DCC Sound in Continental and US

4813 Views 18 Replies 11 Participants Last post by neil_s_wood, Mar 12, 2007

neil_s_wood

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2007

How many digital sound locos so you have?

How many sound locos in total?

1	3	15.79%
2	0	0.00%
3	2	10.53%
4	0	0.00%
5	0	0.00%
6-10	1	5.26%
11-15	2	10.53%
16-20	0	0.00%
21>	3	15.79%
0	8	42.11%

How many are Steam?

1	4	21.05%
2-5	1	5.26%
6-10	2	10.53%
11-20	2	10.53%
21>	1	5.26%
0	9	47.37%

How many are electric?

1	5	26.32%
2-5	2	10.53%
6-10	0	0.00%
11-20	0	0.00%
21>	0	0.00%
0	12	63.16%

How many are diesel?

1	4	21.05%
2-5	3	15.79%
6-10	1	5.26%
11-15	0	0.00%
16-20	1	5.26%
21>	1	5.26%
0	9	47.37%

Do you prefer sound or no sound?

No sound	3	15.79%
sound	16	84.21%

Is it an expensive extra which is not worth the money?

Yes	5	26.32%
No, it is worth the money	10	52.63%
Maybe or not sure	4	21.05%

Do you consider it essential standard equipment?

Yes	8	42.11%
No	7	36.84%
undecided	4	21.05%

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

neil_s_wood

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 9, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Over in OO world where digital sound has recently arrived there has been a poll on how they would like to see DCC sound develop in the future. Given that we have had digital sound in US and Continental modelling for a long time now, I thought it would be interesting to see how popular this was with people who are familiar with it and for whom it is no longer a novelty but standard equipement available as an option on most locos.

Has the novelty worn off?

Is it an expensive extra which is not worth the money?

Would it affect your decision to buy a loco?

Lets find out.

Dennis David

· #3 · Mar 9, 2007

Since I model in N-Scale I have not yet purchased my first sound equiped locomotive but plan on doing so in the near future. As far as the US goes it's become pretty standard now for any DCC locomotive to also come with sound so it is becoming very popular. Plus the idea of having enviromental sounds has been popular for a long time.

Brian Considine

· #4 · Mar 9, 2007

Hi Neil,

Well thought out poll thanks.

Although I have only 3 sound equipped locos at present it's only really because my "personal" resources have been directed to SNCB rolling stock for St.Laurent over the last 18 months or so.

The next "sound" purchase will probably one of the Roco SNCB diesels (not much SNCB steam about, let alone with sound).

Yes, sound is definatly here to stay, from N upwards. It may very well "peak" but who knows. When decent sound decoders cost around the £20 mark...............

Rail-Rider

· #5 · Mar 9, 2007

Aaaargh! Neil, you b*****r!

This poll could me cause more brain damage than a crate of hooch and ten cell-phones strapped to my head!

Where's me bloody Valium . . .

I'll come back when the little yellow pills have kicked in

See less See more

3

Ravenser

· #6 · Mar 9, 2007

I notice there's no option "no sound locos"....

Johan de Villiers

· #7 · Mar 9, 2007

Hi Neil,

I think DCC sound is here to stay. It gives a layout a completely different perspective especially when the layout is well scenicked. It is quite fun to watch the general public at model train shows when they realise that the locomotives are actually making the real locomotive sounds.

I am a member of an operating group that meets once a month at a friend of mine's layout. It is a American end of steam/ beginning of diesel era layout of approx 50 sq m that allows for lots of operation. All the steam and diesel locomotives are sound equipped and it is quite something to experience when the operating session is in full swing with all the loco sounds as well as some environmental sounds.

Although we all like the sound of a steam locomotive hard at work, the sound of those diesel brutes is also something to admire.

Kind regards.

Johan

See less See more

John

· #8 · Mar 9, 2007

Dear Neil,

You need to add a 0 (zero) option to each of the radio buttons for steam, diesel and electric. I have only one sound equipped loco and it is a steam loco. Your poll would not allow me to vote until I entered a value for diesel and electric and there is no zero option for any of these categories. You now have too many diesel and electric votes.

7113

· #9 · Mar 9, 2007

QUOTE (John @ 9 Mar 2007, 13:12) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You need to add a 0 (zero) option to each of the radio buttons for steam, diesel and electric. I have only one sound equipped loco and it is a steam loco. Your poll would not allow me to vote until I entered a value for diesel and electric and there is no zero option for any of these categories. You now have too many diesel and electric votes.

Ditto. At present I don't have any sound locos, so I can't vote. (cries into beer)

Regards

John

Brian Considine

· #10 · Mar 9, 2007

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 9 Mar 2007, 16:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Ditto. At present I don't have any sound locos, so I can't vote. (cries into beer)

Regards

John

There, there diddums - you can borrow one of my nasty old German ones

.

See less See more

3

neil_s_wood

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 10, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Ok folks, I have emailed Doug to add a zero option as I cannot edit the poll now. If you want to change how you voted PM Doug or a moderator to change it after Doug inserts the zero option.

Thanks for voting.

Doug

· #12 · Mar 10, 2007

I've added the zero option to where it is applicable.

dwb

· #13 · Mar 10, 2007

Thanks for adding the 0 option Doug, I've now been able to vote for my G-Scale narrow gauge steamer

David

Rail-Rider

· #14 · Mar 10, 2007

That made life a lot easier!

I have really mixed feelings about loco sound.
On occasions, on a single loco, that one is concentrating on, it can definitely enhance the experience. I have no doubt about that after watching some of Doug's videos. I was FAR more impressed than I expected to be! The synchronisation seemed excellent and the sound was authentic to my ears. But I've also witnessed inferior demos elsewhere. . .

On balance, after many years and a reasonable fleet, I'd be reluctant to accept the time and cost of conversion. I'd suspect this might be a common view for people with established stables, but perhaps very different for those with fewer locos needing investment.

See less See more

folkestonekeith

· #15 · Mar 10, 2007

95% of my locomotive purchases are now sound-equipped locos - I only buy the odd non-sound loco when it is apparent to me that a sound version will not be released - such as the recent Bachmann Chinese/Japanese 4-4-4T steamlined loco.........

Dennis David

· #16 · Mar 11, 2007

I think I would do the same if more were offered in my scale.

See less See more

neil_s_wood

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 11, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

Sorry for no zero option there folks. I wasn't aware that you had tick an option in all the sections of the poll for it to go through. Good to see it is a popular option with those familiar with it and that it isn't a novelty that will wear off. It seems to be steam, diesel then electric in order of popularity so far.

Dennis, if you get the MiniTrix steam sound loco please tell us about it as it's a first.

See less See more

7113

· #18 · Mar 12, 2007

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 9 Mar 2007, 18:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>There, there diddums - you can borrow one of my nasty old German ones

.

Only if you buy me a Brawa 2-8-0

Regards

John

See less See more

3

neil_s_wood

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 12, 2007

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 13 Mar 2007, 00:42) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Only if you buy me a Brawa 2-8-0

Regards

John
You certainly can't go wrong with Brawa!

See less See more

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.