horn too quiet on walthers sd60

[wjstix]

My general starting point on sound decoders is to turn the horn/whistle and overall master volume levels to the max, then turn everything else (chuff, diesel rumble, etc.) down to around 60-70% of max. If the horn/whistle is then so loud it distorts, I turn the master volume down a bit. If one of the other sounds is then too low, I turn that particular one up a bit.

BTW adjusting all the sound CVs are a lot easier with Decoder Pro!

[Lee 1234]

My experience is that Soundtraxx pushes the sound real hard on the horn sounds.  For a lot of speakers train sized way to hard and the speaker clips the sound.  Try turning the horn sound level down or replacing the speaker with a phone speaker.

[gmpullman]

maxman

Seems to me that I remember a lot of complaints that the Soundtrax horns were "not loud enough".

 

Precicely why I have shied away from Tsunami sound decoders. I have four but only because they were already installed in locomotives that I really wanted.

You probably have the original TSU1000 which, as noted, is notorious for not having very much volume for the horn. I don't recall the default CV129 setting but it should be 255.

Begin at page 34 here and study your options:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/usersguide_diesel.pdf

You can try turning on the horn reverb and setting it to max, lower the prime mover volume (effectively increasing the horn) or select a different type horn that may or may not be correct for your locomotive but may sound louder to your ears.

I have gone through all the above and have only made moderate progress in increasing the horn sound. It just isn't there.

Soundtraxx DID improve this issue in the recent Tsunami II. My plans are to eventually replace the four original Tsunamis I have with Loksound Selects.

Hope that helps, Ed

[maxman]

Seems to me that I remember a lot of complaints that the Soundtrax horns were "not loud enough".

[willy6]

I have a Walthers Mainline ES44AC locomotive and the horn is not very loud. I  programmed it with JMRI using the Bachmann ES44AC data because the decoder was not reconized. I got the horn volume at max, and it still is not loud. I also have a Mainline Amtrak FP40 and had to program with a Bachmann data  because the decoder was unknown to JMRI and that horn is loud.

[doctorwayne]

Maine_Central_guy

...Straight from the box the horn was way too quiet....

I run DC, so don't have sound.  However, in my experience visiting DCC layouts which are equipped with sound, the sound gets louder the longer I hear it.

I do believe, though, that there's a way to increase the volume if you so desire.

Wayne

[peahrens]

I looked at one of those locos that notes Soundtraxx sound but not Tsunami specifically. Is there not a CV list that came with the loco? If not maybe download the Tsunami Diesel guide see pg 35 on sound CVs.

If the horn CV is not at max you can just increase that setting.  If at max hopefully master sound CV is not at max.  If not, increase the master sound CV to make everything louder, then reduce non horn sounds as needed.  You can change sound CVs on the main and hear the effect immediately I suspect.  But you want to know the CV initial setting, either from reading on program track or the CV listing of defailt settings that the Walthers decoder version has set.

 

[Maine_Central_guy]

I just bought a Walthers MainLine SD60M with dcc and sound, but i have a problem. Straight from the box the horn was way too quiet. Even the bell and engine sound effect was louder than it! Does anyone know how to turn up the horn volume?

Thanks!