Electronics and DCC

 I had a problem with an MRC sound decoder in an Athearn F unit which I posted earlier. I got all the MRC bashing etc. and you may or may not be right but I was told today to try lowering the volume and see if the problem goes away. At first I thought the guy was pulling my leg but I tried it and it actually worked. One little PIA is that you have to change a number of CV's not just one single volume control at least not that I could find. The default value is 3 I changed them all to 1 after playing around a bit and so far so good problem has seemed to go away. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?

 Yep, with ever sound engine I have. One of the neat things about Loksound decoders and Blue Line engines is you can adjust the volume with F-8.  With my QSI BLI I can cut volume in half with F-6.

       Cuda Ken

 Thanks Ken, good to know I have two QSI's coming for a couple of my Y3's

Allegheny2-6-6-6:

 I had a problem with an MRC sound decoder in an Athearn F unit which I posted earlier. I got all the MRC bashing etc. and you may or may not be right but I was told today to try lowering the volume and see if the problem goes away. At first I thought the guy was pulling my leg but I tried it and it actually worked. One little PIA is that you have to change a number of CV's not just one single volume control at least not that I could find. The default value is 3 I changed them all to 1 after playing around a bit and so far so good problem has seemed to go away. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?

Yes but one of the problems you may face with the MRC decoders is that you only have three settings for the volume 1-3 .  Most other decoders have many more like 16 and above.  Turning up the volume too high on a decoder with certain sounds and speaker combinations can cause distortion, which could end up sounding like many different things.

 My Athearn Genesis MP-15 has a MRC sound decoder factory installed and I am not happy with the volume when compared to my BLI locos, which were to noisy for my taste in the default setting. The MP-15 could use some more volume, but isn´t the value 3 not the top volume value?

Hi!

I'm fairly new to "sound" but now have 6 BLI Paragon (DCC w/Sound) locos to play with.  They all have volume "controls", and I soon figured out that was a good thing - along with the "mute" button. 

At 65, I recall C&NW and IC steam, and the sound of those model locos brings a smile to my face everytime I start them up.  And the diesels sound terrific too!   But, after ten minutes or so in the 11x15 layout, the sound of more than one gets a bit much and I typically mute them.

All that being said, I believe eventually all of my locos will get sound - especially the F unit ABBA consists and the Es and PAs as well.

ENJOY,

Mobilman44

Sir Madog:

 My Athearn Genesis MP-15 has a MRC sound decoder factory installed and I am not happy with the volume when compared to my BLI locos, which were to noisy for my taste in the default setting. The MP-15 could use some more volume, but isn´t the value 3 not the top volume value?

Yes 3 is the highest or loudest volume which was fine for me but it seems if the sound is set at 3 which is the default setting it overheats the board some how. Did not make a difference with the shell on or off. Actually 0 is the lowest setting but it's way too low. I agree with the noise aka sound after a while. If I have four trains running at he same time not only does it get confusing but a little annoying after a while. I happen to like the fact that my track work is very quiet. One of the benefits of running homasote roadbed. When running the only thing you hear is when the wheels hit the rail joiners until you turn on the sound. Oh well a few years back we were all tickled pink when we could get sound in our loco's now were complaining  about it........lol

Allegheny2-6-6-6:

Oh well a few years back we were all tickled pink when we could get sound in our loco's now were complaining  about it........lol

... that´s the way life goes! I would not like to run a loco without sound - it´s the dimension which had been missing in the past. If I had to choose between a large layout with silent locos, or a small one with sound (and realistic smoke?) , I´d go for the small one. Everytime I "blast" the horn of my switcher, I feel like a real "hogger"!

I've got a new Athearn MP15 and I don't like the sound volume-its way too low and you can barely hear it.  Athearn and I have e-mailed back and forth and after changing the CVs to the max volume nothing got any better so I am going to send it back to them (their suggestion) and we'll see what happens.  They are in the process of moving so I can't return it until after 7/20.

dadret:

I've got a new Athearn MP15 and I don't like the sound volume-its way too low and you can barely hear it.  Athearn and I have e-mailed back and forth and after changing the CVs to the max volume nothing got any better so I am going to send it back to them (their suggestion) and we'll see what happens.  They are in the process of moving so I can't return it until after 7/20.

Did that one have the MRC sound decoder or the newer Soundtraxx decoder ?  They are in the process of flipping over to Soundtraxx from MRC.  A good move on their part.

As others have noted, MRC's four volume setting (0-3) seem to go roughly like this:

0 - LOUD

1- REALLY LOUD

2- PAINFULLY LOUD

3 - WHAT?? I CAN'T HEAR YOU !! THIS ENGINE IS TOO LOUD !! 

I found when putting a "Sounder" in an FT B unit that even with the sound on "0" it was noticeably louder than any of my other sound equipped engines. Eventually I moved it to an SD unit and replaced their 1" attached speaker with a 1/2" round one, and that seemed to make the volume more controllable. 

I'm pretty sure it has the MRC decoder - I just got it a coule of weeks ago but I think it has been in inventory for a while.  When I change the CV values for the volume it doesn't seem to change any of the volumes at all - certainly nothing like the last post indicates.  Maybe when I return it they will replace the MRC decoder with a Soundtraxx??

I have two Genesis Loco's with MRC boards in them (which will eventually be replaced).

If my memory serves me right there was a pot on the board that controlled the overall sound adjustment.

If you can take your shell off look inside on the board and you can see it although it is really small.

I have adjusted mine and have a reasonable volume setting now. Now if I could just get them to play with others I would keep them.

Joe

It could MRC sound and power decoders have a volume pot, I've only used the Sounders (sound only decoders) that don't have it. I know my QSI-equipped BLI engines all have it and it's a nice feature.