Sir MadogI have given up counting how many times we had the discussion about sound or no sound in the past years
It's nowhere near the number of times that someone who complained about others wasting bandwidth on already discussed topics has been reminded that they are not required to participate.
My favorite line from The Talking Heads: "when I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed"
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
So why didn´t you keep your lips sealed?
..."The only difference to the past discussions on this topic is that the contributions in general stay fairly civil and that´s a big step forward!..."
Now we have this.
I wonder what the chances were that you'd be the one to start us down the road of incivility.
you won´t trick me into that!
Now, back on the topic - I like sound, but as I share my layout room with my wife, the noise of a prototypically operated Diesel switcher would get me into deep trouble. My layout has ambient sounds, but I use them sparingly and toned down - just to keep the household peace.
Sir Madog you won´t trick me into that!
I have no intention of trying to "trick" you into anything.
I'm just making the observation that it seems odd someone would praise the posters for their civility, then turn around and make an unneccesary and insulting remark.
It's that kind of behaviour that so often starts a series of posts that degenerate into everything except name calling, which I suspect would cause the poster to hear from the moderator.
It would have been so much better to have just posted the comments about how you handle sound on your layout and to have left the insults alone.
When it comes to on-board sound the one, softly-whispered, "Yea!" is drowned out by the Nays:
Bottom line? If you enjoy sound locomotives, loud or soft, please continue to do so and more power to you. Mine will retain the dolphins of the Silent Service.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - quietly)
One of the most rewarding benefits of my layout is that it rekindles memories I have of some of the railroading experiences that I enjoyed as a youth back in the 1960s, '70s and parts of the '80s. well, I wasn't a youth for all that time...
In choosing scenery and equipment for my layout I like to recreate some of those memories. For me, that includes sights, sounds and smells.
My introduction to sound was back in 2002 (or thereabout) when Broadway Limited made their GG1 available. At that time there were few choices for this model and the GG1 was a locomotive that I had a fondness for. At the time I was using DC with AristoCraft wireless throttles. I was planning to get one based on looks and performance alone.
After a little getting used to the toggling of the reverse buttons to get the horn to sound—I was hooked! Listening to that distinctive A-200 "blatt" sound sure brought back memories of standing trackside along the "corridor" hearing those horns, there were a greater number of grade crossings back then.
Not long afterward I picked up a BLI New York Central Hudson. Not so much because of the sound but it was a great looking engine and head-and-shoulders above the AHM model that was the only other affordable choice back then.
Again, the sound was a bit of a novelty but it was adding a dimension to operating that I hadn't even considered prior to this. Both of these engines had pots that could be easily accessed to dial-down the sound levels.
Around this time DCC was gaining ground and I had toyed with the idea but, as so many have considered, the cost was a factor not to be ignored. A short time afterward, a friend had contacted me saying that due to several factors he had to suspend his involvement in the hobby so—would I like to buy his Digitrax DCC system and all of the trappings associated with it. He even had about two-dozen decoders he was including—for less than half of what he paid for it.
So that's how DCC found me. When given an "offer I couldn't refuse" I didn't have to decide which system, whick model, etc. I'm still running that very system, greatly expanded and upgraded, but the original installation is still in place 12 years later.
Not every engine that I have a sound decoder in is what I would call ideal but most of them meet my satisfaction and as others have mentioned, a bit of adjustment is nearly always required. Two of the few locomotives to arrive already adjusted to reasonable sound levels have been the Rapido F-40PH and the FL9. Jason explains in the product literature that he believes this is the way it should be—and I agree.
Other recent offerings are just plain bad! The two most recent Broadway Limited steam locomotives, the PRR H-10 and the USRA Light Mikado, both with Paragon3, sound awful IMHO. I would think manufacturers would be able to improve sounds with having greater experience and digitization of available sound. I really don't know what BLI was thinking!
Still, back to the main topic. YES I will sometimes mute the sound on some occasions when I might be working on some part of the layout while trains are running. This usually means that I'm in the layout area for hours. I might be listening to an audio book but still like to see trains running while busy with other things.
Nearly make that- all of my sound locomotives are adjusted to lower levels. I don't mind at all hearing several diesels idling on the ready track, the air compressors occasionally kicking in, the air spitters (not the newer pop-pop ones but the older psss kind) sounding off. With the better steam decoders (WOWsound is my favorite steam decoder, to date) the air compressor thumping, injector sounding now and then just sounds fine to me.
Again, it is not a necessity— but for my tastes, I like having sound. For me it makes the whole operating experience that much more complete.
To blame the manufacturers for forcing it on us runs contrary to what marketing trends dictate. Try going to a car dealership and asking for hand-crank windows and no air conditioning.
Every business from home building to hula-hoops has learned that if we just add this little bit of "bling" we can reap much higher profits from what they call "value-added". Put little beans in the hula hoop so it makes noise and we can charge lots more than than what those little beans cost. Add a hot tub to that plain house and now we have a "premium home" and price accordingly.
Just sayin...
Sound isn't for everyone. For me, I'm glad that the option is available and it has made my enjoyment of the hobby that much greater.
Now if I could find a Glade aerosol of "Brakeshoe Smoke on Sandpatch" I'm in for a case!
Have Fun—Ed
To answer the question asked in the thread title, no, I never just turn off the sound. Every engine that runs on my layout has sound and it is turned on.
Hi all
As the founding father of the anti-sound league.
Loco sound and I have the following understanding you don't bother me I and won't have to smash you into thousands of pieces.
I find it annoying distracting and a right royal pain I have also noticed that many users don't know where the volume control is this just makes it worse for me.
At exhibition if you don't wish me to look at your layout feel free to add or use sound.
As you can see the only sound I want to hear is the very gentle clickety-clack of metal wheels on the track joints.
Fortunately, I am also a DC dinosaur so it really is for me not much of an issue on my home layout.
regards John
Bob Schuknecht To answer the question asked in the thread title, no, I never just turn off the sound. Every engine that runs on my layout has sound and it is turned on.
Same here, and am not overly concerned about who does or doesn't.
With that said, I do keep it low and appropriate to "scale" for lack of a better term.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/