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QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 24 Oct 2008, 22:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** I knew that Zmil - Every one will have a different opinion and thats what I'm looking for. I was only making the point that while the announcement isn't really a driving sound, its actually well used by owners.

In the end I will end up with a set of defaults that can be changed case by case as needed. There are always more on the decoder than are actually activated, so its actually possible to happily customise set-up for each client anyway - just a matter of moving each into or up or down the function list.

I was actually very surprised at the degree of interest in the station announcements myself - I think its one of those things that is a bit different so the owner can trigger to impress the guests, and to be honest with the echo and equalisation adjustments I've done to it is really does sound like its coming from a station not the loco!

With the equalization is the EQ adjustment done within the Lokprogrammer program or do you use an external sound program like Sound Forge etc

QUOTE I'm currently trying to work out a way of creating a whole set of them so I can match to each region and modellers needs.

I can Imagine - "I need an announcement saying " Hogwarts Express leaving Platform 9 and 3/4 at 11.00am""

QUOTE I'm scurrying around right now trying to re-find a website I once had bookmarked that took a recording adnmorphed the voices to different national / regional accents to add authenticity. The alternativeis to have MRF membersmake one up is plain language and email me a MP3 or Wave file of it so I can tweak it with the same effects....

Actually I think some of the added features on the sound decoders such as the odd pump or similar will end up going (actually still there but put in a position past Fn 9) as they are also often already heard often enough in the start and random settings.

BTW The momentum in your loksound can be set to toggle OK - but with a handset its really not an easy thing to do.

If you want I can do it for U if you drop in - it'd only take a few minutes to do - the kettle wouldn't even have time to boil :).

Richard

Hi Richard

Re the momentum toggle

I'm not really a fan of wheel spin (anymore) Different when young and foolish , burning rubber on tyres!
I had one Lok (BR 218 for Brian's benefit) which I had forgotten to add values to cv3 and cv4 so even at the default of 1 on the TCS pre- BEMF decoder -Quick acceleration or a change of direction caused wheel spin (and would have removed the traction tyres ) So I changed that next time it went on the track.

Sound is a colourful addition to Model Rail , I think that it should be subtle and not over the top , a bit like weathering .
Someone said to me , "wont the sound of the coaches on the track drown out the sound of the lok if you turn it down to much" I thought about this. Then I recalled what you hear as a train passes first you hear the Engine , as that passes by you hear less of the Mid to High frequency's and more of the Low throb of the motor ,which is then overpowered by the clatter and clank of the wagons , but the low throb of the Loco is still there.

With the v100 (br212) Lok the Loksound decoder has a lot of headroom for the main sound ( I turned it down to 14 ) so there is room to add a bit more low range sound without distortion and I think an external system like Rail road and Co 4D sound would be a good addition (just to expensive for me though) Maybe someone will do something through JMRI that will utilize the computer to run additional sounds , like Station Announcements , Clock Towers , Church Bells , Cows and Livestock, Road vehicles and the general background sounds of your scene.

I'm probably dreaming there though

Regards Zmil
 

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Discussion Starter · #22 ·
QUOTE (zmil @ 24 Oct 2008, 21:38) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi All

maybe slightly off topic

Richard
Does the ESU Lokprogrammer have any facility to re -EQ the sounds
or do you need to use an external Program - assuming the sound files are in some standard format like wav etc

Regards Zmil

***You cannot access, read or manipulate the sounds in the decoder at all.

Re your comment there is absolutely no way you will increase the bottom end as you are hypothesising... all the "headroom" in the world won't let you do what you want. Think about the physics of a speaker that small.

All sound file creation and manipulation is done before it ever gets to the decoder. All sound file manipulation is prior to the lokprogrammer ever seeing it.

Richard
 

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Hi Richard

I know what you mean regarding the limitations of the speaker size, My thought was to bring down the levels of mid and high frequencies .

When mastering recordings (back in the distant past) I used a pair of good quality bookshelf speakers (4" woofer 2 way)
when I was happy with the sound on those I would listen on a larger Speaker system The idea being getting something to sound "full" on small speakers it would sound impressive on the larger speakers

I suppose the limitations of a 20mm x 40mm speaker will allow little sound below 400Hz let alone a 40Hz rumble

Still I'm quite pleased with the result of the Sound decoder Install , Nothing was cut away from the Loco and it is still easy to pull apart to service , without speaker and decoder wires getting in the way . the speaker can be removed with one small screw if need be, the other end is slotted in a guide.

Regards Zmil
 

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Discussion Starter · #24 ·
QUOTE (zmil @ 25 Oct 2008, 15:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>When mastering recordings (back in the distant past) I used a pair of good quality bookshelf speakers (4" woofer 2 way)
when I was happy with the sound on those I would listen on a larger Speaker system The idea being getting something to sound "full" on small speakers it would sound impressive on the larger speakers

***I used to use Tannoy studio monitors (the "little red monitor"). Basically overall it should sound the same on both little and big speaker... but when it comes to translating audio into a scale model, its really hard to do that for our tiny speakers - what sounds great on a small bookshelf speaker system loses so much energy below 40 Hz its hard to compensate!

a combination of onboard/outboard is eventually the "final solution"

Richard
 

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Discussion Starter · #26 ·
QUOTE (zmil @ 25 Oct 2008, 15:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I agree 110%

I wish that the Railroad and Co 4D sound was much cheaper or JMRI develop something

Regards Zmil

Its a job for several soundcards and hardware in cheap PC's - software is the easy bit :)

Richard
 

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I am not sure about wheelslips but station announcements annoy me comming out of the loco. Let alone, they are all in german!

However said that, I have two stations and I would like to hear the station announcements comming out from the loudspeakers embedded into them, even the station masters blowing the whistle. Its a matter of spending one day at the main station and recording all the announcements.

How will I do it? ......well, still working on it.


Baykal
 

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QUOTE How will I do it? ......well, still working on it.

How about a small cheap MP3 player activated by a remote.

I hope that someday someone will create a DCC controllable "accessory" MP3 player. I could come up with a Bill Of Materials for it quite easily but I think it would be a bit on the expensive side for general sale.

David
 

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Richard, F8 would be good. I usually use F1 for independant control of the lights, F1 for head light and F0 for back up light.

Regards
Charles Emerson
Queensland
Australia

QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 24 Oct 2008, 22:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>**Consider it done!

Oh - and by the way, I know you also have some other sound decoders - what button do you prefer for sound on/off - its easy enough to match the others you have when programming - default for LS is F1, but you can have F8 etc as per mute on Tsunami etc if you want. Just ask.

Richard
 

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QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 26 Oct 2008, 07:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'm pretty certain that's what is being used on a layout (not SL) at Beckenham this weekend - I'll leave any comments to others !

And that's my excuse for not hearing you half of the time!


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QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 24 Oct 2008, 06:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>OK, second question for all to answer: There are a limited number of super convenient "direct access functions" (ie one button push) which are F0 to F9 (others usually need to access as second screen)

This "wheelslip" function needs to be in the direct access area.... as do many other sounds AND of course any lighting control.

Its easy to fill the first 10 (0~9) and in some cases, something has to go... so which sounds can you most do without.

extra loco whistles
guards whistle
station announcement
injectors
coal shovelling (synchronised with flickering firebox)
added direct access to "brake squeal (to simulate flange squeal manually)
pumps
manual piston blowdown (its also in startup file usually)
Whilst I personally don't have much use for wheelslip sound (don't do steam), I believe that flange squeal would have a much more universal appeal if it were possible to control its generation automatically.
Not sure how it could be achieved on a commercial decoder (one with a SUSI interface, perhaps?), but my suggestion would be a simple electrical trigger switch, perhaps a bogie swivel detector formed from a couple of bits of contact wire or strip such that the squeal is triggered if the bogie swivel exceeds a certain angle, making the wires touch. Could even couple it to a particular range of low speed operation to inhibit the sound above a certain speed for compatibility with 'trainset' curves.
In a through-wired multiple unit (EMU/DMU), it would be possible to have each bogie fitted with such a switch so that the sound is created for every action as the unit passes by a location with the required severity of curve.
Just a thought...
 

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Hi Gordon

Yes the flange squeal is an idea , the way you suggested it

Richard could probably record that locally - there is a tight pair of s-bends on our Northline of the Local Railway in Perth where the EMU's pass out of the Main Station and under the Freeway . You can hear it quite loudly when driving on the freeway

Not a pleasant sound though - a bit like the running your nail down a blackboard sensation or audio feedback at around 1k Hz

Regards Zmil
 
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