Hello again I've been researching DCC sound. Tossing up going the full monty and equipping all my locos or installing basic decoders and gradually upgrading them. Can someone give me a basic run down on the Loksound range? (V3.5 v4.0 micro, select etc) The website assumes a level of knowledge I don't possess. I think I need/want the Loksound Select 8 pin with the Alco 244 project installed to suit the Trainorama setup. From my reading it's the most accurate sound for my 48 class locos. There are loco firms doing specific sound files for Aussie locos but they're running over $200 😫 Does 'DCC ready' mean it's literally plug and play? What does 4 function mean v 6 function? Have any of you purchased from overseas? I can get the above mention unit landed from the US for about $130. Thanks Reidy
Reidy soundTraxx are doing a decoder with the correct engine for a 48 class now a friend had a test one a few months ago so must be close if not on the shelves now. Hell of a lot cheaper than a ESU and more reliable Alco 215 in line 6 Link to video https://youtu.be/sjrTMnD8L58
SMR CHRIS wrote: Nice, I'll have a look. I think I read somewhere that the soundtrax is not upgradeable? Do I really need to upgrade it? Reidy
The ESU is not upgradable either. What you can do with an esu is upload a different sound set but you need the ESU Supplied programming unit. The soundTraxx is set with the Supplied sound sets but has many more options for horns etc built in, the ESU doesn't have that unless you up load yourself and it's only the ones you upload The ESU has very short sound loops so unless someone who is very good with making sound loops and engineering the sound Loop transitions, dose the sound file you don't get seamless transitions etc some of the Aus sound files I have heard are very poor I only have 3 ESU decoders all factory fitted units older versions than current ones now but they all suffer from this poor sound transitioning. Esp noticeable in O scale with the big speakers that can really make some noise.
It comes down to the number of functions and offered sound combos check out the Soundtraxx web site and compare the two is probaly the best thing to do. The main sounds are the same quality as far as my hearing goes. http://www.click
G'day Reidy, Here's my 10 cents worth.I have had the ESU Loksound chips in the past and now have the Zimo chips.Thanks to Kimbo I bought a Zimo chip and I am now 100% comitted to using these chips.They are far superior to the ESUs. The soundfiles that Paul Chetter is producing for Digitrains are outstanding.The software driving the chips are much more flexible than the Loksounds and the manual is a lot better in terms of ease of use.I wouldn't go back to an ESU if you paid me, but am so impressed with the Zimo chips that I have purchased about 12 of them this year. Cheers Steve Reidy wrote:
Depending on how many loco's you have, or may end up with (How many "Must have's" have you bought???), you likely won't want to sound fit all of them, you CAN have too much of a good thing! Keith.
Hi Reidy The number of functions are the number of controlled outputs, so a 4 function decoder has 4 outputs. Normally these are used to operate lights, so a two function normally would be directional lights, function 1 front head light and rear tail light, function 2 rear head light and front tail light, setup in the function tables to be active according to the direction the loco is travelling in. Others may be ditch lights, Mars lights, firebox flicker, or even operated a smoke generator. DCC ready normally means a decoder socket has been installed, it does not gaurantee enough room to fit the decoder, and if required speaker and stay alive. An 8 pin socket can only support 3 functions, so an 8 pin 4 function decoder, has an extra loose wire (normally purple) for you to connect to the 4th function. Cost can be a bit prohibative, so depending on the number of loco's you already have, you may prefer to phase in the migration. I would suggest having a spare cheap decoders of each type of socket, so before installing an expensive sound decoder, you test it on a cheap decoder first, just in case you have any shorts. Paul
Thanks Paul! Great tips, as for what locos I will convert to sound. I've got 6 that are good candidates, but I'm not sure if I'll keep all of them given the small size of the layout. Reidy
Ron wrote: I see Hattons have them already listed at 36 quid for a chip and speaker. R8101 to R8110. I bought a Hornby TTS Mallard for our son and it is a great entry level loco into the world of sound but very limited because of the ability to only play 2 tracks at a time. But that's why it is just under half the price of the Zimos.
Thats my point, affordable if limited sound on all your loco's ( June 2017)then replace with Zimo (other sound chips available) as and when you can. CheersRon
