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.
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/
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
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
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)
Sir Madog you won´t trick me into that!
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.
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.
..."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.
So why didn´t you keep your lips sealed?
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.
Sir Madog I have given up counting how many times we had the discussion about sound or no sound in the past years. It does not lead anywhere other than to find out that some of us like sound and some of us don´t - as if we hadn´t known that before! 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!
I have given up counting how many times we had the discussion about sound or no sound in the past years.
It does not lead anywhere other than to find out that some of us like sound and some of us don´t - as if we hadn´t known that before! 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!
And some of us like sound in some situations and not in others.
I think large scale sound is way cool, because the train is larger, you are in a more "intimate" experiance with the locomotive, sound quality is better, etc.
Not so in smaller scales, HO or smaller. Especially if you have more than one train running or the layout is medium sized to large.
O and S, well for me it depends on the setting, sometimes sound is nice, sometimes not.
And, this is also linked to speaker size, sound quality being better in larger scales, etc.
It is nice to see that most on this forum have become more tolerant of different viewpoints.
One size does not fit all...........
Sheldon
Old Thumper So, you guys are paying a pretty hefty premium when buying locomotives that have sound decoders, and then turning them off and complaining that the sound is annoying ???? Why do you buy them in the first place? I love the addition of sound effects myself...
So, you guys are paying a pretty hefty premium when buying locomotives that have sound decoders, and then turning them off and complaining that the sound is annoying ????
Why do you buy them in the first place?
I love the addition of sound effects myself...
I will often turn the sound off, especially on diesels which, to me, sounds like a vacuum cleaner or an appliance.
Why do I buy them?
1) it is nice to have the option. For me, it's what I'm in the mood for.
2) the price difference really isn't that bad anymore. I bought a Walthers SD70ACe with sound, and it was only about $40 more. Can hardly buy a good decoder for that much anymore.
Dave;
I dont have sound at all. In fact I don't even have DCC, and I'm as happy as a lark! Sound, especially in steam locomotives can easily be acquated to a symphony orchestra, with a myrid of sounds at any given time. I've been around steam all my life. Not a week goes by that I dont see it operating. That said, model train sound to me is more like a Bluegrass band. Here and there sounds that don't cut it when you listen to the real thing. While one can adjust the volume to suite, you still have the same general sounds from the chips.
Like you, I enjoy the simple sounds of the metal wheels over the rail joints and over switches. On rare occaisions when I have a derailment, I can pick up the odd sound immediately as opposed to after the train stops, or after most of the train is on the ground. By actually hearing the train, I can tell where it is on the layout without always having to see and be with it.
PRR8259 For the record, I am one of those "left behind by technology" in that I do prefer good old plain DC. I have only a handful of brass steam engines, but because they are later models and well made with good gearboxes, they will run as well or better in plain old DC as anything that has a dual mode decoder, or is worse yet the infernal DCC only.
For the record, I am one of those "left behind by technology" in that I do prefer good old plain DC. I have only a handful of brass steam engines, but because they are later models and well made with good gearboxes, they will run as well or better in plain old DC as anything that has a dual mode decoder, or is worse yet the infernal DCC only.
I'm a DC operator by choice, and I don't feel "left behind by technology" at all. I simply hopped-off the technology train at a point which suited me best
PRR8259 I don't need dcc at all, but for engines like the brass hybrids I do have the MRC Tech 6 which allows me to access some of the infernal dcc features like sound and lights (so I can run the engine with sound turned off). Short of tearing things apart and removing all the decoders then reconnecting wires or figuring out a jumper solution, I am able to get by with the MRC Tech 6.
I don't need dcc at all, but for engines like the brass hybrids I do have the MRC Tech 6 which allows me to access some of the infernal dcc features like sound and lights (so I can run the engine with sound turned off). Short of tearing things apart and removing all the decoders then reconnecting wires or figuring out a jumper solution, I am able to get by with the MRC Tech 6.
While it may be annoying to pay for stuff that you're not going to use, I'd guess that you could quite easily remove that "infernal DCC stuff" and re-wire the locomotives to better suit your needs. I've done so to all of mine, except the brass ones of course, but my era didn't use daytime headlights, so I need only to rewire the motor. I do, however, add all-wheel pick-up to locos not so equipped - most of the "infernal DCC ones" (I'm speaking of steam locomotives here) are already so equipped, so all of that technology may not be as bad as you think. It's easy enough to modify the tenders to all-wheel pick-up, too.
PRR8259 I just purchased and read the latest edition of MR at the train store, and completely resent the plethora of topics in it relating to today's dcc. I felt as if they are trying to shove dcc down my throat. What a waste of paper. John
I just purchased and read the latest edition of MR at the train store, and completely resent the plethora of topics in it relating to today's dcc. I felt as if they are trying to shove dcc down my throat. What a waste of paper.
John
HO-Velo CGW121 It would be nice to be able to plug head phones into your controler and hear sound that way Lance Mindheim has done some interesting work using wireless headphones/sound decoder and explains it in depth with photos under the "how to" section of his website. Regards, Peter
CGW121 It would be nice to be able to plug head phones into your controler and hear sound that way
Lance Mindheim has done some interesting work using wireless headphones/sound decoder and explains it in depth with photos under the "how to" section of his website.
Regards, Peter
I do a fair amount of model railroading alone, but I don't see myself ever wearing headphones......
CGW121It would be nice to be able to plug head phones into your controler and hear sound that way
It would be nice to be able to plug head phones into your controler and hear sound that way
By expanding the technology of the Broadway Limited "Rolling Thunder" I wonder if that possibility isn't far off?
I had a Rolling Thunder decoder out of the engine and there is a piggy-back board with a little RF antenna that transmits to the BLI reciever. Maybe they just have it tuned to low frequencies but I'm sure it wouldn't be a far stretch to have the full dynamics transmitted to a wearable reciever and ear buds or headphones.
The blue wire is the antenna, the board marked BLI-T300-8 is the transmitter.
Interesting concept!
Ed
[quote user="CGW121"]
nevermind
- Douglas
BRAKIEMy SSRy has a "good neighbor" policy and only uses the horn for grade crossings or emergencies. This is found under the FRA rules of bell and horn use in switching.
Larry, Thanks for the info. Having had some complaints from the TV room on the other side of the wall about overly frequent horn blasts I'll be instituting the "good neighbor" policy on my ISL. Being a good neighbor goes a long way towards maintaining model railroading expenses in the household budget.
PRR8259 For the record, I am one of those "left behind by technology" in that I do prefer good old plain DC. I have only a handful of brass steam engines, but because they are later models and well made with good gearboxes, they will run as well or better in plain old DC as anything that has a dual mode decoder, or is worse yet the infernal DCC only. I don't need dcc at all, but for engines like the brass hybrids I do have the MRC Tech 6 which allows me to access some of the infernal dcc features like sound and lights (so I can run the engine with sound turned off). Short of tearing things apart and removing all the decoders then reconnecting wires or figuring out a jumper solution, I am able to get by with the MRC Tech 6. I just purchased and read the latest edition of MR at the train store, and completely resent the plethora of topics in it relating to today's dcc. I felt as if they are trying to shove dcc down my throat. What a waste of paper. John
I don't need dcc at all, but for engines like the brass hybrids I do have the MRC Tech 6 which allows me to access some of the infernal dcc features like sound and lights (so I can run the engine with sound turned off).
Short of tearing things apart and removing all the decoders then reconnecting wires or figuring out a jumper solution, I am able to get by with the MRC Tech 6.
Why not show us your impressive DC wiring/switch panels like LION does instead of getting angry? Being upset about stuff you can't control is too much work.
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
Southgate Doughless, I kinda felt left behind back when I posted that question, but now I don't. Everything runs fine on DC, and it is a ISL. Pretty much a 1 operator layout, even though it is capable of 2. Some sounds might be nice, but not enough to be worth the bother of converting.
Doughless, I kinda felt left behind back when I posted that question, but now I don't. Everything runs fine on DC, and it is a ISL. Pretty much a 1 operator layout, even though it is capable of 2. Some sounds might be nice, but not enough to be worth the bother of converting.
I think there is a natural tendancy to want to be part of a herd, thinking that I am missing something that everyone else is enjoying. But if you enjoy your layout and equipment as it is and everything works, I just can't see the reason to spend efforts and money to change.
I'm growing to like more ambiguous diesel sounds. Not real specific, but just a hint of difference between an EMD, GE, or Alco. I think the efforts to make sound decoders proto specific is starting to get out of hand. I've mentioned annoying turbo whine at low speeds, and Alco sounds that mimmic a HarleyDavidison VTwin about to throw a rod.
I don't care if they are more accurate representations than "lesser" brands....they are nearly intolerable to listen to.
I know Soundtraxx and MRC make or made "diesel sounds" sound decoder, but Soundtraxx has wonky slow speed control and MRCs burn up, and they are aftermarket products anyway.
BRAKIE joe323 Also the SIW being a small layout so I can leave the bell on while switching any loco and use the horn where approriate. Joe,My SSRy has a "good neighbor" policy and only uses the horn for grade crossings or emergencies. This is found under the FRA rules of bell and horn use in switching. In short while switching there is no need to sound the horn with every change of direction or use the bell continually.
joe323 Also the SIW being a small layout so I can leave the bell on while switching any loco and use the horn where approriate.
Joe,My SSRy has a "good neighbor" policy and only uses the horn for grade crossings or emergencies. This is found under the FRA rules of bell and horn use in switching.
In short while switching there is no need to sound the horn with every change of direction or use the bell continually.
Works for me larry the SIW has one public grade crossing and one private one.
Joe Staten Island West
joe323Also the SIW being a small layout so I can leave the bell on while switching any loco and use the horn where approriate.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
One of advabtages of having the MRC system is that when I do turn it on I can leave it at a low volume. Life in Staten Island is never totally quiet in the real world so having a little background noise adds an element of reality to the layout. Also the SIW being a small layout so I can leave the bell on while switching any loco and use the horn where approriate. It is not much different then using those bluerail locos that have the sound eminate from the cell phone throttle except that it comes from over the layout.
Just thought I would bring that in.