I am planning on getting an MRC or Atlas DCC system and am wondering which would be better if i wanted to include sound in my loco? Also, what sound systems are there besides QSI? Which is good? How expensive? Thankyou, Bennett
SOUND SYSTEMS cost $$:
You will benefit by having someone close by - a LHS, a club, an individual, - to help you over the hurdles.
The cheaper the system, the more features are left out, and the less it can do.
Your question’s are too broad. Too many answer’s from those familiar with only ONE (“Fabulous”, if it works - “horrible”, if it doesn’t) system. Not exactly balanced reporting.
Pick a price range. How much is it worth to you? Can you do your own speaker installation? You’ll pay for what you get - and get what you pay for.
Any DCC system should support sound - what may swing it is the number of functions you can access from the throttle. IIRC, Atlas’ system is a rebadged Lenz Compact? It’s a fine throttle but can only address F0-F4, so you’ll be unable to call up some sound functions.
bnsf:
Other sound decoders besides QSI include Soundtraxx, MRC, and soon-to-be Digitrax.
One thing to watch out for with low-end DCC systems like MRC or Atlas is they DO NOT have a computer interface.
This means you CANNOT take advantage of free tools like DecoderPro to allow intuitive point-and-click decoder programming with a PC.
Sound decoders can involve lots of CV bit fiddling to tune the sound like you want, which is far easier to do with DecoderPro than with the system’s one-CV-at-a-time programming from the system keypad.
If you want a DCC system you and your layout can grow with over time, then I recommend NOT going with Bachmann, Atlas, or MRC. If you think your layout will stay small (under 200 sq feet) and you think you will stay with just basic plug and play decoders without wanting to tune decoder settings, then these cheaper systems should be okay.
But if your needs grow more than expected, you will have to completely replace one of these low end systems with something that can scale better: Digitrax, Lenz, NCE, or EasyDCC.
Thanks guys, I knew I was probably asking too much for just an Atlas or MRC, I think Ill just stick with the Atlas ehh? Ill hold off on sound for now. But one more thing, (thanks for helping me Joe.) With Atlas, or any company for that matter, is it possible to consist with a DCC decoded engine and a DC engine? Or can you only run DCC locos on the layout? Also, you said that Atlas dosnt do comp interface, does MRC do it then?
Annnnnddddd…my layout will be 70 sq ft…with the Atlas, will I be able to program inertia CV’s, and engine lighting? OR is that not possible because of the 4 functions? Besides sound, what do you need all the 12 functions for? Thanks for spending your time enlightening a newb! Bennett
bnsf:
Sorry, you cannot consist a DCC and a DC engine with any DCC system.
No computer interface on Bachmann, Atlas, or MRC DCC systems.
You should be able to program any CVs you need, but you will need to do it one CV at a time and you will need to keep the decoder manual handy so you can refer to it. With DecoderPro, you pretty much don’t care what CV you are dealing with – you just click the option you want.
Thanks for your help! ONE LAST THING (i hope) Could you run a DC train with just DC locos?
If the DCC system has the address 00 “DC” loco feature, you can run one DC loco lashup. The lashup can have as many DC locos in it you want, and as long as they run reasonably well together and don’t exceed the amperage of your system, you can run them.
As you crank up the throttle, they will all move together, and you will hear different harmonics coming from the motors as you change the throttle. But they should run okay together. The speed control using this technique is not especially fine, but it works.
Actually Joe, with Digitrax you CAN add address 00 to a consist.
Good luck getting them to run together though. Even a 200smph DC wonder will run at about half that on address 00 with zero stretching.
I usually run an analog loco for testing. I’ve finally reached the point where I actually have a couple of decoders on hand, but if the loco takes a specific one, I end up having to wait until I order it. So I’ll key up 00 and run it around a bit. With good decoders < $12 now, no reason to keep a loco analog unless there is absolutely no way to fit a decoder.
–Randy