Custom Sound, Sound Decoders?

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I think I might have heard something a while ago about these blank sound decoders that you can load up with custom horns and bells and things like that. I might be crazy though. If Im not crazy, were can I find a couple of those. Thanks Colin

2

Digitrax and LokSound allow you to do what you are asking.

David B

3

Metra,

My Genesis HO SD45-2 has a LokSound system in which the horns were originally retrieved from dieselairhorns.com. My friend custom edited it via his computer and LokSound programmer. I think that he used a program that is similar to Vega or Audacity to edit the horn clip sound. From my understanding, it’s not an easy “1-2-3” process to get certain sounds, like horns, looped to sound smooth. Becomes even more challenging if the sound samples contain background noises. Nevertheless he did an excellent job.

Is there a specific sound scheme (horn, bell, primemover combo) that you want? It may already be available on sound decoder units that are currently available on the market. Are you looking for a Metra MP36 scheme?

4

To download sounds into a decoder, you must have the appropriate programmer unit. You can’t do it through your DCC system the way you can alter CVs in a motor decoder. Of course, each manufacturer (LokSound, Digitrax, others?) has a unique programmer for their decoders only. The programmers cost as much as, or more than, a good sound decoder, so it’s not typically a casual purchase.

I’ve got a Digitrax PR2 programmer, the predecessor of the current PR3 model. It plugs into my computer, and I have to provide a power supply as well. The software (Soundloader for Digitrax) is free, comes with the unit and can be downloaded from the Digitrax web site.

My LHS has a LokSound programmer, and he can download sounds into a decoder for his customers.

Check Digitrax’s “Sound Depot” on their web site for more information.

5

Im Looking for a Metra F40PH “Screamer” Sound with a P5, i would prefer a bell recorded off a train, which I have, but thats not my biggest issue

6

QSI revolution is also customizable. QSI programmer is needed.

Pete

7

Also, were are some websites I can download custom sounds other people have made, is there like a yahoo group that has them? Colin

8

To an exent…the OP wants to upload custom sounds. With QSI you are stuck with what they have available.

David B

9

This is the Digitrax “Sound Depot” site:

http://www.digitrax.com/sounddepot.php

You can download the “Soundloader” program for your PC, and the F40PH sound project. You can play around with the sounds and listen to them on your computer. You don’t need a programmer or decoder to do this, so it’s a zero-cost way of experimenting.