quality of the sound files and the motor and lighting controls are basically like a Tsunami, there are just many options that are missing from the SoundValue.
I guess he didn't get it, Stix.
Mike.
My You Tube
Hello Everyone,These decoders in the Bachmann Sound Value line are not Tsumani Sound at all! They have a Bell,Horn,8 NOTCHES of prime mover sound and may have a start up and shut down sequence if they are in a double prime mover diesel and maybe a dynamic brake fan,Maybe. So don't waste your time trying to get sounds like a Tsumani has or the reverb,Eq,fans,compressors,brake squeal ,Coupler sounds or any air brake sounds because they are not there. So you really got jipped if you thought it was a trimmed down Tsumani sound decoder. It is trimmed to the makes with barely the basic train sounds. Better off getting one without sound and having a go at installing your own. It is not that hard and can be rewarding.
LOCO_GUY I bought some bachmann sound value locomotives and I have Bachmann E-Z command controllers plus a NCE Powercab for programming the CV's. I managed to change the bell ring rate, horns, and some of the volume and speed CV's. However, I could not get the fan motor to work with any of the function keys. I assume that on the sound value series some sounds are blocked or disabled. Anyone here been able to get more out of the sound value tsunami - like brake squeal or fan motor?
I bought some bachmann sound value locomotives and I have Bachmann E-Z command controllers plus a NCE Powercab for programming the CV's.
I managed to change the bell ring rate, horns, and some of the volume and speed CV's. However, I could not get the fan motor to work with any of the function keys. I assume that on the sound value series some sounds are blocked or disabled.
Anyone here been able to get more out of the sound value tsunami - like brake squeal or fan motor?
ThHanks for the replies - I'm sorry but this post was a bit of a duplicate - I submitted a similar question but it never got approved. The moderator has approved me (and the posts) now - as you can see :-)
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Bachmann has SoundTraxx make sound decoders specifically for the Bachmann locos. That is why the sound locos are lower cost. Bachmann does not call them a “Tsunami decoder.”
Common knowledge.
They include only what you see in the CV list and ads. Don't make assumptions with DCC.
Bachmann website with forums for different scales. Always amazes me that some never think of going to the site.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
My understanding is the "Sound Value" decoders are a simplified version of the standard Tsunami, so it's not that certain sounds are blocked or disabled, they simply aren't there. It really wouldn't make sense for Bachmann to use regular Tsunamis and block some sounds from being used. It would be like an auto maker putting power window motors in all their cars, but putting cranks in some cars instead of a button to control the power windows.
Go to the SoundTraxx web site and download the technical manual for the Bachmann Sound Value decoders, which lists every available CV.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/bachmann.php