rrinker Yes, there's a seperate SKU for each sound project, but every Select Direct is exactly like every other Select Direct and every Select Micro is like every other Select Micro, etc. Yes, any of the known dealers will sell the decoder with your choice of sound project loaded, and what those dealers do with their personal inventory is one thing, but there is no such specific item sold by ESU as a Loksound Select EMD 645. That was my point. Significantly different from Soundtraxx and TCS. --Randy
Yes, there's a seperate SKU for each sound project, but every Select Direct is exactly like every other Select Direct and every Select Micro is like every other Select Micro, etc.
Yes, any of the known dealers will sell the decoder with your choice of sound project loaded, and what those dealers do with their personal inventory is one thing, but there is no such specific item sold by ESU as a Loksound Select EMD 645. That was my point. Significantly different from Soundtraxx and TCS.
--Randy
This was purchased from a dealer who stocked pre-loaded decoders that come with actual ESU SKU numbers on the package ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I gave this thread a more searchable title.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I just discovered that Tonys Trains has there own Youtube channel. In one video they show their workbench where they upload sound into the decoders
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
In the FWIW department, you CAN load a V3.5 file into a V4.0 decoder by using the import feature in the V4.x Lokprogrammer software.
Also, every engine file does in fact have its own SKU number - it's the number of the sound file. I have a number of boxes that has the file number / engine type printed right on the box label. I'm sure that is unique only to decoders that are sold to dealers as pre-programmed from ESU, but they do exist.
The Select is based off the v4.0, with restrictions that you cannot replace individual sounds, like just change the horn. Instead you need to change the entire sound profile, and in each one they give you multiple horns and sometimes multiple prime movers, selectable with a CV (so you can change horns without a Lokprogrammer).
Unless they changed things, with the latest Lokprogrammer software, you got the latest decoder firmware.
Select to 3.5 would be a downgrade - the 3.5 can only play 3 sounds at a time, for example. It has smaller memory and less functions. There seems to be some misunderstanding that a Select is a lesser decoder. It's not really. It has all the hardware features of the v4.0. It was just designed to compete against the more typical US decoders that are all pre-programmed, with minor settings controlled by normal CV changes. Select Direct was deisnged as a board replacement for many common locos for an easy fit. In the end, they're still superior to many of the others simply because you do have the option of completely replacing the sounds in them - there's no EMD 567 SKU, EMD 645 SKU, Alco 251 SKU, etc. Not to mention the ability to add the latest features - the Selects I have are all frooom before Full Throttle was added, but I can easily upgrade them and add that without opening the loco.
Anyway, the point is, a Select is superior to a v3.5, so making one act like a 3.5 would not be an upgrade by any means.
Here is a better page for all Loksound Select US sound files:
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/loksound-select/loksound-select-usa/
Select has it's own clickable link from the menu, but to me, it looked like it was a part of the V4.0 family.
I mentioned the distinction you make in my 1st post, that the LP and the decoder were upgraded. In my limited experience, the programmer always checks for an upgrade for itself. It does not check for an upgrade for the decoder.
I did not mention that I messed around before upgrading the decoder. I did not expect it to upgrade to a 4.0, but I thought it might upgrade to a 3.5, it did not.
The sound download page is confusing.
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/generation-3/
All are unusable in my situation.
Ed thanks, I've subscribed to the youtube channel, but I did not think to review their videos. I stumbled on Paul's link with my previous programming attempts, but aside from his link, it is not obvious how to get there.
Matt Herman from ESU has been making videos (I hope he tones-down the "headbanging" music soon!) that show how to do some of the Lokprogrammer functions.
Here's one for example:
I have had a Lokprogrammer for over two years and I still only know how to use some of the options. I hope to learn more.
Good Luck, Ed
3.5 is an OLDER decoder. They came before the V4.0 and Select. The firware upgrades only upgrade within a given family. You can't make a 3.5 or an even older 3.0 into a 4.0 or Select, and upgrading the firmware in a Select just makes it the latest Select. You need a fairly recent firmware for new features like Full Throttle. The sound projects don't crossload to different versions.
BigDaddyI was under the misperception that the decoder upgrade would make it a V 3.5. It does not
Henry, If I'm interpreting this right there still may be a distinction to make.
Caveat: I'm not the most experienced LokProgrammer guy so someone please correct me if I'm creating confusion.
I suspect there is a difference between LokProgrammer software updates and decoder firmware updates. For example, the Full Throttle ("FT") file I referenced above called for LokProgrammer software (firmware too?) version xyz or later. On a different note, the decoder itself has some firmware in it. When calling up a decoder with the LokProgrammer, I've often noted that it first (before uploading a new sound file or changing CVs, for instance) says it needs to update the decoder's firmware. I'm not sure whether that means that each LokProgrammer software update creates a new decoder firmware update every time, but they could be independent. I could see a LP software update occurring, for instance to correct a LokPogrammer flaw, that might not require decoder firmware updates.
A good question for someone here to clarify or for the LokSound Yahoo User Group.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Thanks Paul, that was the link I needed.
I was under the misperception that the decoder upgrade would make it a V 3.5. It does not
They make it easy to find V 4.0 and 3.5 sound files, but not the link you shared. Also "Factory" seems like it might introduce idiosyncracies that we have discussed before in factory installed sound decoders. My brief test did not reveal any of those.
I also discovered that one of my LED's does not light, as the wires are backward. The other works, but I forgot a piece of heatshrink I'll blame the backwardness on my cataract and the missing heatshrink on Trump. No.... the humor might be missed and this would be a political post, how about Charlie Rose?
I'm rather sure the 3.5 sound files will not go into a Select, and vice versa). Note the ESU Downloads pages for sound files has separate sections for V2, V3.0, V3.5, V4.0 - Selects, etc.
Choose files for Selects decoders installed post factory at the "LokSound Select Retail Soundfiles" link, found in the Downloads / Sound Files / V4-Selects selection. My understanding is the Selects are a limited function version of the V4, with the key limitation the inability to load your own audio sounds into a thus custom made sound file. So the full V4's and Selects have different files.
http://projects.esu.eu/
The GP-9 calls for an EMD 16 cyl 567C sound file (see below). Once at the Selects sound files library (6 pages or so), just put GP9 in the search box and it will find sound files for the loco you enter. So here we find the Select project "EMD 16 cyl 567C (FT)" that provides downloadable sound files for the various forms of Select; i.e., 6Aux, Direct, Micro, "L" (new to me). When you click the blue Download button, you can choose the Select type you have. I believe the 73436 is the 6Aux, the 73836 is the Direct or Micro (the Direct is a board with a Micro atop it). The 73336 says Select L, which I take to be an O scale version. Do ensure your LokProgrammer first has the latest version 4.4.21 or newer as noted. Your 4.6.1 (9/20/17 version) sounds good.
http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/search?cat=2&q=gp9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_GP9
BTW, the sound files at the "LokSound North American and Australian Factory Equipped Sound Files" section are for factory equipped Select decoder locos, including unique lighting CV setups, etc. that the loco manufacturerer wanted in the setup for their loco version.
P.S. - If you have LokSounds and LokProgrammer, suggest you check out the LokSound Yahoo User Group forum. You have to register, but it's a good resource.
I have a lokprogrammer, updated to ver 4.6.1
I have a loksound select micro decoder hardwired to a LL Proto GP 9 https://tinyurl.com/ya8arrd8