I have installed a DSX in my Athearn RS3. Now that it’s installed properly, I’d like to start tweaking the sound levels to my liking. Most are easy, no problem. Then I get to the horn and bell volume. According to Soundtraxx, the level for these is set using CV60. Both the horn and bell. States the default value is 104 which equals bell at 40% volume and the horn at 50%. I want to bump the bell up just a touch and the horn quite a bit more. I have no clue where to begin. The manual refers to 4 high bits for one and 4 low bits for the other.
Can someone please explain, hopefully in easy to understand english, where I begin. I am using the NCE Powercab.
I’m guessing that if NCE actually had come out with the USB interface so I could program with the PC, this becomes a whole lot easier.
Thanks.
Almost forgot, if anyone is using DSX decoders, should there be random air compressor sounds? I thought I read in the description that there should be and the manual vaguely refers to compressor sounds. I have yet to hear any such sound. I get exhaust, horn, bell, coupler and dynamic brakes.
I’m not familiar with the DSX decoders. I have installed a number of the DSD decoders, and the horn and bell volume are controlled separately on CV 120 and 121. Is the DSX decoder, sound only? What are you using for motor control? Why would you put two decoders in an Also RS3, with such limited space?
Why? It actually wasn’t as difficult as you think. I already had a Soundtraxx LC series and the motor control isn’t that great. I also assumed that the sound quality of the DSX was better than the LC series.
The M1 fits under the short hood, in the trans cover. Takes up very little room. The DSX is under the long hood, where the rear trans cover USED to be.
Speaker is a 16x35mm mounted in the cab. Took a tiny bit of filing to get a good fit, but it’s baffled nicely. Runs and sounds great, all I need to do is adjust the volumes.
If there’s any difficulty at all with the installation, it’s the two decoder deal. There are some overlapping CVs. Have to set up the motor first, lock it and then can play with the DSX. I’ve read that you can give both different addresses and just consist them. I may try that too. I think I would need to program in OPS mode if I do it that way.
Like I say, the hassle really is in the programming.
So far I’ve installed three sound decoders. I did an old Atlas GP38, an Athearn SW7 (remotored and has Cary SW1500 body) and the Athearn RTR RS3. As far as installation goes, the SW was way more difficult. There is just nowhere to mount anything in those 30 year old BB ones. The can motor helps, it’s smaller and makes a little more room, as did the SW1500 body. The GP38 was simple. Speaker in an enclosure, hook up the wires and it’s done. The RS3 took some figuring, but it really isn’t bad installing.
I have a hard time answering about the sound quality yet. Hopefully some other folks will offer opinions on the DSX too. The LC series are EMD prime movers, so it’s a different sound altogether. The biggest difference in the DSX is the specific horns vs 1, 2, or 3 chime generic. I guess it sounds a little better, but to be honest, I’m asking myself if it’s enough better to justify more money (mainly for the specific horn), and more work installing and programming.
I check nearly every day to see if QSI is actually going to release the Quantum Revolution. The TTE ad in Feb MR actually shows a listing for them with a price. I’m hoping that means they might be out soon. Or maybe Soundtraxx will come out out with the diesel Tsunami they’ve been promising.
I haven’t been able to convince myself to try Loksound yet, partly the cost, partly video I’ve seen wasn’t too impressive (although that’s not a good way to judge anything). I’m considering trying a Digitrax soon, just to see what they sound like.
If you weren’t really picky about the horns, I think Soundtraxx has drop in boards for Alco that would make an RS3 install much easier. The speaker in the cab sound good, if you don’t mind taking out a couple panes of glass.
I have two Athearn RTR RS3s and a Proto 1000 RS3 to put sound in . I already bought the DSD LC Alco decoders. I like the sound and the horn selection. My problem with the Loksound, is that they only offer the single chime horn on their diesel decoder, and I prefer a three or five chime horn. And I don’t want to lay out another hundred bucks or so, for gadgets to download sounds from a website.
I’m reasonably satisfied with the Soundtraxx LC series decoders, although the volume could be louder. I love hearing that EMD 567 make transition.
And why wouldn’t I mention Digitrax. I couldn’t disappoint Mr Digitrax. [:-^]
All kidding aside, I would probably had tried at least one by now. But until the Soundbug and related decoders came out, the only ones with motor control were plug and play for Kato. I don’t have any Kato. Yet.
The other thing that sort of still bugs me, and I think someone else mentioned it in another thread, is that you can ONLY get one preloaded scheme. After that, If you want to use Digitrax sound in other than a GP38-2, you MUST buy the programmer. IF the Soundbugs are decent and IF folks continue to upload loco schemes to the Digitrax site, I might get interested in a programmer. To be honest, I don’t think I’m going to get interested in spending time downloading sounds and creating my own schemes. Just really seems odd to me that they can’t sell them programmed in other schemes.
…all you need to do is ask. I have sound schemes ranging from Baldwins to RDCs to FMs to the Latest and Greatest EMDs. They are out there, all you have to do is ask.
In the instructions for the SDH104K1x+FN04K1x it says that it can be used for other applications. You just need to know where to solder. If you think ‘outside’ the box, there are limitless possibilities. It has the form factor of a typical light board and is downloadable AND programmable (the ability to actually tell the decoder HOW to use the sound files you give it…a leap beyond any other sound decoder out there, albeit with a learning curve). I have installed them from Little Stewart Hobbies Baldwin switchers to F units to C liners to SD90Macs…
Keep in mind that from the onset, Digitrax has built this product with the community in mind for developement. That keeps the cost down (compared to Lok sound where they do all the work).
This is all well and good…if one happens to be a computer genius. I still prefer to buy a decoder for a specific loco, with a couple different horn choices, and not have to go back to school, to learn how to program it and download the various desired sounds, and configure it properly. And the simpler they can make it, the greater their sales will be. How many people are capable of downloading and programming that decoder? And how many, besides myself, will avoid buying it, because of it’s complexity.
I am not in any way a ‘computer genius’, or any other ‘computer’ related label…I sing OPERA for a living (and work at a LHS as an DCC expert between gigs). I did NOT go back to school to learn how to programme these decoders, I just joined a Yahoo group. I find the installations of sound in these units EASIER THAN POSTING ON THESE FORUMS. You open the programming software, choose your sound package and press the big green button. You shouldnt need to go to school for that.
Why not give it a try…? You will find it gets addictive. You can add things like Radio chatter, or put on the horn from a recording into your specific locomotive. You talk about LIMITATIONS with sound decoders (like LokSound only offering one horn per package [they do offer ALCO sounds with 3 chime and Wabco horns as well…just FYI]), buying a PR2 allows you FREEDOM from these limitations. It costs a bit more than ONE sound decoder. Not really a big expense if you are spending that money anyways.
Lots of interesting comments. I do have full intentions of trying a Digitrax soon. I’d be interested, David, in your thoughts regarding Soundbug. Good, bad, okay? Better to just stick with the ones you use? The bug looks like a good idea, but not too many folks say much about them.
In any case, this thread seemed to go in some other direction. Bottom line, I still would really like to know, please, how do I make the horn on the DSX louder without making the bell louder too?
Back to the original question, unfortunately Digitrax doesn’t like giving out clear explanations and instructions with their decoders. They usually give a few basics and then tell you to refer to their book or the Big Book of DCC or whatever. I know setting the lights on a Digitrax decoder I ended up just putting in a value and testing it, then increasing it by one and trying again, over and over, until I finally got the lighting set up the way I wanted it. I suspect you might end up having to do the same thing with the horn/bell issue.
I have installed a few sound bugs, and my overall impression is that they behave exactly like the other SFX decoders in terms of sound but have a lower (75% or so) volume output.