Lashup, sound decoders in every loco?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Lets pretend that we have a 3 loco lashup of SD45. When it comes to sound decoders we can do it in a couple of ways.

1 - A sound decoder in every loco.

2 - A sound decoder in only 1 of the 3 locos.

What gives the best sound? And by best I mean the thickest, most powerful. I know from the music industri that you can get very thick sounds by layering the same sound with a slightly different pitch. Does it work the same with sound decoders in locos? If you like this example have 3 sound decoders, slightly out of tune, will that give you a better (more powerful) sound? And remember, this has nothing to do with the volume, just how thick and mighty it is.

2

Hello
Do in your country can a loco driver be a conductor OR a conductor can be a loco driver?

3

How many person work on a fright train ?
Do , a conductor and a loco driver? OR a conductor and a loco driver and a brake man and loco driver trainee?

4

I am a loco driver ( locomotive engineer) . can i be a conductor ?

5

I dont know any thing about what you are saying.
Can YOU help me?

6

Please help me.

7

what mean sound decoders ?

8

Well Electrolove I’m glad to see that your question has all been cleared up!

I would think it would sound really neat. I am not sure how you would offset the tuning of each decoder. Perhaps some of the new sound decoders allow this?

9

Thanks for your answer, finally a good one [:D]

10

Having speakers in each engine does make the sound more realistic, especially if it is on a shelf layout and your ears are up close. Economics aside, I think having a sound unit in each engine is better. - Nevin

11

We do that at the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club with both steam and diesel locomotives equipped with sound decoders. Most sound decoders can have the bell and horn/whistle turned off for multiple-unit lashups so only the lead locomotive’s horn and bell still work, but the motors and all other sounds of the trailing units are still on. Volume usually needs to be turned down on all of them at the same time or the sound becomes overbearing.

12

As others have said, fitting sound decoders throughout would be the best option but will cost you - might be better to have one loco with all the “bells and whistles” (eg sound, lighting effects, etc) at the head of the lashup then fit the others with basic “fleet” decoders.

13

It definitely soudns better when each one has sound. And they will naturally be slightly out of synch with each other, as I discovered double-heading our T-1’s - it sounds AWESOME! And at least with DCC, the default is only the horn on the lead unit will sound - also the way it should be. Actually, with steam locos, each one should be independently controller, the way they really were. Anyway, wit a large lashup of diesels, you might get away with 2 out of 3 having sound and still get a good effect, but the closer you are to the operating units the more obvious it is that you ‘cheated’ like that. That said, I AM putting sound in a Stewart F-7 B unit which I can then drag behind the corresponding A unit or one of my GP-7’s and still have close to correct sounds without putting a sound decoder in every loco. Someday, maybe. But a sound decoder and speakers costs more than I paid for any of the locos.

–Randy

14

So they will automatically be out of sync, that sounds interesting. Thanks to you and all other that gave me feedback on this on. Appreciated.

15

Of course for those of us who model the SP in the 70s, it’s perfectly prototypical to have 1 or 2 units in the lashup roll by with NO sound![:D]

Interesting question though.

Ted

16

Yeah but then you need decoders with 50 function outputs to light up those Christmas trees. [:D][:D]

17

You can buy a Soundtraxx decoder for 48 Canadian Dollars and a speaker for about 5…Makes for a cost effective solution.

David

18

I just finished up a FA2/B2 set with DH163 for motor control and ALCO DSX for sound. I MU’d them up to my FA1/B1 with same setup in a ABBA config. All with sound. I love the ALCO engine particularly at idle. All four engines are out of sync and once in a while they will work into sync and then out again. It sounds awesome. I park them on the main and let them idle while I work. And they sound great moving too![:D] It sounds like a freight train comin at you!
Terry[8D]

19

So if I understand you right, you have 4 sound decoders at once, going in and out of sync? Thats exactly what I like to hear, I’m happy that this work [bow]

20

Yes each has independent sound and motor control. I tried to adj the vol of each to be close so one would not drown out one of the others. I don’t get much done on the pike since i got the ABBA gang going. Its more fun just to let it creep around the layout and listen to all the engines. It’s captivating. I have another FAB set coming in the next several months and I will have the speakers and decoders ready to go. I can’t imagine what an AABBBA lash up would sound like. It may frighten the neighbors. I put a one inch round speaker in the cab facing downward in the A units and a big ole 1 1/2 x 3/4 inch oval in the B units. Lots of sound.
Terry[8D]