About 6 weeks ago someone posted here that the Tsunami sound decoder by Soundtrax would be available within a few weeks. I have not seen anything about it since. Has anyone heard a revised schedule for release[?]
I have a couple Tsunami installs waiting on backorder myself. [%-)]
I received a letter two days ago saying they have not shipped and may not be in for a while.
I would have gone with their 90 or 100 series if they just weren’t so darn noisy at slow speeds. And I don’t want the DSX because of a different decoder address. So I must wait for the Tsunami sigh (That is unless the LL Berkshires come out with QSI sound before the Tsunami does…which is in December.)
I really wi***heir was an alternative. I can’t wait for the SUSI add ons for sound.
I wonder if they are trying to clear out old stock before releasing Tsunami?
I’ve seen a number of big CE companies withhold new releases till old stock is just about depleted. (To move stock, there is usually their a price break on the old models right before release also.)
Wil, Guys,
A lot of us are wondering. I recently talked with a friend of mine in the computer industry. He strongly suspects that Soundtraxx may be experiencing more glitches with the Tsunami decoder than is commonly known OR Tsunami is not performing to expected levels. Don’t forget that right off the bat, the Tsunami’s performance is going to be compared to QSI!
In looking back at the advertisment, the Tsunami does promise a lot. Vendors at demonstrations were reported to be impressed, however, does the product deliver?
Soundtraxx has not put out anymore statements regarding the expected delivery date.
Customers and dealers have been patient, however, 1 1/2 years later…no product!
Customers that were once very excited are moving on to other options. This is where Soundtraxx is losing. The advertisment on the Soundtraxx website, other than the photos is bascially unchanged from Spring 2004.
Glitches and problems are understandable, but IMHO, Soundtraxx would do well to make a post on their website regarding Tsunami’s status. Even if it says: The decoder is currently in the testing phase…further updates will be posted" that would be a decent move, public relationswise and basically tell us all to “just hang in a little longer”. Most of us could deal with that.
Guys, don’t forget that scores of customers have paid Tony’s Trains and Litchfield Station the $179 discount price for the Tsunami. These customers paid faithfully! I wonder now how many got tired of waiting
I am literally slowly buying engines already equippted with QSI rather than wait for Tusnami.
I have a need for a electronics that detects both DCC and DC automatically.
QSI has done this while Tsunami fiddles and soundtrakk burns.
Maybe one day Tsunami will be fitted into some of my surviving analog engines. But little by little those analogs get sold off when BLI or LL releases a QSI equipped engine I need.
Humor me, I’m ignorant.
Besides running on DC, what’s the big deal?
DigitalGriffin,
I wonder about the old stock because the DSD150 was their “Premeir” decoder. Production was stopped and the Tsunami was slated to be the new, innovative replacement. After the fall of 2004, DSD 150 decoders became much more difficult to find at vendors like Loys, Litchfield and Tony’s.
BTW: PLEASE explain your info regarding the 90 and 100 series decoders being noisy at slow speeds. What type of noise? Buzzing? Feedback?
I’m new at this and would appreciate knowing.
Thanks![;)]
I purchased a DSD-LL080LC my 0-8-0. It works and sounds great, except for the buzzing at low speeds. It’s quite audible, so much so, I may purchase the QSI based LL 0-8-0’ s. (Release around ?December 2005?)
At high speeds they are more quiet, and the sound is quite good. Throttle ups support is excellent also.
I not 100% sure the 90/100 series do the same thing. I’m suspecting they do because they aren’t advertised as “silent” decoders. Can anyone confirm my suspicions?
Hey guys, just wondering, what sounds will be offered in the Tsunamis? More correct diesel engines? More variated steam sounds?
SpaceMouse,
Go to www.soundtraxx.com Click on the Tsunami advertsiement and you can read about the special features in detail if you have not yet seen them.
O.K, the big “hoopla” about the Tsunami is that the sound will be more dynamic and powerful than Soundtraxx’s previous decoders and current decoders. Including the DSD150 (discontinued) which was a sweet sounding decoder.
On the Tsunami there is an equalizer offered, so you can actually “fine tune” sounds to your taste, just as you can with an equalizer on your home stereo. Also, the feature that offers that extra “oomph!” to modelers’ taste palletes is the adjustable “Reverb” feature. This allows that slight “echo” effect that prototype locomotives produce when passing through canyons or towns.
Another feature that modelers also wanted to see: Horn or whistle toots—The short little horn blasts that engineers frequently make during switching operations or when departing a passenger station.
So this is why many of us became excited when reading about these features. This is supposed to be the decoder that will give QSI a serious run for their money. However, my criticism on the post above is Soundtraxx’s lack of communication to potential customers.
Oh, and the friend I mentioned? He owns a successful technology software company. He knows the business well and is not prone to wild guessing. In the many years I’ve known him, he’s usually right on the mark about companies that manufacture software related products.
10-4!
The OTHER big benefit of Tsunami is, finally, SILENT DRIVE for DCC! No more buzzing that overwhelms the actual sounds. The best way to do sound with the current Soundtraxx offerings is to useone of their sound-only decoders and add in a quality decoder from someone else to controlt he motor. More expense and tougher to fit it all in, especially on a smaller model.
–Randy
Good question, amigo!
I visited the Soundtraxx Yahoo website. According to posts there, Soundtraxx will offer the same sounds that they are currently offering, only they are remixed and sound clearer.
I admit that I was dissappointed since in the diesel area there are other very popular and common horns, such as the K5H, RS5, and the P5 used by various railroads. The current Soundtraxx listing though, is a reasonable cross section.
A while back I wrote Soundtraxx’s Nancy Workman an e-mail that she never replied to. It was an idea that I still feel has potential:
There are several locomotive horn and whistle clubs in the U.S. I suggested that Soundtraxx consider talking to these clubs and use them as a source for clean, crystal clear recording of locomotive horns and whistles. The usual required legal contracts or “red tape” can be worked out with business attorneys. No reply.
Now, here’s my guess for the future. I’m no expert but I’ve heard this more than once!
Sound decoders that will enable a customer to “Upload” sounds are coming down the pike! A basic version is already available. A modeler can, let’s say, contact a club like “Diesel Air Horns” or even Matt Donnelly. For a fee they can request a quality digital recording of a hard to find horn (like an Amtrak SL4T, or a UP RS5 ) on line or they can purchase a CD already professionally recorded. That digital recording can later be downloaded into a computer, which in turn can be uploaded to a sound decoder.
My friend explained to me that the steps are actually much more involved, especially since sound still requires digital mixing and “cleaning up”. but this is the “layman’s jist” of it. If this does happen, IMH
Antonio,
I think uploadable sound is an excellent idea. How about this one? Soundtrax sells a “undecorated” decoder. You get the decoder, use a USB cable to some sort of black box to your computer and go to the soundtraxx website. Once there you upload: type of engine, dynamic or non dynamic, type of horn etc etc. I would think this would help out LHS with stock. They’d only have to stock one type of sound decoder vice a dozen different models.
Just a thought.
Dave,
Very good!
That’s along the lines my friend is talking. I’m not an electronics or software expert so I try to understand as best I can.
Interesting thing though, while Soundtraxx or QSI may the source for all of the prime mover related sounds, speculation is that other companies, clubs or individuals will make the wider variety of steam whistles and diesel horns available for downloading.
We’ll see what happens!
Cheers!
The ESU Loksound decoders are able to do this. I think they are finally becoming available in the US. I need to check those out, could be a good alternative. I think they are DCC only, but that’s all i really need anyway.
–Randy
ESU has announced their intention to introduce the latest version of the LokSound V3 in the US. It is fully programmable via an interface&software package called LokProgrammer. Those interested can dowload the decoder manual, the software and the sound projects package to try & see how it can be customized, if you have the right sound recordings. Try http://www.loksound.de/en/ .
One delay factor with the Tsunami is the lawsuit by MTH.
It will be interesting to see the COST of the decoder, once it is finally out.
All those features won’t come cheap - some might be shocked !!!
“One delay factor with the Tsunami is the lawsuit by MTH.”
I’ll happily take a “disabled” back EMF decoder if that’s what it takes until this whole mess is straightnend out.
It hasn’t slowed down QSI sales, that’s for sure.
Yes, but QSI was already making their decoders. AFAIK, Soundtraxx has not been sued - but if they release a decoder that uses disputed features, look out. Although they haven’t come out an said it, this is probably a very likely reason for the delay in the Tsunami release. Bruce at Litchfield Station posted on his website MONTHS ago about going to dealer training at Soundtraxx and getting to actually install a Tsunami decoder, but he was not allowed to disclose any more than that.
–Randy
Randy,
Thanks for that info!
If this is the situation, Soundtraxx should post something on their website, even it it’s vague so as to not give the actual reason. Most of us can read “between the lines”.
But while it may not be the intent, Soundtraxx’s “silence” is not doing them any favors as far as Public Relations. Caution can easily be mistaken for apathy or even arrogance. “Customers will flock to buy the product once they ‘hear’ how good it is…” seems to be the unwritten credo that Soundtraxx is currently operating on.
I hope that they do get all of the legal pains worked out.
One thing that bothers me is seeing a business stop selling its existing product line before the promised replacement arrives … and the replacement just nevers seems to surface …
I have to ask how they can keep the doors open doing that?
Makes me wonder if we’ll ever see the Tsunami … I hope so, but every day they delay with the old product line defunct as well doesn’t look good for the company’s health. Lack of any updates on the web site is not a good sign … [%-)]