Hi folks, I need some info on sound chips (Tsunami), only heard recordings and seen videos not being able to get close in person I can only gessing as to which will suite the HO locos I’ve got at present. Sorry no picks I’m still gettong used to XP my learning curve just gone vertical, here’s a list of those I’d like to have ago at first,
Athern A pair of GE U boats 30 & 33 I think, an FM Trainmaster and a very early E-MD Geep 9
Bachmann A Pair of E-Md Geep 30s
Kato Powered A pair of E-MD F3s A&B and an Alco RS11.
Atlas An Alco S12 (I think, anway I’ts the switcher) Life-like Budd Rail Car.
Oh, has anyone figered out how to hot wire a spud for DCC
Thanks up front Pick.
PS Changed over to US prototype about 20yrs ago and lovein it…
The Tsunami decoders are only made for steam locos at present. A diesel decoder will be released at some point, but there’s no date yet.
The decoder information you are after depends on how much you want to spend. Loksound produce decoders for each of the locos you want to do except the Budd. You can even choose a decoder with a specific horn depending on the loco you are soundchipping. These decoders are programmable with different sounds if you want to move the chip to a different loco - even steam. (BTW - I don’t have any)
A cheaper option is the Soundtraxx range of decoders. The LC (low cost) decoders give a generic diesel sound similar to an EMD 1st generation loco and are under £30. They sound right for GP7 - GP30 and in F Units.
They also do a range of DSX decoders with different engine sounds for Alco, FM, GE and 2nd Gen EMD.
Digitrax, MRC and others also do sound decoders. Check in the MR for the DCC advert with a number of dealers both in the US and UK
Here’s a link to some short video clips of my sound equipped locos.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/843
Longer clips are here
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/album508
Jon
As Jon said the diesel tsunami is not available. The best diesel sound decoder around at this point is the Loksound V3.5 decoder. Its about the most expensive you can get (around $120 at tonys) but well worth it. You can order it loaded with any sounds you want from the huge library, and if you buy the $150 programmer you can change your sounds any time you like. The sound is top notch, if you have ever heard a BLI or P2K diesel with QSI sound, the Loksound has that edged out in sound quality and motor control.
If you dont know about BEMF or load compensation, BEMF senses the electro-magnetic frequency of the motor and pulses the power accordingly which will make your engine run extremely smooth and quiet. I have a Loksound decoder in a bachmann spectrum dash 8 I picked up for $30, I can start it off on speed step one and it will just C…R…A…W…L along smoothly. Load compensation sends more power to the motor under load (like going upgrade for example) to maintain a constant speed. If you can afford it these are the decoders to get.
Other options are cheaper Soundtraxx, MRC and Digitrax.
The other Soundtraxx decoders are just fine and can be fairly cheap. But with a lower price of course you dont get all the features. The soundtraxx LCs come with generic diesel sound and you only have accsess to 3 sounds, horn, bell and dynamic brake. The sound is alright but again just sounds generic. The DSXs are better I have heard, but I have never actually had a DSX. The only thing about them is its a sound-only decoder so you need another decoder for motor control. This 2 decoder setup takes more space and makes programing a little more tedious.
MRC are junk, stay away from them. The sound quality is very poor and they tend to not last long before having nervous breakdowns. This applies to the MRCs in Athearn Genesis locos too. If you want sound in a genesis buy the DC version and install a decent decoder.
I heard a Digitrax sound decoder this weekend installed in a Kato AC
Jon & JPM
Thanks both, a lot in a small spase. Gives me quite a bit to have a go at.
Pick
Just a couple more words about the Soundtraxx LC units. The sound isn’t as generic as some (MRC for example) - at least they have made the effort to differentiate between Alco and EMD prime movers.
I have found that they are much more sensative to dirty track or poor pick up than other decoders, and since the sound cuts when the power goes its much more noticeable. I have found that the QSI chips in my Broadway Limited engines are much better from this perspective.
Having heard a Soundtraxx Tsunami and an ESU Loksound, I’d have to say I prefered the Tsunami by some margin - but as already said the diesel units haven’t been released yet. I wonder if this is down to the speakers being used - the Tsunami was wired with 2 fair sized units in a decent size steam tender where as the Loksound had its own small speaker in a diesel body.
Jim, I suffer from this too, but have found a fix. By installing a 25v capacitor somewhere (presumably on the red or black wire) the stored charge will allow momentary loss of power without a break in the sound.
PS - not sure of the correct uf rating yet.
Jon