Digitrax now offers the lastest series of plug and play decoders with sound add-on modules. The new series part numbers begin with DH165. The add-on sound module is called Soundbug. They come with a 32 ohm speaker and 330 microfarad hold-up capacitor. The Soundbug can be used as a standalone sound decoder. The new DH165 decoders now come with voltage regulators built in - great news for Genesis owners with 1.5 volt lamps; NO RESISTORS needed!
The decoders are available for Atlas/Athearn Genesis (DH165A0), Kato (DH165K0), Life Like/Proto 2K (DH165L0), and a special version for revised Kato locomotives like the SD40-2 (DH165K1A).
I know this sounds like an add. But many threads on the forum discuss Digitrax decoders, low voltage lamp regulation and DCC sound. These decoders are low priced - under $30.00 for the DH165 series decoders and the Soundbug MSRP is $49.99; They will probably be less online or from your favorite dealer.
Thanks for the update. I had gotten wind of these a couple of months ago, either on Tony’s Train Exchange or Digitrax’s web site. I have the DH163L0 in my Proto 2000 0-8-0 switcher and love it’s low-end response. I’m looking forward to finding out how the new 165 series does and how the Soundbug performs.
I forgot to mention the new sound schemes available; they include a E8 sampled from Southern 6900 at the museum at Spencer, SW1 sampled at North Arkansas R.R. , ALCO RS32, UP Challenger, and a traction/trolley package is now available.
Just so you guys know, the ‘Sound Bug’ as I know it is only 4 Bit sound (The regular decoders are 8 bit sound). This is a huge draw back. So dont expect any form of sound quality.
I believe the sound bug is intended for ‘B’ unit locos and such.
From what I understand, that is NOT the case, but a misconception possibly based on misinterpreted information from a Digitrax Web page. This was discussed somewhere a while back, but I discounted it at the time and can’t find the reference so I’ll have to go with anecdotal evidence:
The page in question, http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=882, mentions “4 __mega__bit/1 watt sound” (emphasis mine) and obviously refers to the sound scheme storage capacity.
Another Soundbug page, http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=919, says the SFX004D is “functionally identical to the sound portion of the SFX064D”, which as we all know has 8-bit sound.
Also, this page http://www.digitrax.com/kb/index.php?a=737 notes that “Digitrax sound decoders” (not SOME or A FEW or CERTAIN Digitrax sound decoders) “require sounds saved in .wav file format to be “8 bit” and 11 kilohertz (khz).”
Until I see/hear definitive proof to the contrary, I’m going under the assumption that the 'Bug is 8-bit. YMMV [:D]
Sound bugs should be at your LHS any day now. I just got one along with a 165L0 decoder this afternoon. And just to clear up any confusion, the sound bug is an 8 bit sound chip with 4 megabit of memory. Going down to install now.
From the Soundbug user manual (PDF file) from the Soundtraxx website:
So it sounds like they only have ONE Soundbug model available (as of now), and that one model comes pre-loaded with a generic steam sound (the default setting) and sound for an SD38-2. If you want anything else, you have to download the sound files from their website and use their PR2 sound programmer (MSRP $99.95) to load them into the Soundbug.
So that kind of sucks, IMHO. Unless they’re planning to release different versions in the not-so-distant future.
I’d like to install sound in an F7B. I was thinking about the Soundtraxx DSD-101LC for the 1st Gen EMD, but now the Soundbug would be a serious contender if the sound was “close enough.” I don’t know enough about diesels - would an SD38-2 be considered 1st Gen, or 2nd Gen? [:D]
I’d be very interested in hearing a comparison between the sound quality of these and the Soundtraxx LC decoders. Can anybody comment on the quality of the Soundbug at all? (Kansaspacific1, did you get yours up and running yet?)
The SD38-2 is classed as 2nd generation. The prototype was equipped with a non-turbocharged EMD 645 series diesel and an alternator (AC) instead of a generator (DC). Very similar to it’s smaller brother, the GP38-2.
The sound unit might sound close to a F unit that had a 645 put in it. IIRC, BN did that to their Executive F-units. The BN Es in commuter service also had 645s, but there were 2 engines in those, usually out of sync. The manifolding and carbody differences also cause some differences, to those that have heard a lot of them. Of course, if they heard a lot of them, they would be hard of hearing by now.[:D]