I had to make due. I removed the Soundtraxx LC decoder from
my Genesis 2-8-2 and installed it in my Allegheny. I have been putting off adding
sound to this loco in anticpation of the Tsunami. Well, I could wait no longer.
The LC decoder does have a setting for an articulated loco, so the sound is
okay. It’s no Tsunami… but the Tsunami’s not even the Tsunami yet.
My question is this. I left the Digitrax decoder installed in the loco itself and
installed the Soundtraxx in the tender with the speaker. I soldered the track
pickup leads to the tender pickups. This way it funtions like a sound-only
decoder. This was easier(for the time being) than running the speaker
wires from the loco to the tender. I set the address the same as the other
decoder and everything seems to work well. Now for the question…
will this cause any conflicts between the decoders, or will it cause any problems that I am not aware of? Dave
Using the SoundTraxx LC on the same address as the locomotive’s motor decoder should cause no problems. I have ran up to 9 P2K GP diesel engines all on the same address.
I recently put a SoundTraxx DSX sound-only decoder into the tender of an IHC Pacific locomotive and a Lenz decoder in the engine to control the motor, and both are on the same address. In order for the sound to work, the DSX must be on the same address as the locomotive.
I’ve done the same in G-scale, with a DSX in the tender and an AirWire900 Wireless DCC receiver/decoder in the engine, with both set on the same address.
I’m no DCC expert, but my gut tells me the only thing to watch out for is if you need to program one of the decoders. If you select the decoder to program by address, you might end up changing the CVs on BOTH decoders. I believe this is why some have a “lock” so you can program another on the same address.
If your Digitrax decoder is a recent one, Series3, it will have the decoder lock function so you can program it and then lock it so you can program the Soundtraxx even where there are overlapping CV’s and not mess up the Digitrax settings. Otherwise connect only 1 at a time to the programmign track. Or you could use two different addresses and consist them together.
Don’t be troubled. This is actually good! The more the competition the better. A big setback for many modelers will be the Tsunami’s price tag. Hopefully as more units from competitors hits the market, sound will become more affordable.
I’m still excited about the Tsunami, but a friend of mine put this situation in an interesting light.
Years ago, a manufacturer promised Digital Audio Tapes. A lot of hoopla and fanfare from the beginning… but then it took a long time for it to make it to the market. When DATs finally hit the market, the reaction of many in the public?..O.K…Nice but…Big Deal! By then, the compact disc and similar media, had become the entrenched mainstay .
IMHO, If Digitrax, QSI as well as the other manufacturers that are getting into sound produce quality sound units in “bulk quantities” that perform “nearly as well” as the Tsunami, have fewer frills and are cheaper in price…then the Tsunami might not turn out to be such a hot seller after all the hoopla dies down.
Working class John and Jane Q Modeler will likely be able to afford “one” or two of these decoders vs. 3 or 4 of the cheaper sound units.
By the time a modeler buys, lets say an Atthearn Genesis HO F7, then purchases the Tsunami decoder, speakers, lighting effects, etc…he’s going to have about $350 plus tied up in that one little F unit!
The Tsnaumi is designed to “Drop in” (Err… sorta) to analog (non-DCC) engines and give us the same capabilities as the QSI systems (Aka Broadway) that will tell the difference between DC and DCC and possibly have different engine sounds.
That is all I know about it, the price tag on these units are very stiff. I have 4 Proto FA units that I would like to outfit with the Tsnaumis but might actually see these be produced WITH QSI already included for as much or less in cost in the future.
Correct me if I am wrong with any of these tidbits of information.
Currently I prefer QSI as I have DC (For now) and also run on DCC elsewhere.
I would lock the Digitrax, but when I adjust CV 3 or CV 4 for one I need for both decoders
to change in order to match the chuff with the acceleration and deceleration. Dave
The CVs used by a sound decoder should have no effect on a Digitrax or other brand of motor decoder, so there is usually no need to lock the decoder. Having both decoders on the same address is required or the sound won’t work at all.
Depends - there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to function remapping and lighting effects. I’m always cautious about writing to a CV that supposedly doesn’t exist, too.
And there’s no reason why a sound decoder on a different address can’t be MU’d to a motor decoder on a different address. I know other people have already done what I plan to do and put a sound decoder with BIG speakers in my dummy Stewart F7 B unit and then just MU that with other locos to have the appearance of sound everywhere - at least in other first generation EMDs. MU the F7 with an Alco and it won’t be too convincing. [:D]
I agree with Randy … I 'd put the sound decoder on its own unique address, then consist it in with the address of your motor decoder. Soundtraxx decoders have lots of rich consist functionality so this is an excellent option.
I have tried making a sound decoder the same address as a motor decoder and then driven myself nuts with setting CVs on the main. I’d change a CV, only to find the sound decoder quit working and then realize later my CV setting for the motor decoder trashed the same CV in the sound decoder but it was used for a totally different purpose.
You must be very very careful any time you have more than one decoder share the same address. It’s so easy to forget about the other decoder and then spend hours trying to debug a problem only to find the problem was between your two ear lobes.
[:D]
Thanks guys,
Your advice and concerns are apreciated and noted. I can see where you are coming
from(Randy and Joe). I did a little cross referencing and found that CV 114 and 116 on
the Soundtraxx decoder are use for certain volume and exhaust settings… on the Digitrax
they control function effects(which are not relevent in this particular installation, but could
cause conflict in others). I guess as a general rule and just for good measure I should
change the address and consist the two. Besides, it not a difficult procedure. Again, thanks
for the input. Dave
I cancelled my two orders last month after waiting almost two years and decided just to wait and see. If they actually come out with them, I can still buy the product and not be unhappy with waiting. That way I am not disappointed every time I hear of a beta test or news how good it sounded at the latest train show. I realize new products takes time and money to bring to market, but a market missed can be a failure for their effort. When they first talked about this, no other makers were in the same league as they were and they could have stayed out front in the cutting edge department.
Bangert1,
You are absolutely right. When news of the Tsunami first surfaced, QSI was just really
getting rolling and only available through Broadway Limited. Now we have Atlas, P2K, Trix,
Athearn and some more I probably am forgeting at the moment. The train is pulling out
of the station and Soundtraxx had better hurry and get aboard or get left behind. Pretty sad
because I like their products and was really looking forward to the Tsunami. Let’s hope
they get it together soon. Dave
It’s October 2005. ANYONE have word on the Tsunami? The release is supposed to be some time this month.[%-)]
I don’t want to encourage any negativity here. I realize that this is a small company. However, as a friend pointed out to me, Soundtraxx now has some “tough” competition to deal with. Ironically, Digitrax “did not” want to get into sound but did so at the urging of KATO. Then, there is LOKSound. Expensive, but cheaper than Tsunami and offers an even wider variety of sounds.
The clincher with Digitrax and LokSound is that their decoders will allow sounds to be “Uploadable” from digital recordings. While this feature is not as cut and dry or simple to use, it’s a feature that quite a number of modelers have been asking for. Soundtraxx decided not to include this in the Tsunami. Is it a good thing? Perhaps it may prevent “novice” users from potentially screwing up the decoder…I don’t know.
I do know that I have a couple of very clean recordings of Leslie RS5T horns and the rare Amtrak SL4T. Would love to hear these sounds in my HO units. [:p][:D]
Last word was that Tsunami would make it’s debut, mid-October. There’s nothing on the Soundtraxx website about it, though. [8)][%-)]
