$2 sound effects module

[dsmith]

I have been fooling around with a $2 digital sound recorder from All Electronics and have found that it is a very inexpensive way to add sounds to my layout.  The recorder will record for up to 30 seconds, there is a built in microphone and the quality is acceptable.  On the left of the cube there is a record button.  Hold the button down to record, when you release the button the recording will stop.  On the right is a play button,  Whether you press it once or hold it down, the recording will play to the end.  You will get a better recording if you remove the microphone and dangle it outside the box.  If you leave it inside, you will hear a click as the record button is pressed.  The built in 1" speaker is adequate for HO or N.  For O gauge and more volume, I replaced it with a $1.25, 2" speaker from All Electronics.  The box measures 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 after the ugly figure is removed.  On my HO layout I fit the box inside a small Amtrak station.  I soldered 2 wires in parallel with the play button and ran the wires to a momentary switch on my control panel.  All electronics also sells very tiny magnetic reed switches that are only 1/2" long.  Add a small magnet to the engines and you can have automatic triggering of horn, whistle or crossing bell sounds.  On my O gauge layout I plan on running the play switch wires to the relay that controls my crossing flashers and gate.  If you search the internet you can find sound files for free that include diesel horn, steam whistle, crossing bell, trolley bell, church bells and many others.  Play the sounds on your computer and hold the microphone of the recorder near your speakers and start recording.  I have plans for several of these on my layouts in the future, but here are some photos of my progress so far.

http://www.allelectronics.com/

 

 

[Courage8]

DSmith:

 Nice work!  This looks like a great job of what the government refers to as repurposing commercial off-the-shelf hardware!  Upgrading the speakers and providing remote control with a pushbutton (or automatic actuation with a reed switch) is just the kind of thing I'd like for adding industrial sounds to a large paper mill.  With sound modules that cheap, I could even add several (steam from the power plant, grinding from the chipper in the woodmill, a buldozer clanking from the wood chip pile, etc.)  I'd like to carry it a step farther and actuate the sound and some animation at the same time; say, using the sound box for a backup alarm at the same time a forklift rolls across a loading dock between two warehouse doors.

[Hansel]

I have seen something similar at Radio Shack.  It is quite smaller, but then I believe it costs $10 or so. 

I would like to find a sound module that I could hook up to my DC blue blox Athearn GP9, but everything seems to be for DCC nowadays.

Hansel

[BlueHillsCPR]

Great Idea!

I just finished carving the sound module out of my Fathers Day card...I see a fair grounds with a stage where Lynard Skynard is performing Sweet Home Alabama for a crowd...

As for triggering the animation and sound together, that is also a great idea.  We were just discussing using motion sensing to trigger sound/animation when locos enter an area or when a visitor nears a scene so that the sounds and motion are event triggered rather than playing randomly and quite possibly creating an annoying cacophony of sound.

[Courage8]

The technology for the automatic triggering by proximity of the viewer is definitely out there - every halloween I see motorized statues of witches and gypsies that begin their cackling if someone comes within a foot or two.  I don't know if the sensor is ifrared like a TV remote, or possibly ultrasonic, causing reflection from the triggering person, but there should be some way to interface such sensors with the automated animations and sounds you refer to.