[alanb]

Well, certainly some interesting replies, and a lot of the posts are positive and helpful, to other people and myself. Then that is what a good Forum is all about.

Bob.B quite rightly said that it was not long ago that we were all badgering manufacturers to make the motors less noisy, and of course, all the sound absorbing material, as we could not stand the noise. What a funny bunch we are !!!.

I did adjust my sound decoder, but it would not go low enough.

I am not against sound, believe me. I think on an exhibition layout it gives realism. But as I said before, I cannot believe with more than two engines running at a time, that the noises would merge.

Now I have a confession to make - I cannot use sound as it is to-day. My trains are all fitted with Lenz decoders because I use ABC to control my trains. All my platforms, (I have eight) have signal lights which are connected via a relay circuit and Lenz BM1 (Automatic Braking). I also have two other signals at other points on the track.

You programme the decoders at the speed you want for the engine concerned, and then set the braking distance you require. The controller is then set at maximum for each engine. If I was running four trains, one from each platform, I would select each train in turn, and set the controller to maximum, and switch on the lights.
As I change each light to green, the train at that platform moves off and travels at its set speed until it reaches the approach to the next platform with a red light, where it makes a controlled stop at the end of the platform. So I can run four trains (or more) by just changing lights. The controller is not touched. So I effectively control my layout as a signalman and not a driver.

Now here is the crunch. I cannot use sound decoders !!!!!.

The technical ones amongst you may have spotted why. The answer lies in the fact that the decoder in each train is set to its maximum speed. Therefore, when a train hits the BM1 circuit at the approach to a light, the train slows down and stops, but the decoder circuit is still 'seeing' maximum speed. So the train stops, but the sound is still going full whack.

So, if you have sound, you cannot use ABC in the future.

This is the reason why I was hoping that a manufacturer could provide a cheap decoder with just whistles and horns on which are not dependant on speed.

Lastly, why are sound decoders so expensive? Is it that much more difficult than making a good quality DCC decoder which costs around £20.

AlanB

 

[valetman]

QUOTE (alanb @ 21 Feb 2009, 14:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So, if you have sound, you cannot use ABC in the future.

This is the reason why I was hoping that a manufacturer could provide a cheap decoder with just whistles and horns on which are not dependant on speed.

Lastly, why are sound decoders so expensive? Is it that much more difficult than making a good quality DCC decoder which costs around £20.

AlanB

The Zimo MX640 fully supports ABC , and the sounds will correspond as the loco slows. It has one drawback, limited availability of sound files, although it has only been out for a year.

The sound decoders are what they are, as with anything, they are priced at what the market will stand, and not a penny less.

The US outline decoders are, by and large, about £40 cheaper than the UK loksound ones, which can be accounbted for by economies of scale I would guess.

 

[railstimulator]

Last week I went to visit 3 of the 9 grandchildren. Alex the youngest grabbed me by the hand and said come and see my train set grandad. So off to his room. There in all its glory was his Brio trainset, a complete layout elevated sections, mountains, bridges, engine shed etc etc. So what has this to do with DCC I hear you ask. Well as the trains were pushed around at certain points on the layout sounds were emitted. As the train went thru the station you got a roar of a passing train, as it went over the top of the mountain you got a whistle/hoot (all beit USA type) and as it crossd the bridge a sound of a crossing bell.

So I thought how does it do this. Alex is only 4 so he didn't know. Examination of the track revealed plastic inserts between the track groves (Brio is all wood). As the train passes over this the magnetic couplings trigger the circuit in the rail section. There are two small batteries in the base of the rail or the item that makes the noise. So those of you who have N and want limited sounds there are possibilities out there.

 

[Chinahand]

That sounds (excuse the pun) to be exactly what I'm looking for. Do you have more details e.g. web site etc.

OK. Forget that !! I just found the Brio web site.

 

[Robert Stokes]

I don't have any sound locos but after reading this thread I am certainly going to get one to see what it sounds like.

After that who knows?

Cheers, Robert.

 

[locoworks]

it may not be a cheap sound optioin for what you are looking for, but you could still use a 'normal' sound decoder if you get it's programmer ( i'm thinking lok sounds ESU programmer thingy that allows you to load your own sounds ) you could just delete the sounds in the decoder you don't want i suppose really that would be just the 'chuff' or engine noise. you could keep all the buffer noise, air brakes, horns, bells, whistles, couplings etc. so the only noise would be what you want at your command regardless of speed. you may need to record silence if the decoder has to have a file in place for it to work?? i really don't know.

 

[pilotfriend]

While exhibiting, I have found myself next to screeching diesel sounds that were every bit as bad as fingernails on a blackboard. After two days of this I was almost driven mad. Personally I hate sound at exhibitions. Due to the general noise levels, the sound is gradually turned up and then competes with the sound next door. Add to this folks selling DVDs with sound turned up full and it become impossible to hear oneself think.

In the end, I have developed an excellent sound attenuator. Ambient sound of very loud seagulls at our harbour, is so far the only method which seems to get others to turn it down, or better still off.

At home, sound could be interesting but please think again about exhibitions...after all, people like to talk.

JdF

 

[Madkitten]

sound - why do we need it ?

we dont - but it is Kewl................................ cant really say any more!!!

nikki

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE Is it that much more difficult than making a good quality DCC decoder which costs around £20. Yes, the cost of manufacture of the basic decoder isn't that different but the technology is.

 

[dwhite4dcc]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 21 Feb 2009, 21:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yes, the cost of manufacture of the basic decoder isn't that different but the technology is.

I earnestly believe that most of the cost is developing and supporting software to run the decoders.

 

[iansa]

QUOTE (locoworks @ 21 Feb 2009, 18:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>it may not be a cheap sound optioin for what you are looking for, but you could still use a 'normal' sound decoder if you get it's programmer ( i'm thinking lok sounds ESU programmer thingy that allows you to load your own sounds ) you could just delete the sounds in the decoder you don't want i suppose really that would be just the 'chuff' or engine noise. you could keep all the buffer noise, air brakes, horns, bells, whistles, couplings etc. so the only noise would be what you want at your command regardless of speed. you may need to record silence if the decoder has to have a file in place for it to work?? i really don't know.

With Loksound the motor/steam sound can be turned off any time with a function button. With motor sound off all the other sounds, horn/whistle,bell, airbrakes,coupling ,etc,etc, can be played.
A Lokprogramer is not needed to do this( it does make it easier) but can be done with CV adjustment.

Ian

 

[SRman]

I hope I'm not duplicating anything said earlier (I skim-read some of this thread!): you can get sound decoders that are add-ons for existing ones, e.g. Digitrax. there is no reason why these couldn't be used for auxilliary sounds like whistles, without engine/steam sounds. I believe that these decoders are somewhat cheaper than the usual ESU / Zimo types too.

It is also possible that these sounds could be used independently so perhaps the auxilliary decoders might be a way around the Lenz ABC problem too - not sure on that one so perhaps someone else with more experience in that area could speak up.

 

[Martin71]

Hi

Hmmm a bit of a funny question. Some will say no, others yes. Do we need it no, do I want it yes. It adds a totally new dimension, that's why I have it on just about every loco I have.

That's like saying do we need model trains?

Do we need.............. and so on

m

 

[alanb]

Martin,

Yes, it was an unfortunate choice of words, although it has stimulated a lot of response.

I meant it to actually refer to the compatability with DCC. i.e. lots of trains running, lots of noise.

It did not flash up until I had posted. I found that you cannot edit the heading, only the text.

There is a similar post running at the moment on the Hornby Forum.

A thanks to those replies regarding decoders that can be programmed with some sounds off.

My sound decoder is a stand alone MRC one. It cost £15. from the States. (That is why I was questioning prices)

If you try and just select the horn, it starts the whole shebang up.

Basically this is what I was thinking of, a stand alone decoder that you wire across the existing decoder and operate from the controller function buttons.

AlanB