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Some DCC Sound Projects Completed

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  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 119 posts
Some DCC Sound Projects Completed
Posted by JDVass on Friday, May 12, 2023 5:05 PM

I am starting to Convert some of my old locomotives over to sound. While it isn't cheap, its cheaper than new sound eqyiped loco's. Plus I've got a lot of old Proto 1000 and 2000 stuff in Canadian Pacific colors that are near and dear to my heart.

Heres a few that I have completed. Kato GP35, Spectrum Baldwin 4-6-0, Proto 2000 GP9, and a pair of Aethern Genisis F9's. All done with Soundtraxx decoders and speakers. They all run and sound great.

Life is too short not to play with trains, so grow old not up my friends.
  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, May 12, 2023 5:17 PM

Nice work. Congratulations.

TCS and ESU users, just to name two, will ask you why you chose Soundtraxx over TCS or ESU.

Rich

Alton Junction

Moderator
  • Member since
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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Friday, May 12, 2023 5:57 PM

And, I'll beat Ed in highly recommending Scale Sound Systems (SSS) speakers for your sound decoders.  They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and just sound terrific.

I put a couple of boiler-barker speakers in-parallel in the boiler of a brass 2-6-6-2 Mallet.  The chuff is amazing - even with the sound level below 50%.

JT is a sound engineer by trade and 3D-prints his own baffles/enclosures.  You'll be hard-pressed to top the sound you get with one of his speakers.  And the cost of the speaker includes the baffle.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by JDVass on Friday, May 12, 2023 9:55 PM

I've had very good luck with Soundtraxx, and the sound is plenty good enough for me. You can adjust the equalizer to get good sound. The best part is my favorite hobby shop here in Canada keeps a darn good stock of Soundtraxx so no international shipping, no exchange. Just order, install, and play trains.

Life is too short not to play with trains, so grow old not up my friends.
  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, May 13, 2023 6:10 AM

JDVass

I've had very good luck with Soundtraxx, and the sound is plenty good enough for me. You can adjust the equalizer to get good sound. The best part is my favorite hobby shop here in Canada keeps a darn good stock of Soundtraxx so no international shipping, no exchange. Just order, install, and play trains.

 

Yes

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Saturday, May 13, 2023 1:07 PM

JDVass

I've had very good luck with Soundtraxx, and the sound is plenty good enough for me. You can adjust the equalizer to get good sound. The best part is my favorite hobby shop here in Canada keeps a darn good stock of Soundtraxx so no international shipping, no exchange. Just order, install, and play trains.

 

Don't let anybody convince you that Soundtrax are subpar. While that may be true for old decoders, the newer ones are just as good as TCS or ESU. And yes, I drew this conclusion from personal experience. 

Mike

  • Member since
    May 2020
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Posted by wrench567 on Saturday, May 13, 2023 5:38 PM

  I would never rip anyone for using a particular decoder over another. To be honest. All the new decoders are superior to what was available in the early days of DCC. The only reason I have semi standardized on Loksound is because of the programmer. I actually go out of my way to set up the functions all the same. When I hit F7 you get the flange squeal, F4 coupler clash and so on.

    Keep having fun.

        Pete.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 119 posts
Posted by JDVass on Saturday, May 13, 2023 6:32 PM

wrench567

  I would never rip anyone for using a particular decoder over another. To be honest. All the new decoders are superior to what was available in the early days of DCC. The only reason I have semi standardized on Loksound is because of the programmer. I actually go out of my way to set up the functions all the same. When I hit F7 you get the flange squeal, F4 coupler clash and so on.

    Keep having fun.

        Pete.

 

That makes perfect sense Pete.

I'm doing the same with all my locos.. I cant remember all the different numbers. The most common functions that I use are being remapped F4 to F12. That way maybe I'll remember them.

Life is too short not to play with trains, so grow old not up my friends.
  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, May 13, 2023 9:23 PM

wrench567
The only reason I have semi standardized on Loksound is because of the programmer. I actually go out of my way to set up the functions all the same. When I hit F7 you get the flange squeal, F4 coupler clash and so on.

I agree that the main reason to stick with a single brand of decoder is so that all of your decoders operate in the same way. I'm a Loksound fan. I made the decision to convert everything to Loksound several years ago because trying to remember what locomotives used what functions to do whatever was a PITA with five or six different decoders in my fleet.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, May 14, 2023 3:13 AM

wrench567

I would never rip anyone for using a particular decoder over another. 

"Rip" was not a word that I used in my earlier reply. What I said was that TCS and ESU users may ask why you chose Soundtraxx over TCS or ESU. Those two brands of TCS and ESU seem to be the overwhelming favorites of the members of this forum. I do agree with an earlier reply that Soundtraxx is an excellent brand and one that I use. Smile, Wink & Grin

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    May 2020
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Posted by wrench567 on Sunday, May 14, 2023 5:02 PM

   Rich.

 The reply was not about anything you posted. It's just what I feel. I apologize if you feel I was targeting you. The beauty of the hobby is the freedom to choose what you want.

    As for Soundrax. They are great decoders. I have at least a half dozen. The same for WOW. If it were not for owning an ESU programmer, I probably would have more of them. I only have 2 locomotives with ditch lights so having them on a function other than F4 and flash with the horn is what is standard for those two. The vast majority of the fleet are steam and first gen deisels. The steamers get the air pump on F4. The deisels get shutter sounds.

       Pete.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, May 14, 2023 5:26 PM

Thanks, Pete.

When I first read the OP's thread, I thought, good for him completing such a project, and with Soundtraxx decoders no less. I love Soundtraxx decoders myself, but I realize that there is quite a bit of enthusiasm on this forum for TCS and ESU. So, I noted that in my reply. I probably should have remained silent on that issue.

Rich

Alton Junction

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