DC synchronized sound

I do not know how they do it, but on my locos the sound of the chuffs gets stronger, more bark if you will, under heavy throttle, and quiets to a whisper when slowing down, but the synch stays good with the loco speed. The Class As on a 2% with a big train at about 20 smph would really talk to you sweet![:)]

I had several brass locos with mechanically or electric eye synchronized sound. Some had a cam and some used photo sensor stripes on an axle or on a wheel. I cannot tell any difference accuracy wise between those and the QSI. Every once in a while if I am looking right at it, the LokSound will be off about 45 degrees at the very start.

My eyes may not be good enough to check the synch at 30 smph plus, but my ear knows when it sounds right and when it doesn’t.

Please do not remark on my ignorance or naivete. I am new to model railroading, using just very cheap diesel locomotives with basic power sources. Has anyone thought of or tried using a cheap (<$20) CD unit with remote control to play locomotive sounds (horn, engine, track sounds) downloaded from free websites (http://www.grsites.com/exec/public/soundview.cgi?dir=trains&fn=trains002.wav&desc=Train). Is this too klugey?

There was a thread on this about a year ago. This is basically what the MRC sound commander system does. In regards to the context of this thread, that simple system could not syncronize the locomotive sound even to speed. It would have to be manually controlled. Speed up the engine, then speed up the sound, etc.

At my children’s Youth In Model Railroading club they have such a system. Rather than calling it a sound system, we call it a noise system.