Train sounds

[jeffers_mz]

JPM335, what is the device with the buttons on it that actuate the whistle etc., called? I assume this also wires between the power supply and the track in DC mode, are some better than others? Do any offer the potential for wiring up a fixed subwoofer to reproduce low bass for large diesels?

[selector]

With the dual QSI, you get whistle, bell, and that is about it. You will get "sound of power" as you accelerate, and steam generator whine but nothing else. You need the DCC controller to bet both squeels, Doppler, air letoff and power reverser neutral controlled by button, coupler crash, uncouple clink, and injector controlled by button (some of these sounds, like air pumps, injector, and neutral happen when the loco puts itself in neutral after about two seconds of inactivity).

[Anonymous]

Here you go. http://soundtraxx.com/products/dcc/tsunamisound.htm Scroll down to the bottom and check out the sound samples. This is the latest offering from Soundtraxx called the Tsunmai. They run about 80 bucks and do ALL kinda stuff.

[Anonymous]

Ill assume by DC-3 you mean DCC?

What greg was saying about DC sound is right, but let me add a little. What he is reffering to ARE DCC decoders, but they are called "dual-mode" which means they will also run on DC. Dual mode sound decoders only allow you to access the engine sound, bell and whistle, whilst on DCC you can access all sounds on the decoder. Some have dozens! If you want sound you may want to switch over to DCC.

Cost:
New sound decoders usually run anywhere from $45 (soundtraxx LC (good) and MRC (aweful)) to $100 (Soundtraxx Tsunami (excellent) and soon QSI (also very good))
If you install them yourself thats all you pay. If you get somebody to install for you, the prices vary. A well known one, Tonys Train Exchange charges up to $144 plus decoder. You could be looking at $250 per engine! However, lesser-known DiscountDCC charges usually $20 for sound installation plus decoder up to $125 per engine. So shop around if you are in the market for an installer.

[Anonymous]

Answer to your question about which sounds they make: Yes! (but you missed a few) they will make them all automatically (except whistle and bell,which are manual)or you can manually activate them. And you're right, they don't all have the same sounds, and netiher do the models. The way I understand it is they go down to the train museum with a digital recorder to get the sounds, and then fool with it on the computer to make all the fancy variables.

About the DC-3, I'm not sure if your referring to Digital Command Control (DCC) or the DC sound systems with sound controls. The DC sound controlled locomotives have a digital decoder in them, but don't need a DCC system to control them. They will sit idle with no power to the motor for a time, just making sounds, but when your power pack gets high enough they start the motor and operate like normal DC. You have a pretty small control box that ties in between the power pack and rails with two buttons on it that control whistle and bell.

As far as steam goes, the sounds speed up proportionally with the locomotive, and the whistle stays on as long as your finger is on the horn button. The bell turns on and off with each punch of the button (DCC anyway). The brake squeal/flange squeak comes on as you slow down or with DCC can be activated as you go around a curve or turnout.

Diesels have a varying throttle also, but have only the number of notches as would be in the real loco. Horn is the same as with steam, and bell is too, except you can hear the air activation when it comes on and goes off. They also have dynamic braking sounds and actions.

Some also have the "sound of power" which amplifies the sound on acceleration. Also, depending on your DCC system, you can turn on/off shutdown modes. In the first level of shutdown, the loco goes to a really low idle. I'm not sure what the second mode does, and the last mode shuts down each engine individually, turn off the lights, and has the sound of the door opening, then shutting. It goes in reverse of that process for startup. You don't have to do all that though, it's just available.

Hope that answered your question, but if it didn't you can e-mail me and I'll try to answer you. If I can't I'll make something up[:P]

Greg

[tatans]

Not into the electronic wizardry of MR, especially the sounds of engines, I have a few questions, what type of sounds are emitted from theses systems? choo-choo(of course) steam hissing? brakes sqealing? bells ringing? whistle blowing? and of course we all know every steam engine was completely different, so a sound system for a 4-8-4 would be completely different from a 0-6-0 ? What about a sound system for a GG-1, surely it must sound differently from a steam loco, as you can see I'm not too familiar with this end of MR or DC-3 or whatever it is , as a sidebar, just what does this system cost(ballpark?) I have no idea whether it costs $50.00 or $3500.00 to convert over, I'm sure myself and thousands of others out here would be interested, hopefully, because you are into this phase of MR you do not assume everyone else out there is also. thanks for the info.