My Feedback: I heard the Proto 2000 Geep with Sound

[GDamen]

In Europe, the sound decoders from ESU (http://www.loksound.de) already have this feature. You can easily modify the sounds in their decoders.

Gino

[Anonymous]

As Dkelly said the manf.could use this to lower cost and expand their share of the market. I would hope any realese of a user programmed decoder would allow uploading from external sources and not limit them to just what the manf. might offer in the way of sound add ons.I would hope that all the manf would work togeather and make compatable memory.As our computer generated society marches on ,sound will someday be just be another detail item bought and sold in packs like brass castings at the Lhs.Atleast that would be great thing to me buy a pack of alco sounds with the horns,and whatever perticular features bring it home plug it in and kaplump kaplump kaplump I wonder if an ALCO loco every went kaplump[:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

The idea about uploading sounds is very interesting. Perhaps a "blank" sound unit that you can connect to your pc via a USB cable or something and then download the sounds from a central website. You can choose EMD, Alco, FM etc, dynamic brakes or not and type of horn. It would seem that this would actually end up decreasing the cost for Soundtraxx. They would no longer have to stock dozens of different decoders, just one.

[LuthierTom]

Hey, I just hope P2K continues on and does a sound-equipped GP9 Phase 2 or 3, and a sound-equipped late model Y3.

[AntonioFP45]

Figipuss,

What you're referring to is actually "Soundtraxx", not Digitrax. (I used to mix up the two, also). Go to 5 Chime Horn Consultants. There is a nice variety of prototype horn sounds from WABCO, Leslie, Nathan, and Prime along with some history. Matt Donnelly is the web host and you can e-mail him any questions. The man knows his stuff!

BTW, if you decide to go the Soundtraxx route, stay away from the LC decoders and go for the DSX as the sound has more power behind it.

CSPMO,
Yes, the good news is that there are prototype E units around today in museums and tourist lines mostly E8s. There is only one E7 in existence and it's in the Strasburg Museum in Pennsylvania. Sadly the one complaint about E units is that they're very expensive to maintain due to the twin engines under the carbody. This is why a railroad museum in Tennessee had to sell off two beautiful E8s that were painted in the New York Central "Lightning Striper" sheme.

However, listening to the horns won't do that much good. The types of horns placed on E-units (after the honker period in the 1940s ) came in a wide variety. Same with hood units like the SD40-2 and the GP9. As pointed out above, it depended on the particular railroad's operational practices.

A good example of this can be seen today on CSX. I can often easily identify ex-Conrail SD40-2s as they have a distinctive 3 chime horn sound, while ex-Chessie and Seaboard SD40-2s tend to have the K5LA horns. Same model, different horns.

Railguy, What you're referring to would be a dream come true for many of us that enjoy locomotive horns. [8D][4:-)][tup] It would be super if we actually could select which horn we wanted on our sound equipped locomotives. If QSI did this, Soundtraxx would really get a hard run for their money!

[cspmo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Antonio, all my E7's and the E6 BLI's have the exact same horn. The book that came with them said that all QSI diesel horn's were recorded from an "E5?"

This is the only disappointment I have with these BLI diesels.

Are there any E-7, or E-6 in operation to record from?

Here is a photo of the only E-5 left , this is the one use for the recording of the E-6,& E-7 .



Well here's the link.
http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/image.pl?conf=img600&img=/pictures/600/9911cbq04.jpg

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar
I think it's time that sound decoders come with a memory for audio file that can be read or written to.

There is talk on several forums that BLI and qsi are going to be releasing just that. Memory that can be written by the user with uploadable sound files. {what will they think of next.} Terry

[Anonymous]

That's "Choo Choo Choo."

And good old steam whistles should be "HUUUAAHHH!"

I hate the honkers. I dont understand where it costs money for one sound but not another. I think it's time that sound decoders come with a memory for audio file that can be read or written to.

Next up will be temperature sensitive engines.

[Anonymous]

At first I was going to ask if we were getting a little picky about sound quality.
Only a few short years ago the only sounds a Loco made were with our mouth
going CHU CHU CHU.
However with the prices these beauties are commanding...We should be pickie.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragenrider

How is the bell and horn activated in DC operations? Is there a "sidekick" like BLI came up with?

The Sidekick should work with it, also it should be a QARK decoder so Atlas's new Quantum Engineer controller would be even better. All the decoders in these various sound locos, EXCEPT the Athearn Challenger, are made by QSI.

--Randy

[rexhea]

Antonio
Thanks for the info. I could understand an inventory problem with different horns for all the different roads. I am not sure of an increased manufacturing cost other than if the QSI modules were designed to give a programmable option of 1,2,3, chimes or Nathan, Wabco, Leslie (memory storage may be a factor).

As you pointed out, the E sound is absolutely incredible from the QSI and I can easily overlook the short comings of the common horn. But, wouldn't it be sweet if each road or model had its own signature [:D]

[dragenrider]

How is the bell and horn activated in DC operations? Is there a "sidekick" like BLI came up with?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Antonio, all my E7's and the E6 BLI's have the exact same horn. The book that came with them said that all QSI diesel horn's were recorded from an "E5?"

Anyone have any data on what horns the machines in question (GP 9, E6, and so on) were equipped with? With digitrax you have some selection of horn, and I am almost sure I read that the different roads might have different horns on the same motive power, and elsewhere someone suggested engines would have different horns depending on purpose (mainline/yard/branch, or freight/passenger). So could one geep have a single chime, while another a five-chime? or (though these names signify nothing to me) a Nathan K3 on one, a Leslie S3 on another. (could I hear the difference on the real thing? the model?) Certainly a Wabco single chime I expect to distinguish from a Nathan M5 (5 chime)

Wouldn't it be a plus if we could configure the horn? (as on the Digitrax LC series, allowing a selection between 1, 3 and 5 chimers; in other ways, including most importantly sound generation, these decoders are probably a lower class than the QSI in BLI or LL. (from opinions I have seen LC vs DSD).)

Thanks for any insights. I have yet to invest in sound, having purchased only some inexpensive DCC-equipped locos for my young son.

- Scott.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Rex,

I brought this up back in early 2004.

Yep, I agree with you 100%. The BLI and sound equipped Proto E units diesel engines and accompanying sounds are beautiful, but I wrote BLI complaining about the horns, especially since many E units came factory equipped with the "honkers" (like what's on the GG1). Later, various 3 and 5 chimers replaced them.

But a very good friend of mine who owns a successful technology business (Skyway Communications) pointed out to me while I was complaining (o.k, whining) that the major factor involved is cost and that custom tailoring horn sounds to different batches of the same model would add $$$$ considerably. Many potential customers would balk at having to pay even higher prices.

So basically in the case of E units our only other alternative would be to get regular Proto 2000 locomotives, make the necessary modifications and equip them with Soundtraxx DSX decoders and speaker(s),which by the way I will be doing.



[:D]

[rexhea]

Antonio, all my E7's and the E6 BLI's have the exact same horn. The book that came with them said that all QSI diesel horn's were recorded from an "E5?"

This is the only disappointment I have with these BLI diesels.

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

Glad it was helpful!

Railguy, good to know that you're happy with your unit.
NYC, I think you'll be impressed.

Guys, don't forget that the sound can become a little irritable if you leave it at the relatively high volume that it comes set at from the factory. [;)]

Dancarm, the horn may sound atrocious but it is prototypical to many locomotives.
(To me) it sounds like a Leslie "S series" horn.

I sure do hope that QSI in the future comes up with more horn varieties in their sound research, though we have to appreciate that in order for them to keep costs down they'll use the same horn for more than one type of locomotive.

[Anonymous]

Besides the atrocious horn,I thought the BLI SD40-2 sounded like an SD40-2.It definately does not sound like a Geep.I dont like the shell on the BLI SD40-2 though.Dan

[Anonymous]

Thank You very much for this Info. No one in my area seems interested in stocking these, or has any to show. So the other day I ordered a BN GP9 From Tony's Trains for my grandson and I to run. I'm glad you were inpressed with the sound on a DC layout too, because for now, that's what I have to stay with.

I am really looking forward to getting it here. I figure for the price, if I get one laugh out of the little guy, it will be more than worth the price of admission.

Chris

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the review you will no dought like the geep when you get one I really like mine.I can live with the horn.Since the geep is as modern as I intend to have running ,should sound right at home with my other first generation diesels.Thanks again Terry.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

Two things occurred to me: 1 The early F's and Geeps usually had the single wabco horn, second generation and later used multi and chime horns, so should sound different.
2. with the small speakers involved the fidelity to differentiate may be lacking....perhaps a trained ear such as a musician could tell if they were the same or different.

John,

You've made a really "keen" point. Kevin just so happens to be a musician ( guitar) and picked out each of the locomotive's individual sounds. He even picked out the "clicking" on and off of the bell's relay.

[:D][8D][:p]

[johncolley]

Two things occurred to me: 1 The early F's and Geeps usually had the single wabco horn, second generation and later used multi and chime horns, so should sound different.
2. with the small speakers involved the fidelity to differentiate may be lacking....perhaps a trained ear such as a musician could tell if they were the same or different.

[trolleyboy]

Antonio don't worry about being a salesman you are just giving us your honest opinion. Myself I'm looking forward to the LLP2K RS-10 and RS-18's that LL Can. are bringing out. the 10with it's 244 and the 18 with the 251 sound I can feel the earth shaking on the layout now not sure I'm going to appreciate the $250Cdn for them though[xx(] TB

[AntonioFP45]

I went to Happy Hobo Trains and asked Kevin to do a demo run.

The sound equipped Proto GP9 was in the Chessie System paint scheme. The unit had the usual nice detailing that comes with Proto 2000 locomotives, though I was dissappointed that it didn't have the cab doors that opened. Kevin explained to me that Life Like was discontinuing that feature in all the new releases. [sigh]

Sound: The controversy.
Someone recently posted that a gentleman from Tony's Trains stated that the sound of this unit and the BLI SD40-2 are identical. I asked Kevin about this.

I listened carefully as Kevin put her through her paces on the test track (DC). Startup, air compresseor, etc. Sound was LOUD and dynamic. He also put the BLI SD40-2 on the track.

I'm not a professional guys and could be mistaken, but listening carefully the GP9's diesel engine alone sounded more like an EMD 567 than a 645. Here's the ringer: The "Horn Sound" is identical to that of the SD40-2. IMHO, this is where Lifelike and QSI should have used better judgement. I think that this is why the gentleman may be saying that the 2 units sound identical, even though they don't . Had QSI programmed a different horn that was still prototypical, this might not have created the murmers[:-^]. The horn sounds that QSI put in the EMD Switcher or even the BLI E7 would have fit in and given the Geep its own "personality" instead of winding up being compared to the BLI SD.

Plus, while the BLI SD40-2 does have the turbo charger "whine", it's a tad subdued, especially if you compare it to Soundtraxx's decoder sound bytes of EMD 2nd generation diesels on the Soundtraxx website.

Still, the Geep sounds beautiful and I'm definitely plan on getting at least one as well as an SD40-2.

Guys, I'm NOT being a salesman here and I may be incorrect with my info., I'm just giving my opinion as some modelers here were curious as to the sounds emitted from the Proto. I would strongly suggest that you visit a "friendly" LHS and ask the manager to let you hear a unit on a test track (any LHS worth its "rail spikes" will have a powerpack/test track set up)

If any of you heard the Geep or both units, please chime in with your input!

Peace!