Have a recently purchased engine that came with a sound decoder that has multiple engine sounds, horns and many other sounds. Is this the new normal or are there still aftermarket decoders that require a file to be installed when purchased for the engine of choice? Are there any brands to avoid? Thank you
I've had decoders like that, with both steam and diesel engine sounds. I don’t think they had programmable decoders at all, other than selectable sound. They were aftermarket decoders, not intended to come with the engine. Cheap decoders, quite a number of years ago.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It seems to me ESU offers at least 2 motor sound versions, but it's the same engine type, only slightly different. Lots of horn choices so nothing new there.Many other sounds? There are more sounds than I know what to do with. Coupler clanks, compressors, dynamic brakes, wheel squeel, brake squeel, engine crew chatter.I'm an ESU guy. They recently had a run of bad or couterfeit parts that caused sudden death of the decoder.
From the factory they (the decoder only) come with some rudimentary sounds but if you want an Alco engine, or EMD or GE you need the dealer to install the proper sound package or you need to own a Lokprogrammer. If you buy a factory installed engine and decoder, it will have the proper sound package.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Depends what you mean I guess. Many sound decoders now have multiple sounds within a range. For example I just installed a Soundtraxx Economi Diesel decoder in an engine. It had options for diesel motor sounds for a GE engine, an Alco, and a couple of EMDs, plus about a dozen options for different airhorns. Some have more options, some less. Some decoders are more specific, like have just Alco or EMD sounds.
Digitrax makes decoders that come with a kind of generic steam and diesel sound loaded (I think an EMD GP-38 for the diesel?), but if you have their PR4 connecting your computer to a programming track, you can download other steam and diesel sounds using their Soundloader program (a free download on their website). IMHO the sounds are OK but not great.
ESU Loksound decoders generally come essentially blank. If you have their LokProgrammer you can download any one of dozens (hundreds?) of high quality sounds to the decoder. Some online retailers will allow you to buy a blank decoder and then as part of the purchase price will download the files you want onto them. Once loaded, they do have options, like a diesel sound file will have maybe 15-20 horn/whistle options to choose from using CV settings.
Depends on the decoder. With the exception of the Tsunami and Tsunami 2, you have to program them still, or you can order them preloaded. With the Tsunami/Tsumani 2 you might get several sounds dedicated to a particular engine. For example small steam, medium steam, large steam, EMD. So pick the model # carefully.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
TCS Wowsound, MRC, and Soundtraxx Tsunami/Economi sound decoders all come with one or more sound set factory installed. There is no way for the modeller to add sounds to those decoders, like you can with Digitrax or ESU decoders. You have to be sure if you're model is say a Baldwin diesel, that the decoder comes with the diesel engine sound for a Baldwin diesel.
However, those decoders will give you several options to choose from (using CVs) as to which specific sounds you want to use. So say a steam decoder might give you 6-8 'chuff' sound options, ranging from a small narrow-guage engine to a large Mallet; and several options for different types of whistles from a chirping "peanut" whistle to a low "steamboat" multichime whistle.
Hello All,
I've been installing the new Digitrax SDXH167D Series 7 Sound Decoders in some of my locomotives.
These decoders come with six (6) preloaded diesel sound files, 16 horn sounds and four (4) bell sounds.
I use JMRI DecoderPro for programming and it shows the different sounds in dropdown menus on the sound tab.
The decoder also has "chuf synchronization" that requires the locomotive to be equipped with a "cam" that is wired to the decoder.
If you have a PC you can load other sound files via the Digitrax Sound Loader software.
The Series 6 Sound Decoders did not support Rule 17 Dimming.
Digitrax sent me a file; think firmware upgrade, to activate Rule 17 Dimming through the Sound Loader software.
Macs with Intel processors can use a utility called Boot Camp to partition the hard drive and load Windows OS (Not available for the new M1 & M2 Silicone processors).
This makes the Mac a true PC so you can use the Digitrax Sound Loader software. It is not emulation software.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
jj wrote: "Macs with Intel processors can use a utility called Boot Camp to partition the hard drive and load Windows OS (Not available for the new M1 & M2 Silicon processors)."
I use Parallels on my m2pro MacBook Pro to run Windows 11. I don't use the Digitrax software, but I've found that the Roco z21 setup software runs, along with the Digikeijs and YaMoRC setup software. It will also run the ESU Loksound app.
What year was the time we went from being a train hobby to being computer geeks?
ndbprr What year was the time we went from being a train hobby to being computer geeks?
You asked a question about loading sound files into decoders, you can only do that with a computer. You can program a decoder - select pre-existing options via CVs - through your DCC system, but you need a computer to add soundfiles to a Digitrax or ESU decoder.
wjstix ndbprr What year was the time we went from being a train hobby to being computer geeks? You asked a question about loading sound files into decoders, you can only do that with a computer. You can program a decoder - select pre-existing options via CVs - through your DCC system, but you need a computer to add soundfiles to a Digitrax or ESU decoder.
Rich
Alton Junction
DigitalGriffin ndbprr What year was the time we went from being a train hobby to being computer geeks? When we went to DCC and were told DCC would save us from the nightmares of blocks and DC wiring and also give us new features not possible in DC.This is still true. But as the younger generation comes on board, more and more are computer savvy. For the older generation, I can understand the frustration.I was a chief engineer as a computer programmer for a Fortune 50 company (100K employees). I even wrote firmware for satellites for NASA, and I still want to strangle computers some days.
When we went to DCC and were told DCC would save us from the nightmares of blocks and DC wiring and also give us new features not possible in DC.This is still true. But as the younger generation comes on board, more and more are computer savvy. For the older generation, I can understand the frustration.I was a chief engineer as a computer programmer for a Fortune 50 company (100K employees). I even wrote firmware for satellites for NASA, and I still want to strangle computers some days.
DigitalGriffin ndbprr What year was the time we went from being a train hobby to being computer geeks? But to your point of contention about sounds and needing a computer. Having loadable sound files reduces overhead and inventory cost for the mfg. 1 Product can handle 5000 different engine sounds if loaded up from a computer. This is distinct from Soundtraxx where you have to pick out the proper decoder model designed around your engine. That means multiple stock items.Givens: I want to have a specific motor soundDruthers: I hate interfacing my layout to computersSolution: Soundtraxx.
But to your point of contention about sounds and needing a computer. Having loadable sound files reduces overhead and inventory cost for the mfg. 1 Product can handle 5000 different engine sounds if loaded up from a computer. This is distinct from Soundtraxx where you have to pick out the proper decoder model designed around your engine. That means multiple stock items.Givens: I want to have a specific motor soundDruthers: I hate interfacing my layout to computersSolution: Soundtraxx.
Well, the OP's original question was about downloading sound files onto a decoder yourself, versus simply adjusting a CV to choose one of several pre-loaded sound files.
ESU and Digitrax make sound decoders that allow you to add sound files using a computer. There's no way to add the sounds without a computer and either a PR3/4 (Digitrax) or LokProgrammer (ESU).
All other decoders - MRC, TCS Wowsound, Soundtraxx Tsunami / Economi etc. Come with one or more sound file set-ups factory installed. If it has multiple options (say 2 EMD, 2 ALCO, and one GE), you change a CV using your DCC system's programming track to choose which one you want. No computer needed. (With TCS Wowsound, you can do it through their voice command set-up, so don't even need a programming track.)
Another former software pro here that couldn't be bothered. Basically, if it's not plug & play, I'm probably not interested. That's why I'm shying away from JMRI (and why I haven't gone digital in ham radio). Plus, non-professionals usually document poorly, too detailed or too abstract. Add that I use a Mac, and everything is just a little different...
Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority, run through Amtrak and CSX Intermodal
CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield
Well, I see this as an opportunity for local hobby shops. At our LHS, an expert comes in every 3 weeks to provide DCC services (decoder and lighting installs, basically). I did not ask him, but he would probably reset a decoder and assign the proper address number for free for a customer. He's got all the hardware and software to program decoders. If after 15 minutes of trying, he could just "give up" and say he can't do it, that the decoder is probably faulty or there is a problem with the loco.
Such a service (free or very low cost) would be good for business and the community. At our club, I would say at least half of the guys can't even do a basic decoder reset. To be fair, most of us don't even have a system at home. But I doubt that would make a difference.
Simon
Unfortunately, many people who run DC don't want to change to DCC because they believe - incorrectly - that to do DCC you have to "program" the decoder from scratch.
Non-sound decoders are set up to use with default settings done at the factory. You plug it in and use it.
Sound decoders work the same way. All the sounds are set up at the factory, you just need to plug the decoder in and attach a speaker if it doesn't have one. Only exception is ESU and Digitrax, with those the sounds are downloaded by the user or by the vendor. However the other settings like lights and movement are all pre-set at the factory.
In either case to take advantage of DCC, you would at least want to change the decoder ID from 003 to the engine number, so you can control each engine separately. To do that you have to change a CV - Control Value. Your DCC system has a connection to attach a programming track to make those changes. That's all you really have to do for DCC. You might choose to later add some momentum, or change which horn plays, etc., by changing other CVs.
Some sound decoders have only one engine sound option (EMD, Alco etc.) but some sound decoders come with multiple options, so it might say maybe CV63 controls the diesel engine sound. Default is 0 for 1st gen EMD. Change it to 01 for EMD 2nd gen, 02 for Alco 251, or 03 for GE. That's it. Not hard or complicated. The horn, bell, etc. stay the same unless you choose to change those CVs.
It started in the 1970's with the early command control systems, and goes right up to the present.
If you don't want to be a geek, just buy DC loco's and have block control for your layout. Or if you want sound, buy only DCC/Sound equipped loco's that already are programmed with sounds that match your loco.
As my wife says, the world is your oyster.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
ndbprr Have a recently purchased engine that came with a sound decoder that has multiple engine sounds, horns and many other sounds.
Have a recently purchased engine that came with a sound decoder that has multiple engine sounds, horns and many other sounds.
Decoders that have an option of engine sounds (EMD, Alco, GE, etc.) generally are ones that a modeller would add to a non-sound engine, so they would have to choose which sound to use.
If this was an engine with a factory installed sound decoder, the engine sound (like the diesel engine sound if it's a diesel) would match the engine. So if it's an EMD engine, the diesel motor sound would be of an EMD motor. I can't think offhand of a model making company where you buy like an Alco RS-1 and then have to choose Alco motor sounds from a group of options.
You might have to choose what type of horn or bell sound you want, if the default doesn't sound right to you. One railroad's RS-1s might have used five-chime airhorns, another railroad might use a single-chime 'blat' horn, and another might use a Hancock air whistle. The RS-1 model you buy might require you to adjust a CV to choose the correct horn sound if the default one isn't right.