Hello:
Forgive me I am a total newb to DCC. I have FVM ES44AC’s & Kato Gevo’s. Is there any sound decoders out there worth anything? I heard N Scale is still really bad at this. I saw a youtube video with a “LoKsound” decoder & it sounded great.
Thank you,
Mike
This question also has entered my mind.
If you want sound, go with a bigger scale.
MRC offers sound decoders in N scale.
They use speakers from ear-phone buds and they just sound horrible.
Their quality control is terrible with dead decoders coming out of the bag.
Their decoder reliability is horrible.
Their customer service (in my experience) is just as bad.
David B
Well, I certainly respect your opinion on the matter, but I’d have to imagine that even with the limitations of the scale, there has to be some headway in terms of DCC sound. A tantalizing idea that seemed to be toted was the use of external sound from a decoder box, and speakers strategically hidden through the layout and operating environment. I only read a brief blurb about it on SoundTraxxx website, but wouldn’t this be a work-around?
I know when I looked in my Kato ES44AC, there seemed to be a good space in the back for an auxiliary decoder (assuming there is a drop in control-only decoder to replace the mainboard - and that you can piggy back one decoder on another).
Here is the scoop in N scale/sound.
Our locos are small. Very small. Space for a speaker is at a “golden” premium.
Our locos are light. Very light. Loss of weight for a speaker is a detriment to electrical pickup. Lack of electrical pickup means a terrible running locomotive.
Sound decoder components are big. Very big for N scale. Remember that a Capacitor is a MUST for sound. Without it, your loco will go…stall…restart…go…stall…restart. A cap holds a small charge to get you over imperfect track. caps are big.
Small speakers suck. Very suck. Especially for reproducing the sounds of a huge locomotive. Want a baffle to improve the sound? Forgetaboutit.
The only real player for sound in N scale is MRC. MRC decoders are terrible (in terms of sound quality and reliability) and not worth the PC board they are printed on.
LokSound micro decoders are expensive. Very expensive. Again, the issue of speaker…where to put it? Fuel tank? A speaker in the fuel tank become a very expensive nail collector. Also, their speakers are 100ohm. Hardly a standard we can find with ease.
SurroundTraxx from Soundtraxx is Vaporware. Very Vaporware. It utilizes detection (Digitrax BDL168) and transponding (Digitrax RX4s) via a computer to direct sounds to the appropriate speaker on the layout. It will be expensive. Very expensive.
If none of this perturbs you, then go ahead and let us know how you make out. Many ahead of you have been there…done that.
David B
What does Vaporware mean? I was looking into the surroundTraxx…are you saying it’s not good?
mj
Vaporware, in the standard definition, means that it’s not a real product - just promises, generally. In this case, it could be that a component isn’t produced or hasn’t been made to work in this method -yet-.
I’d imagine what he means is that you have to purchase the box, equip the locomotives appropriately, then set the track up for automatic block detection with a DCC system, then wire in all the speakers and THEN program it to run the appropriate sounds when and where they need to be just as they need to be to be remotely realistic. I do have to admit that I have not read ALL the documentation on it, so I am shooting from the hip with this answer.
I will also admit that sound is NOT a deal-killer for me, though I figure if I am going to crack open my wee beasties to install DCC decoders - why not go the whole nine yards and install sound as well.
Digitrax seems to have a couple of offerings (I’m looking at the SDN144 series specifically). Why no mention of them in your post?
Al
Well now that Surroundtraxx is available, this thread is a bit outdated. Also, it can be used without Transponding. Which is godo because Transponding is finicky at best, and you are limited to Digitrax decders which are the only ones that transpond, and Sountraxx which will work with transponding but do not themselves actually transpond. Being that N scale is pretty picky as far as decoder fitment, being limited to basically one brand of decoder can be a problem if they don’t have the specific board replacement for your loco.
–Randy
No.
If you want quality sound in N scale, you need to look at layout based sound. Small speakers in the locos= terrible sound.
David B
Just a thought. I am N scale and have been considering Joe Fugate’s idea shown on one of his DVD’s where he is installing sound in a dumby engine in a lash-up on his HO scale Siskiyou Line Layout. I have just dismantled my 25 year old layout and am building a new one but I have this same idea to use when I get up and running, (who knows how long), to put an HO scale sound decoder into one of my N scale engines, without the motor and just have the electrical pick up. When I get the time (???) I have been thinking of tinkering with the idea. Doug
Another option I’ve seen used is get the HO scale sound decoders with a nice speaker, put them into a hobby enclosure, hooked up to the rail power in such a way so they are powered as they would be inside the locomotive - and program them for the same addresses as the N scale models they represent. Then, when you fire off sound - the larger decoder will provide the sound quality and your smaller decoder can focus on just moving your model around.
OR…you can get a Surroundtraxx system.
David B
Oh sure, you can go that route if you don’t want to totally MacGyver a solution from dental floss, some bailing twine, some chewing gum, a few spent bullets, and a credit card strip… and miss the awesome opportunity to mortally injury yourself with a soldering iron… [;)]
Well if you want a MacGyver approach, consider installing multiple sound cards in your computer, and put speakers all over the layout, and have the sounds in your PC. They were workign on something in JMRI that may or may not be working as of now, to direct sounds out a specific speaker - so that 5.1 sound card would have 5 speakers all over the layout plus the subwoofer (non-directional sound). You enter the starting point, and as the loco travels over the layout (block detection required, although it can be any sort, not just track detection) the sound is directed to a different speaker. Poor man’s MacGyvered Surroundtraxx.
–Randy
I’ve been experiementing with N scale sound as well, and am liking the results.
I have an Atlas SD50 with the Digitrax SDN series drop in decoder, and 10x18mm speaker. It does a pretty good job, and is definitely a step up from no sound at all. It isn’t as impressive as an HO engine with sound, but I rather like it.
I’m in the process of making some custom PCBs for installing the Loksound Micro Select in my fleet of SD70ACEs, which are setup for 4ohm sound btw. I’m planning on running 2 of the 10x18mm speakers in them. I will post some video when they are done.