At present, I have about 47, a little more than half, of my non-brass engines with sound. I started out by buying sound engines, but eased into installations last year.
Of 28 steamers, 14 BLI, two P2K and a Lionel have QSI decoders, two Bachmanns have Tsunamis and one PCM has Loksound, all factory installed. I put Tsunamis in a Trix BB and Mikado, a Rivarossi Allegheny and FEF-3, a P2K 2-8-8-2 and an 0-8-0 .
Of 19 diesels, seven BLI, two P2K and a Lionel have factory QSI's, an AMD-103, an Atlas GP-40, and a Kato SD-40 have Loksounds done by Litchfield Station. I put Loksounds in a P2K FB2 and E7A, an Intermountain F7B, a Soundtraxx in a Stewart F3B and an MRC in a P2K E8A.
I put a Loksound in a Con Cor Pioneer Zephyr, which was the biggest job, because I developed the sound files for it from video sources of the original 9900. I also reworked the sound file for my PCM Reading T1 starting with Nick Culp's version, and developed my AMD-103 file from a recording of the compressor and bell shared with me by a fellow whose name I can't find at the moment.
I don't run sound very loud, but to me, the sounded engines take on additional character that I prefer to just motor noise.
Hal
Texas Zepher wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote:Please answer this question: Does that clip sound tinny?I'm perplexed too, that was my answer to your question. I guess I need to be more direct - "yes". Take that recording with you and find a real one to listen to. Listen to the real one then (as soon as it gets quiet enougH) immediately listen to the recording, then re-answer your own question. If you still think it sounds rich and robust then your ears are just connected differently than mine.Of course I have ceased being amazed at people who can't tell the difference between mono and stereo, can't tell the difference between Advent Series 1, JBL, Klipish, Bose speakers, and can't tell the difference between the Marantz vs. RCA stereo systems? People's ears are just different.
AntonioFP45 wrote:Please answer this question: Does that clip sound tinny?
Of course I have ceased being amazed at people who can't tell the difference between mono and stereo, can't tell the difference between Advent Series 1, JBL, Klipish, Bose speakers, and can't tell the difference between the Marantz vs. RCA stereo systems? People's ears are just different.
O.K TZ,
I think I understand your point.
BTW: I am familiar with the fundamentals of stereo systems. My friend, CMarchand, repaired and installed stereo systems years back and exposed me to high end systems from Macintosh, Culver, and Marantz. Systems where customers (usually doctors and other professionals) dropped $8,000 to $10,000 back in the 1980s for a home set up, with Macintosh being the top choice.
Yes, Of course sound equipped HO or even G scale locomotives are not going to have the low and even middle frequency responses that the prototypes produce. My perspective is that of someone who owned cheap transistor radios back in the 1970s. Your analogy, while not far off the mark is not reasonable by today's standards. I remember the ultra tinny sound, the high total harmonic distortion, the zero low frequency response, the speakers that burned out after a while.
My point has been that the sounds emitted from factory sound-equipped model locomotives are definetly much clearer and crisp than the tinny (transistor radio type) set ups you keep referring to and while not much, there is "some" low frequency response.
Just my opinion only as I respect yours, however, my experience so far has been that I've enjoyed sound that's has been installed and properly baffled. For me, I spent a lot of time during my teen years around prototypes, so these miniaturized sounds today stir up a lot of fond and even emotional memories for me of kind railroaders, some who are now deceased, that made me feel welcome while I was railfanning.
So this is why I'm so enthusiastic about scale sound. It's not for everyone but I'm so glad to see that it is growing in popularity.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Hi from OZ,
Almost all my locos are sounded - I'm too scared to count them all but it must be close to 50. I have been running DCC for about five years and have a wide variety of sound decoders fitted. I guess my preferences are for Tsunami and Loksound decoders but a few of the generic ones have proved to be quite good when tweaked a bit. I was disappointed with the Genesis challenger and Genesis F7s. They use a MRC decoders and they are really touchy and I'm not that impressed with the sounds. Anyway it's sounded locos for me - can't imagine living in silence ever again.
Regards from Downunder.
I am using Loksound 3.5 only. I got some engines with preinstalled sound but the motor control was always substandard. So finaly I selected Loksound because of good motor control and a wide library of sounds.
I started with sound in S1, Ge 44tons, SW8, RS-1, RS-3 etc. I like the sound of that old engines a lot. When I installed sound into GP30, GP38 etc. I was disapointed. The sound was more some kiind of noise. I stopped converting modern diesel engines.
By incident I installed a Loksound into a 0-8-0 and a 2-8-0 and I was deeply impressed. I was so much impressed that I am in the process of rebuilding my layout from Houston,TX in 1980 into a small town in the north east in about 1930 just to have my steam engines with sound in operation.
Switching with a sound equipped steam engines makes me happy like a child
Reinhard
Don Gibson wrote:Saves money. I will do a QSI in an 'F7-dummy B' NEXT. Connecting ABBA with 4 separate sound sources is overkill.
Give it time.The first one to offer 'F7B' dummies with sound, get's my dollar.
I'd love to hear more about speaker enclosures that maximize frequency response.
Any acoustic experts in here?
Putting it in a box car or passenger car would provide lots of space.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
my sound locos consist of a brass 2-6-6-0 D&SL mallet( micro-tsunami with 1 inch PFM Can speaker), brass Rio Grande Pacific ( standard Tsunami with 2 inch oval speaker), a bachmann 3-truck (soundtraxx pre-tsunami), a proto 2000 GP-7(QSI), and an ABA set of DRGW PA's (loksound).
The first 3 I installed and they all run on cams so the chuff in synced. the mallet is a compound so therefore has only a single set of chuffs and not a dual set like the big boys.
My favorite has to be the D&SL mallet because I mounted the decoder and the speaker in the boiler. The chuffs actually come from the opening just above the cylinders so when you get up close to it the sound is actually coming from nearly the right location instead of from the tender.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Phoebe Vet wrote:I'd love to hear more about speaker enclosures that maximize frequency response.
I am well aware of the limitations of small speakers, but the enclosure is a major factor in getting the most frequency response possible given the limits of the speaker.
Look at what Bose has done with 5 inch speakers where you used to need 15s. They do it with long throw speakers and acoustic waveguides.
I wasn't expecting 20-20K just an improvement over stock instalations.
17 out of 52 are sound locomotives, all factory installed. I am just starting to attempt converting some P2Ks with Soundbugs. I've got 10 I'd like to convert but may only do 6. The GPs look a bit tight for a speaker inside the shell.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Phoebe Vet wrote:I am well aware of the limitations of small speakers, but the enclosure is a major factor in getting the most frequency response possible given the limits of the speaker.
Look at what Bose has done with 5 inch speakers where you used to need 15s.Well that is debatable. Having both in my collection I'll take the 15" any day. In fact, I'll take my 12" Advents (1979 Series 1) over the Bose.
Look at what Bose has done with 5 inch speakers where you used to need 15s.
just an improvement over stock instalations.That isn't hard at all.
just an improvement over stock instalations.
I have about 20 sound locos, of all varieties. Some I installed, and some are QSIs. So how did you install sound in an S2? I have three S2s, that I have postponed installing sound in, because of their small size, and limited space.
I also installed Soundtraxx 1st gen, in an F-7 A and B unit, using two speakers, one in each unit, connected with Miniatronics mini plugs. So far, using two speakers on the one decoder has not harmed the decoder. The speakers are in the rear of the A unit, and the front of the B unit. So they are very close together. Since both speakers are on the one decoder, the horn is perfectly in sync, and you really can't tell which unit it is coming from. And the two speakers do increase the sound volume.
1 SD60M
2 SD60
5 GP60
5 GP38-2
2 GP20
1 GP10
Only my SD60M had sound. The plan is to have 2 GP60's, 2 GP38-2, and the GP20 and 10 with sound. That is a ways away though.
hobo9941 wrote:I have about 20 sound locos, of all varieties. Some I installed, and some are QSIs. So how did you install sound in an S2? I have three S2s, that I have postponed installing sound in, because of their small size, and limited space.
I used the Locsouind Micro for the little switchers. The decoder fits "as usual" over the motor. The little speaker is between the engeners in the cab face down.
Since I've pretty much just begun, I have only two locos but both have sound. I have a Bachmann Three Truck Shay with DCC and sound and a Diesel Canadian Pacific with DCC and Sound and they're both very nice to listen too. I haven't finished my layout yet, just begining the painting the scenery stages but it sure is a lot of fun even at this stage.
Bud M.
Thanks for the reply. I didn't know Loksound had an Alco sound for their decoders. It is an Alco, isn't it?
Most of my locos are either older Athearn's or RPP units with Athearn drives, so I don't really need "sound"!
Or should I say, any more sound!
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Well, now I have two.
I have a Proto 2000 U28B with sound. IMO the engine shoould be louder, I can barely hear it when set to max volume; but it's synched perfectly.
I also have an MRC sound decoder put into a bachmann FT. I'l be able to road test it later. Seems to work pretty well.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
hobo9941 wrote: I used the Locsouind Micro for the little switchers. The decoder fits "as usual" over the motor. The little speaker is between the engeners in the cab face down. Thanks for the reply. I didn't know Loksound had an Alco sound for their decoders. It is an Alco, isn't it?
I just fitted one of the MRC S2/S4 sound decoders into my Atlas switcher. Couldn't have been easier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0a4AHpDHsM
Jon
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regretfully, only one Atlas Trainmaster so far but I am hopeful.
As I have ACY engines, I am looking for decoders and sound for S2s, RS-1 and FMH15-44, FMH16-44s. Any ideas would be appreciated.
jake9 wrote: As I have ACY engines, I am looking for decoders and sound for S2s, RS-1 and FMH15-44, FMH16-44s. Any ideas would be appreciated.
S2 - MRC (see previous post for video)
RS1 - Soundtraxx Alco decoder (40 seconds into video)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uslTeRxNzoE or alternatively Loksound.
H15-44 - Soundtraxx FM decoder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A46yCjN-NqM
All the above decoders provide sound and power for the motor and lights, so only one decoder required (stay away from the Soundtraxx DSX decoders if you only want to use one decoder.
All of them. The sound of silence :(
One of these days.... one of these days!
:)
da_kraut wrote:Hello everybody,One of my locomotives has sound that works while the engine runs on DC. This has me hooked. So the question for to all of you is do all of your engines have sound. The other option is to have only a designated few locomotives with sound and then take one of these engines into the consist to give the lash up sound. What is your experience.Thank youFrank
Hello everybody,
One of my locomotives has sound that works while the engine runs on DC. This has me hooked. So the question for to all of you is do all of your engines have sound. The other option is to have only a designated few locomotives with sound and then take one of these engines into the consist to give the lash up sound.
What is your experience.
Thank you
Frank
Frank;
My answer is simple, NONE
I've operated on layouts that used the old PFM sound system to layouts with many locos equipped with the latest Tsunami and Loksound decoders.
Even on low volume, after 10 minutes or so hearing more than one sound unit gives me a massive headache.
Besides, I've had cab rides in Southern's 4501, and SP's 4449. The current sound unit/speaker combinations can't hold a candle to the real thing!
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
da_kraut wrote: Hello everybody,One of my locomotives has sound that works while the engine runs on DC. This has me hooked. So the question for to all of you is do all of your engines have sound. The other option is to have only a designated few locomotives with sound and then take one of these engines into the consist to give the lash up sound. What is your experience.Thank youFrank
Since I'm in N-Scale sound hasn't been a reasonable option for me yet. But if I could both afford it and it were reliable and practical to put sound in my locomotives, I'd do it in in aNew York minute. BTW, I don't do steam locomotives.
I have seen and heard sound on a friends N-Scale Challenger and it is fantastic. Just to hear the conducter on that one saying "All Aboard" is mind blowing. That one's N-Scale too but the sound mdule is in the tender and I am not going to permanently couple anything to my deisels at this point in time.
Irv
<The subway cars can't be heard, as they spend their days in the tunnels.>
If you think subways are quiet because they run in tunnels, you've never been on them in the tunnels.
Any New York City resident who has ever ridden a subway knows how easy it is to be deafened by the squeel of flanged wheels on the tracks not to mention the rocky motion of the cars themselves while they are in motion.