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What loco types are typically supported by sound decoders?

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  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 66 posts
What loco types are typically supported by sound decoders?
Posted by gigasaurus on Friday, January 18, 2019 2:10 PM

I know SoundTraxx has sound decoders for the following types of locos:

Steam

EMD diesel

GE diesel

ALCO diesel

Baldwin diesel

Electric

 

Do other sound decoder manufacturers ( ie TCS, ESU etc) support additional types of locomotives in their decoder lines?

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
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Posted by G Paine on Friday, January 18, 2019 2:34 PM

Steam sounds are separated into light, meduim and heavy, as well as articulateds

There are sound decoders for the UP turbines and Turbotrain. 

Most sound decoder manufactuers include the common steam and diesel prime movers. The decoders Broadway Ltd put in their E units (originally QSI) include the sound of 2 prime movers, including engine statup and shutdown, just like the prototype. One of the Soundtrax diesel decoders also includes a Galloping Goose engine sound, they used a truck engine.

Some sound decoder manufactuers are set up to download additional sound files into the decoder. One forum user (who passed away a few years ago) had a GE 44 tonner that sounded like a Star Wars landspeeder, the whistle sound was a blaster noise.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, January 18, 2019 2:34 PM

About half my locomotive roster is fitted with ESU sound decoders. I have a Lokprogrammer and I can take advantage of firmware upgrades and, if desired, completely "flash" a whole new sound "project" into a locomotive without having to physically remove the decoder. Simply place the locomotive on a programming track.

You can browse the soundfiles available here:

http://projects.esu.eu/

Of course, some of the early diesels no longer exist and there are some sound files that are proprietary to certain manufacturers. Rapido Trains, for instance, has invested a huge effort to track down accurate sound recordings for use in their locomotives.

Good Luck, Ed

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  • From: St. Paul
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Posted by garya on Friday, January 18, 2019 2:47 PM

gigasaurus

I know SoundTraxx has sound decoders for the following types of locos:

Steam

EMD diesel

GE diesel

ALCO diesel

Baldwin diesel

Electric

 

Do other sound decoder manufacturers ( ie TCS, ESU etc) support additional types of locomotives in their decoder lines?

 

The Baldwin decoder can also be set to sound like Fairbanks-Morse and Whitcomb diesels, in addition to the turbines.

Gary

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Friday, January 18, 2019 5:32 PM

 Depending on the manufacturer there are also various oddballs, like a twin Cummins for a 44 tonner. ESU even has a VW Beetle engine sound for a Beetle track car (original Beetle, when they were unique and not just a body mod to a basic FWD chassis).

                                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Friday, January 18, 2019 9:41 PM

rrinker

 Depending on the manufacturer there are also various oddballs, like a twin Cummins for a 44 tonner. ESU even has a VW Beetle engine sound for a Beetle track car (original Beetle, when they were unique and not just a body mod to a basic FWD chassis).

                                 --Randy

 

Have you tried the horse drawn buggy sound file ?  The clip-clops get faster as you increase the throttle !  LOL

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, January 18, 2019 10:43 PM

Well, the link that Ed posted about ESU, it's clear there are other sounds out there.  I don't know what the OP is looking for.

If it's locos from other parts of the globe, ESU seems to be the place to go.

Good luck to the OP in finding the sounds he's looking for.

Mike.

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 19, 2019 10:02 AM

Mark R.

 

 
rrinker

 Depending on the manufacturer there are also various oddballs, like a twin Cummins for a 44 tonner. ESU even has a VW Beetle engine sound for a Beetle track car (original Beetle, when they were unique and not just a body mod to a basic FWD chassis).

                                 --Randy

 

 

 

Have you tried the horse drawn buggy sound file ?  The clip-clops get faster as you increase the throttle !  LOL

Mark.

 

 Oh yeah, I have heard that one, forgot about it. Perfect for the era of street drawn trolleys. The real challange would be to actually animate the horse - at least in smaller scales.

                                   --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 19, 2019 10:06 AM

mbinsewi

Well, the link that Ed posted about ESU, it's clear there are other sounds out there.  I don't know what the OP is looking for.

If it's locos from other parts of the globe, ESU seems to be the place to go.

Good luck to the OP in finding the sounds he's looking for.

Mike.

 

 Basically, if it exists where someone can get a clean recording, it's available in a sound decoder. Witness Rapido's various projects - the Turbo Train, LRC (ok, that's just an Alco 251), RDC, even the Royal Hudson sound file is from an actually recording of the real loco.

                                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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