What you think about sound equipped locomotives

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone that has something to say and input on this topic.

[Anonymous]

I screwed up on this, sorry.

here is the completed story.

The past few years, sound has gotten really popular. I for one thought it was the coolest thing until I got a few locos with sound, now they kind of drive me nuts when everyone is running theirs. My biggest complaint is the noise level. It seems everyone has their sound equipped loco turned up as loud as they can, almost like there is a sound competition of “how loud can you go” and it is very distracting to me and a few others. I have even seen people blowing the horn and stuff so much that they have caused accidents because of not paying attention to their driving.

I was just wondering what your thoughts are on this, I picked (ok, take it of leave it). It doesn’t make me as mad as I’ve seen others get about this subject on sound.

Just how big is sound?

[Anonymous]

I survived without it for 20+ years before it became widely available, I'm content to continue without it for awhile longer.

I'm still in a "wait-and-see" mode regarding sound. I've bought a few Soundtraxx 1st-generation EMD decoder/speaker sets (haven't installed them yet though), also bought a "gold" series Atlas CW40-8 with decoder and QSI. I'm not about to go running out and putting sound into all of my 30+ locos![:O]

If this sound technology really takes off in the marketplace, prices will [hopefully] come down a bit and I can afford more later.

[ARTHILL]

I'm modeling my childhood memories and fanticies and the steam engine at night is a big one. Sometimes I run it for the memories. Sometimes its too noisy and I run a different engine.

[Fergmiester]

I didn't vote as Sound is a personal thing and some love it, while others are distracted by it. I personally enjoy it but would not tell everyone one it's a "Must Have" for the simple reason "each on to his or her own. My recommendation is for those who are interested to find someone with it, listen to it and decide whether or not it's for you.

The other thing is we have only so much money to go around so one has to prioritise to determine what is important.

This is where the hobby fails. Those who set their expectations too high or have them set by others and can't reach them become disillusioned and walk away?

I don't mean to grand stand but everyone has theiir pace and we must respect it.

Sound isn't for everyone

Sorry if I'm ranting

Fergie

[espeefoamer]

I have seen sound equipped locomotives demonstrated at my LHS.Sound on diesels is really cool.I wouldn't pay an extra $100. for it though.I have seen sound equipped steam engines run,and I find it rather disturbing to hear the tender sounding like a locomotive.I think I'll pass on sound equipped steam!

[trainfan1221]

I think its kinda neat, at least the few I saw, but I think sound equipped locos are just a gimmick, and I would own one as a novelty maybe, but I don't take it seriously.

[selector]

What if you played a CD and no sound came out???

I did the silent Marklin thing when I was 10, about 43 years ago. Marklins engines are top drawer, make no mistake, but my BLI Hudson is every bit as responsive, AND has many different sound effects.

Volume is driving you crazy? Well, it can be turned down and customized to the client. I have done that. And, I can tell you that after running trains with sound, running them with only drive-train noise, let us say, leaves something to be desired.

Ken, if you have 'em, install 'em, and then run them for a while. Like all things DCC, try out different configurations. If you find that they are a pain, uninstall works, too.

Rdw, I agree that the factory settings are ridiculous. I very quickly realized that my Hudson was too darned loud right out of the box, but the nice folks at QSI took pains to mention in their manual that volume was a personal thing to be modified. If you are interested, my volume setting for all effects is at about 40%. I have tried less and more, and 40% is where I am happiest , particularly since my little Heritage 0-6-0, the only other loco, is so much quieter.

[ckape]

I think one problem is that companies tend to set the default sound level on their decoders near or at the maximum level. When the volume is lowered sound can be a nice effect.

Then there was the sound equipped steam locomotive at my old club. Whenever the track power would cut out because of a short, it would start making coming-to-a-stop chuffs, which got really annoying.

[Anonymous]

The Railroads have sound and so should we.

[Anonymous]

What is you alls opinion as to the better of the sound equipped locos, BLI, LL p2K with factory sound, or a unit with a Soundtrax decoder installed (by ones self or from a custom shop). I've got the resources up to finally take the sound plunge, but would like to hear some input from others, especially people tat own or have owned more than one brand of sound equipped loco.

[simon1966]

Keep the sound down low and it is great when there are more than one sound loco on the layout.

[Anonymous]

I have the P2K/QSI Rock Island E6A - great sound, detail, lights and drive!

While I don't want to convert ALL my locos, I plan on having a select few (3 or 4 of my 50+ locos) with sound (and all of the layout ones with DCC).

Specificly, the passenger train diesels and one of my steamers.

Lots of fun !!

As far as loudness goes, that's what volume controls are for !!!

[Anonymous]

Personally I wish Digitrax made something that you mounted under a layout with a speaker and an amplifier that tied into the DCC system. Maybe have it fixed so you could load sound waves of your favorite locomotives. Just whistles and horns and bells then when you pushed the specific button the sound would go off for which ever loco youhad dialed up. I only run two locos at a time so it really doesnt make any sense to have sound in everyone i just need the one sound. Of course I only run challengers, bigboys and Northerns which I htink have the same 3 chime whistle.

[Anonymous]

This is really cool seeing what peoples likes and dislike are, Thanks a bunch.

I somewhat like the sound of the locos I have and in my locos. I have the volume @ 50% and mute at 10% just so I know that engine has been called up at one point while I was running. My biggest thing is I have 6 with sound installed, one was a SD60M that I use for coal drags. I decided to take it out and stick it in an SD9 that lives in the intermodal yard so it could be off most the time. Most of the time I just like listening to the hum of the rails and knowing that if something does go on the ground I'll hear it.

QSI equipment just isn't all that good in my eyes and that is what everyone is getting and loves (I have 4). I mostly don't like them for the simple fact that they are LOUD and the motor noise sounds like it should be coming from a diesel truck (faster you go more RPM). Soundtraxx on the other hand has an option where you can manually notch the throttle so you can make it more realistic as to what you’re pulling and if it’s on a grade or not. They are all missing the mark on Dynamic Braking with one sound and that’s it. On a real loco you engage the dynamics then the throttle glide and you can increase up on the braking efforts. QSI doesn't realize how the real trains work and it shows in the lack of manual operations with throttle and emphasis on being the loudest.

Until they make them realistic sounding and less in price, and the new wears off and people turn them down, I will stick with the Sound is ok, I could take it or leave it.

Ross

[ClinchValleySD40]

Sound is okay, take it or leave it. From what I've seen so far, it's more trouble than it's worth.

[Anonymous]

I like the sound output of my BLI steamer and my MRC Diesel chips. However, the two complaints I have :

1) The chips are flaky. At least the ones I have had. I had a MRC steamer go kaput after 1/2 hour of usage, which prompted me to buy the BLI... Which went kaput after 1/2 hour of usage. The MRC steam chip has been more reliable so far.

2) Sound has no low-end frequencies... But that is to be expected with such tiny little speakers. Until someone invents a mini-subwoofer :)

[Pruitt]

Before I got my first sound-equipped loco (BLI heavy Mike), I didn't think I'd care for sound.

Now I have three of the BLI Mikes. They came with the sound set at full blast, so I opened the tender water hatch and turned the volume down to a tolerable level. Now, when one is on the far side of the layout I can hardly hear it, but I hear a soft chuffing when one comes by. The whistle is a little louder, but not by too much. One of these days I will have to turn up the bell through the software, though - it's almost inaudible. Even running all three Mikes at once isn't too much sound, but I do turn the sound off sometimes when I want to listen to music while I'm running trains.

My other steamers (Proto 2k 0-6-0s and 0-8-0s) seem kind of "dead" without sound. But right now I have no plans to add sound to them - might become way too much of a good thing!

One drawback to sound - it pretty effectively masks the sound of wheels on the ties, so it's tougher to spot derailed equipment until it splits a switch or leaves the rails completely.

[johncolley]

I love sound, in moderation! That's why I run around 40-50% volume. It definitely makes me want to run realistically and operate prototypically. I presently have a pair of BLI e-7's and a four unit Stewart FT ABBA with decoders in 3 power units and a dummy B with 2 woofers and a tweeter. Great! Warning, once you get into it there is no going back, silent engines don't have that thrill anymore. I am now waiting for an NW2 yard switcher.

[AntonioFP45]

Have enjoyed seeing sound equipped locos in action.

Looking forward to installing sound decoders in various locomotives.

Frustrating aspect is that currently it is expensive. Hopefully with more companies getting involved in sound, prices will drop.

IMHO, part of the problems is that a company like Soundtraxx is a very small "Mom and Pop" type of operation. Resources are limited and overhead costs may impact a small business more than a larger business.

A larger company producing sound would likely able to produce sound units in larger "bulk" quantities and be able to offer units at lower costs.

Just my 2 cents.

[rrinker]

Well, the sound market is about to get a whole lot better. A dealer on the DCC4EVERYONE Yahoo group posted that his Digitrax rep did indeed confirm that they are working on sound decoders. No details though.

--Randy

[IRONROOSTER]

I voted one is enough. My one is a Lionel NYC Flyer set that I run whenever I want to hear the sound, smell the smoke, and blow the whistle.

Enjoy
Paul

[BRVRR]

I have one factory equipped sound loco. A BLI Heavy Mike. I love it. Turn the sound down to about 50% and it is enjoyable. I also have an MRC steam decoder in my Niagara. Love it! I installed a Soundtraxx decoder in an F-unit. Like it too. I just installed a MRC diesel sound decoder under the BRVRR layout. Still working on tweeking it, but I'm sure it will work out. With everything on at once it can get intense, but that's what the volume controls are for. Generally with two steamers and the F& running, you can still talk to the other operator(s). I love sound in model railroading. Hopefully, the costs will continue to go down. If QSI and Digitrax come out with aftermarket sound decoders at competitive prices, everyone will benefit.

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRVRR

I have one factory equipped sound loco. A BLI Heavy Mike. I love it....

I just got off the ship today and it has been a busy two weeks. Went down in the basement with Dad for an hour to "Play Trains" and had to turn the volune off. The silence was golden.

Three steam engines were idling and the noise was deafening[:(]

There's a time and a place.

Regards

Fergie

[aloco]

Garbage. I'll stick to my locomotives with noisy drive trains if I want sound.

[jeffshultz]

Sound is okay.... with at least one caveat. The real trains don't run around with their bells on super loud all day long.

You probably shouldn't either.... <grin>

I haven't seen any of the details of the decoders so I don't know if you can program the volume level for the discrete sounds like the bells, but it would certainly be something I'd want. And they need to make the decoders more impervious to electrical defects in the track - I understand QSI is doing this, with some other side effects.

[Anonymous]

Sound is cool. It is one of the reasons I have DCC. Jeff, The sound levels can be individually programmed. Soundtraxx makes this easy, BLI crams it all onto three CVs. I love sound, but I also frequently use the F8 button (mute). I am hoping that more companies get in the sound game and the quality improves while the price drops......

[Marc_Magnus]

Never forget this rule for a good level of noise; it's only the size of the speaker and his capability of bass and treble rendering

[grayfox1119]

Personally, I love sound, but this is a personal choice. As Fergie stated earlier, it is not for everyone, and I totally agree with this. If you have a "community" layout with engines running all over the layout, 5, 8, 10 or more, this is not realistic and can drive people nuts with horns and bells blowing every second. You must maintain "realism" for sound to be enjoyed in my humble opinion..

[AggroJones]

I would NEVER go out of my way to install sound in a locomotive. My BLI steam usually run with the sound off anyway. Not really an important feature to me.
If one of my 'chosen' engine came with the option of no sound, I have no choice but to get it w/o sound and save my $100.