Hi guys! I’m posting this here instead of the Electronics Forum since most new members hang out here for a while.
Looks like our friends at ESU LokSound have been listening to customer input.[Y][8D] I’m excited about this and wanted to share the info below from the Yahoo group:
The existing ones are every bit as good as Sountraxx and QSI, they have the best motor control int he business, and they are no more complex than any other sound decoder - probably simpler than QSI since there are no indexed CVs. I haven’t tried the newer Select series, but the 3.5’s in my PCM locos sound just fine. This new 4.0 just raises the bar - but I wonder how many North AMerican sounds there will be, given that the Select series are the ones they’ve targeted to us.
And now I remember one key reason why I didn’t go with ESU when I was evaluating DCC systems. Always willing to try new things. I’ve spent about 20 minutes trying to get the new files opened per the instructions using V4.1.0 released Jan 11, 2011 and of course the software can’t open the file it was designed to open. Decoder file and programmer have even synched the icons. TIME WASTER. I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there who have studied and learned the programmer and system. But to just listen to the sounds where I can easily click and have a java type file open and play is much easier and works. If I wanted to program a decoder than of course downloading and learning the system make sense.
BTW, the QSI protocol/system for downloading, listening and programming is much better in my opinion, mostly because it works easily.
So at this point we have 3 distinct downloadable decoder sounds and programers(maybe more, I don’t know): Digitrax, QSI and ESU.
Hi guys! I’m posting this here instead of the Electronics Forum since most new members hang out here for a while.
Looks like our friends at ESU LokSound have been listening to customer input. I’m excited about this and wanted to share the info below from the Yahoo group:
I don’t know if this will help you or not… but if, when you say “JAVA Type File” you mean a file that ends in “.jar”, its technically just a “.zip” file with a different name. You can literally change the extension from “Whatever.JAR” to “Whatever.ZIP” and then use your favorite Zip program to open it up, extract it to a directory, or whatever else. Then you can do whatever you want with the contents of those files.
That’s what I was wondering, Randy. I’m hoping that ESU will improve the sound samplings with this new version - especially the USRA Mikado. I love the motor control of the V3.5 decoders in my two Trix Mikados but the whistle is pretty disappointing. [:(][N] OTOH, the motor control and sound in my PCM F3 is very, very, nice.
And now I remember one key reason why I didn’t go with ESU when I was evaluating DCC systems. Always willing to try new things. I’ve spent about 20 minutes trying to get the new files opened per the instructions using V4.1.0 released Jan 11, 2011 and of course the software can’t open the file it was designed to open. Decoder file and programmer have even synched the icons. TIME WASTER. I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there who have studied and learned the programmer and system. But to just listen to the sounds where I can easily click and have a java type file open and play is much easier and works. If I wanted to program a decoder than of course downloading and learning the system make sense.
BTW, the QSI protocol/system for downloading, listening and programming is much better in my opinion, mostly because it works easily.
So at this point we have 3 distinct downloadable decoder sounds and programers(maybe more, I don’t know): Digitrax, QSI and ESU.
Richard
I don’t know if this will help you or not… but if, when you say “JAVA Type File” you mean a file that ends in “.jar”, its technically just a “.zip” file with a different name. You can literally change the extension from “Whatever.JAR” to “Whatever.ZIP” and then use your favorite Zip program to open it up, extract it to a directory, or whatever else. Then you can do whatever you want with the contents of those files.
Well, I guess my view and enthusiasm is simple. [8)]
I’ve seen LokSound equipped units in action. I have a LokSound equipped locomotive that sounds and performs very well. The turbo charged, EMD 20 cylinder sound scheme is, imho, very accurate in my HO SD45-2. The well pronounced air pop-off (which to me is better than the Tsunami’s pop-off) is quite an attention getter. The RS5T-RR0 horn was “snipped” from a horn collector’s website, custom edited and uploaded. Also a smooth, sweet sounder.
Point is, in my thinking, that if my SD45-2 with the V3.5 has had me smiling for the past two years…I can only imagine what this newer, more robust decoder is going to offer! From my understanding, horns will be louder as well.
My hope is that LokSound will have an improved GE FDL (U-Boat) sound scheme that rivals Soundtraxx’s. LokSound certainly did a nice job with their EMD 645 series.
I’ve emailed the group asking about the price tag and if there are more North American sound schemes forthcoming.
Here’s more info from Robert Frowenfeld, an authorized dealer.
"…the sound will be 3x louder than before, double the time capacity than previously, 8 channels, etc.
I met with the great folks from ESU in Nurnberg yesterday and had a chance to see, hear and play with the v4.0 decoders. The sounds are indeed much louder, due to a more powerful amplifier in the decoder – but no increase in size! These will be very popular, no doubt.
I was told I can expect to have them available in the US within the next few weeks…"
Tony, I got that info before I asked the question. I’m only sharing the info as I get it. [(-D]
Thank you, Graffen [:D]
I’m glad that LokSound did not just engage in a minor “tweak up”, (like MRC?)after receiving a lot of input from customers and dealers but forged ahead to develop an even better performing product.
A good friend of mine met an ESU LokSound rep at an NMRA convention 2 years back. The gentleman informed him that they were taking customer input seriously and were working on making major improvements to their uploadable decoder line. Hopefully this new V4.0 will be a success.
It’s good to see healthy competition between the sound decoder manufacturers. I just hope that Soundtraxx and QSI meet this challenge head on.
I’m not an audiophile expert and these are only my opinions as far as sound but…
A. Soundtraxx Tsunami has EXCELLENT prime mover sounds. My favorite, the GE U-Boat prime mover sound scheme, is on target. The distinct “Chug” from the exhaust is much more pronounced than QSI’s and is a notch above LokSounds. But the horns, while decent, are not as well pronounced as QSI’s. There is still that annoying lack-of-synchronization between “throttle position vs. movement”. Tolerable for road engine service, but quite noticeable during frequent switching manuevers. Plus, Soundtraxx’s 1 second “air pop-off” is unrealistic for those of us modeling “aging” diesels, which tended to have longer, well pronounced pop-offs. LokSound’s Baldwin switcher pop-off sounds “muscular” and even has a slight reverb to it.
Hard to believe they could make a better decoder than the 3.5! I have 2, one in my PCM Y6 b and the other is in my PCM Big Boy. Both sound great, I pretty much stop running my QSI steamers because there sound is lacking in comparison.
Far as slow speed pulling? [tup] Y 6 will creep at 1% power and drag a 50 coal car train up a 1.25 % grade.
For those of you that were asking on another topic what I was talking about when I referred to the classic GE 4 cycle “Chug” sound. Listen to these clips. For me, it’s mechanized music!
Listen to those air pop offs in the beginning and end of this clip:
On this one, just click to time index 1:20 and you can get the full treatment as those classic GEs come closer. Listen to that loud pop-off just after 2:14.
Having just aquired my first Tsunami I have to agree - it sounds great, btu what’s up with the inability to lag the movement so the motor has time to rev up? This goes back to the old SOundtraxx decoders as well, no matter how high I turn themomentum, the loco always starts moving before the motor sound come sup. This was greta on QSI decoders, put in a decent bit of momentum, crank the throttle, and listen to it chug as is slowly starts to move, as if you really have a heavy train tied on. It’s even worse when stopping - sometimes when you stop the sounds are INCREASING before settingling down, I have never heard a real loco overrun like that when the load comes off. At least I don’t have any issues programming it, even without a booster device. First and, for now, last, Tsunami, at least it was reasonably priced (Bowser power chassis with one built in).
On the first video you can even see what makes the pop off sound - at the end when the third unit is passing, look at the end of the fuel tank where the air reservoir is, when the air sound is heard you can see a little cloud of dusk (and probably the moisture collected) kicked up under the drain valve that opens periodically to make that sound.