Sound decoder question

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of any of these are out there:

EMD 16-645E with Conrail S3L horn
EMD 16-710G with Southern P5 horn
GE 7FDL12 with Conrail S3L horn
GE 7FDL12 with Norfolk Southern K5LA horn

Thanks!

[nfmisso]

Go to http://www.soundtraxx.com/

and/or

http://www.dcctrains.com/products/soundtraxx.htm

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I already checked that site and found that the S3's were really BN S3K's and I couldn't find an NS horn.

[cacole]

If SoundTraxx decoders don't have it, probably nobody does. They and QSI are the only two sound decoder manufacturers, other than MRC. MRC decoders offer extremely limited sounds compared to SoundTraxx and QSI.

[AntonioFP45]

Dougal, - Good to see that I'm not alone! I'm a big fan of diesel locomotive horns. [8D]

I find it interesting that most railfans and modelers I meet are rather casual about horns and aren't familiar with the differences and history. As most here know, I'm a big E7 nut! Yet, I haven't purchased a BLI E7, as most of the early prototype E7s had "honk horns" instead of the multi-chimer that BLI put in all of all their E-units. Guess it's their "one horn fits all roadnames of that model" policy. I plan on installing Soundtraxx decoders in my Proto E7s. The Wabco E2 horn decoder is what's going in![:p]

I've written Soundtraxx before and complimented them on their diesel horn sounds. I pointed out, however, that there are horns like the P5, the K5H and several other models that are very commonly used by American railroads. I asked Soundtraxx if they plan to or would consider producing these horns sounds. I received no replies (sigh).[V]

When producing a sound decoder horn, there is time and a lot of money invested by Soundtraxx as well as its competition. "Sound libraries" and/or stored media is utilized. I suspect this is why the number of horns and whistles on these sound decoders is limited. [8)]

I recently e-mailed Chris Train horns, Matt Donnelly, and Diesel Airhorns. Since these guys already have large horn collections, I've suggested that perhaps they could approach Soundtraxx, QSI, and MRC and offer their services in providing "crystal clear" horn sounds for sound decoders. This could be done in a sound studio or a remote area with digital recording equipment . Of course there would be legal agreements and licensing but these companies apparently know the processes involved. What's good about this is that Soundtraxx and QSI already have all of the other sounds in their stock: (air pop off, brake squeal, prime movers, etc). So it would be a matter of picking horns only. [;)][:D][8D]

Chris from Chris's Train Horns, e-mailed me back thanking me but stating he wouldn't have the time to do it, but he's contacting another horn collector that may be interested. Question is: Would Soundtraxx, QSI, and the rest of the groups be interested? [:)]

Seems like a great opportunity to really expand the sound decoder choices and even get prototype specific. [:)][:D][8D][;)][8)]

Cheers!

[Don Gibson]

I'm a amateur recordist. I have recorded Symphony Orch's, Big Band, and Jazz Combo's, as well as the Queen Mary blasting in Long Beach Harbor... all with expensive professional gear. I have also sold some of this to record labels.

To get your "Diesel Horn":
1. Engine has to be CURRENTLY working and on location..
2. Travel expense .
3. Pro Microphones and recorder*.
4. Editing.
5.Transfer to Digital chip
6.Manufacturing and Installing.
7.Quantity necessary to recoup costs?
It's cheaper to SYNTHESIZE and create an artificial sound.

*Analogue tape recorder's do not have sufficient headroom. (Your battery operated Sony Walkman won't do)

SOUNDTRAXX / THROTTLE UP Div. is re-designing their DC throttle which had tone generators to create multiple tone horns. Now the 'rub' ... you had to create the horn comb. For example BN in CO used a 3 horn in a F 'diminished' chord.

Hello ... hello ... ?

[jwmurrayjr]

QUOTE: For example BN in CO used a 3 horn in a F 'diminished' chord.

Hi Don!

Sorta like the Three Stooges' "Hello...Hello...Hello..." chord?

[;)]

[AntonioFP45]

Someone posted before that there is a sound decoder ( I think Europeon) that allows you to load your sounds. I believe a computer interface is required.

Anyone have details of this?

Hopefully this technology will continue to improve and before long many of us will be uploading our favorite locomotive horn sounds into a decoder.

[johncolley]

I have a question regarding sound. It seems that the Soundtraxx has more sounds than BLI's Quantum, but the use of 1 CV #60 for both the bell and horn leaves me with a very good sounding bell and a weak blaaatttt of a hornon my Stewart FT's. I tried running CV60 at 41 with those results. I increased it to 47 with some improvement. raising it to 63 does not sem to give any improvement. I love the engine startup sequence in the soundtrax. Also I have a pair of BLI E7's and they sound different from each other with all the same settings.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

I have a question regarding sound. It seems that the Soundtraxx has more sounds than BLI's Quantum, but the use of 1 CV #60 for both the bell and horn leaves me with a very good sounding bell and a weak blaaatttt of a hornon my Stewart FT's. I tried running CV60 at 41 with those results. I increased it to 47 with some improvement. raising it to 63 does not sem to give any improvement. I love the engine startup sequence in the soundtrax. Also I have a pair of BLI E7's and they sound different from each other with all the same settings.

Hi John,

I'm a DCC newbie, but I've seen for my self that if you are using a Soundtraxx "L" or "LC" series decoder the horn sound, IMHO, is rather weak. This decoder uses a smaller, less powerful amplifier than the DSX and the discontinued DSD decoders. This is also why it's cheaper.

The way to go would be with DSX decoders or wait for the Tsunami decoder to hit the market, which if installed correctly is supposedly going to give QSI a run for their money as far as quality, dynamic sound!

Cheers!

[johncolley]

Well, I am using the DSX 150 and judging from (comparing to) the BLI's the horn should be louder than the bell, eh? John

[AntonioFP45]

Wow, John you got me there.

Definetly need assistance from a pro. Sorry I'm not much help.

I would strongly suggest that you contact Tony from Tony's Train Xchange, Bruce from LitchfieldStation or DCC from Regis. All three of these guys do respond to troubleshooting questions by phone or e-mail. I've contacted Bruce and RegisDCC before and they are quite helpful.