How many out there are using any sound decoders from Soundtraxx or any other manufactures? When I moved to a house with a much smaller area for me to build a layout, I decided I would offset the loss by building a smaller layout with all of the locomotives with sound. I have just about converted all of the locomotives I use during an operating secession (9-12 locomotives). I have three steam decoders, 2 1st gen EMD, and 3 ALCos. The diesels are my favorite. My engine terminal really comes to life when I have three or four locomotives idling away while I'm switching with another sound equipped engine. I've learned that with the diesels you have to play with CV3 and CV4 (acceleration and deceleration momentum) to get the sound to match the locomotive motion. Some locomotives start with such a small amount of voltage that locomotive will start moving way before the sound ever starts, and on our compressed track arrangements that we modelers must have, the locomotive will be stopped just as the sound is throttling up. To counter that you must add a small amount of acceleration momentum. The nice thing about the addition of the momentum is that it slows you down a little and it keeps you (and other visiting operators) from switching like a ball in a pinball machine, rocketing forward and backwards like your racing the clock. We have found that switching moves are being performed much more protypically, slower and operators are think more about their moves. Operators are also more aware of the sound that the locomotive is making. When you watch a real locomotive switch, it is not switching a boxcar going from zero to notch 8 and back again. It has made simple switching moves much more fun. For example; Last night I wanted to test out an area on the layout that I have been doing lost of scenery on (see "Life under a highway bridge" in the HO forum and "Roanoke and Southern" in the free lance forum). I took and RS-3 with sound, one tank car for Sherwin-Williams and a boxcar for the freight house. I got my cars in the yard and pulled up to the depot / yard office. When I was ready to depart, I turned on the bell and gave two blast of the horn. This locomotive is one of the few that still has a single chime (goose honk) horn. As the locomotive left the depot I had to get right back on the horn because I had a road crossing to cross. After crossing the road I turn off the bell and rolled down the main in about notch 3 (there's a slight grade and the cars were loaded). I stopped just past the switch that leads to the industry area behind the yard. After the switch was thrown I put the locomotive in notch one. The RS-3 made the rattling throttle-up sound and then went silent (like Alcos do when you lay back on the throttle) as it coasted down a slight down grade into the industry area. I was going slowly so the brakeman could realign the switch for the main, also I had to cross back across the road so I put the bell back on and gave a couple blast of the horn. For the next 45 real minutes I switched out the tank car, ran around the box and shoved it into the freight house track. I also picked up two boxcars from the freight house. The whole time I was sounding the horn when I went down tracks that I felt were safety hazards (see the "Life under a highway bridge" to see the tight clearances between buildings). The simple act of setting out two cars and picking up two was so real. I had more fun doing that, than I have had on huge layouts where I have run more trains or switched more cars in the same amount of time. The costly investment of installing sound (about $130 to $150 per locomotive) was all worth it. Tony Koester once talked in his "Trains of thought" column about "bang for your buck". Sure I could of had about three locomotives for the cost of one with sound, but that one with sound beats any three non-sound locomotives hands down. I would like to hear from others that may have installed sound decoders. If you have not, you should consider it over buying more new locomotives. I would love to post a digital video for you to see and hear what this is like. [ 03. June 2003, 15:42: Message edited by: Coaltrain ]
When I can afford it, I am going for the Surroundtraxx under table sound system that tracks transponding engines. That will make it more affordable for me to have sound in all my engines in the long run.
When I decided to go DCC, I didn't hesitate to add sound decoders(soundtraxx) to all 7 of my steam engines. I also got one of the Broadway limiteds. It seemed a 'good bang for the buck' I have not regretted it. Sound takes the hobby to a new level.
I think the Broadway Limited Steam sound (from the Hudson) is great!! In fact, I think it sounds better than Soundtraxx [the fact that the Hudson has dual speakers may make some contribution]. The quality of the idling sounds is much better (but it does lack Fred the Fireman) and the whistle is fantastic. I do miss being able to alter the chuff as with Soundtraxx. The innovative (and complex) way you can program individual sounds and volumes is a great help. The only real drawback to the Hudson is that when a short happens on the track the engine is on (not even necessarily a short with the Hudson itself) - the decoder locks up and has to be "jumpered" to reset itself (and this removes any CV changes you may have entered) [It's also not very forgiving of tight trackwork, it really wants something more than 18" radius curves]
Broadway limited has sure got a nice list of locomotives it is going to do with sound installed. I would like to hear the E7 sound to see how different the Quantum diesel sound compairs to Soundtraxx. I wonder it Quantum will ever offer it's sound decoders seperate.
At this stage, I am dedicated to getting the layout up and running so I keep expenses down on anything not furthering the layout. I would like sound, but right now it is on the "DRUTHER" list, not the given.
I like the different character of sounds from the Broadway, the wheels schreeching around curves or putting on the brakes. The whistle is great. The sound of the engine sitting on a siding is also wonderful. Is it better than Soundtraxx, it's not better it's different. They're both excellent. One other Broadway plus is 'plug and play'. Synchrochuff listed the Broadway's drawbacks so I won't duplicate them.
I have a sound decoder in my Stewart HO C628. I too have noticed a slight lag in sound and acceleration. It is not a distraction though. I love the sound, the only thing missing is the black smoke bellowing out of the exhaust. It has the ALCO washing machine sound down pat. Will I get more sound? I may buy a first generation sound unit for my F-7.
Little late chiming in, but our club has Soundtraxx decoders in all of our steamers (Athearn Mikes, Pacifics, LL 0-8-0s) which I installed, plus three Hudsons. The sound is great, but can get annoying while you are switching the yard for 4 hours (so the mute button is nice). I also slapped one in a P2K GP9, and set the throttle sound to manual control. That way you can have the actual speed increase lag behind the motor throttling up. This always goes over well at an open house. As I start up or down a grade, only a minor adjustment to the actual speed is needed, but I crank the throttle sound to notch 8, or run the dynamics coming down.
I agree that the sound can get to you during an operating secession. I found that I am programming them to be a little quieter than what I thought I wanted. I really wanted the manual notching on my diesels but I felt it would be hard to switch that way. If I ever get a layout with a nice long main line I will have the road engines all manual.
I noticed that Pray59 is waiting for Surroundtraxx. Does anyone know when the Surroundtraxx system is expected to be released. I am about to start an N scale layout and I really want sound. I have even considered going to HO scale with the advantage of installing sound decoders in the larger locomotives. But my hobby room is only 9X11 and I feel HO scale needs a little more room. Any input on sound for N scale would be greatly appreciated. [ 03. July 2003, 14:55: Message edited by: Robert Shaffer ]
Tom Knapp showed me some Nn3 engines he made that had Soundtraxx decoders in them. The sound was very good, but the space he fit it in was too small for me to work in. There are guys in Z Scale that fit these decoders inside too. I am guessing that the Surroundtraxx system will go for under $1000, or they wont sell many. Now looking at putting DSD decoders in 10 engines might cost the same as a Surroundtraxx system and 20 Digitrax transponders, so in the long run the Surroundtraxx system may be cheaper, not to mention a bit easier to install.
