western ranger Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 do sound decoders come blank eg: if you have a class 52 can you down load wav files for this loco if so how , do the sound decoders come as a seperate chip or combined with the loco chip or bothscratching my head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Sound decoders on sale usually come preloaded for a particular loco type, but depending upon the decoder some can be 'reblown' by specialists with different sound files (e.g. most 'full-fat' sound decoders) and some can't (e.g. TTS sound decoders).Most sound decoders are integrated with the loco decoder either direct on board or as a 'piggy back' board soldered to the main board. Stand alone sound decoders can be found (some early USA manufacturers) but are much rarer than integrated ones.You can get a UK retailed stand alone sound module that has its own battery and is motion activated which can be fitted in a tender or trailing wagon/coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graskie Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 You can, of course, also buy blank sound decoders here and attempt to set them up yourself or get a specialist to do it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblinwheel Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 ESU (Loksound) sound decoders can be "custom programmed" for a vast range of locos. IF you have the right stuff, such as the "LokProgrammer" hardware/software kit, with which you can download HUNDREDS of sound files to your own decoder. The sounds can also be "mixed and matched" any way you want! Multiple whistles, bells, chuffs, and background sounds. If you are "computer-savvy", and like "playing-around" with stuff like this, you would be a "hog knee-deep in slop" with this set-up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 This link should provide you with some clues: http://www.esu.eu/en/products/lokprogrammer/#c1072 The above link is for Loksound, but the principle must be similar regardless of the sound decoder manufacturer. I would think that you would need a programmer similar to the one shown in the link that is matched 'manufacturer wise' to the decoder used. To the best of my knowledge, I don't think they use WAV files (except maybe at the original live recording phase taken of a real loco) and I would expect that creating your own custom sound scapes for the decoder would end up not being cost effective even if one had the skills and knowledge to do it, by the time you add up all the costs of buying specialist programmers and associated programming software. Far better off, getting a specialist Sound Decoder specialist company to do it for you. There are quite a few specialists out there doing it, if you Google for them. Most of these specialist will re-blow an existing decoder for just a few pounds. Edit: Wobblinwheel got in just ahead of me as I was still typing..... Further Edit: If the reason for the original post was the thought that doing it yourself would save a shed load of money - forget it. I think you will find that there is very little price difference between a 'blank' and a 'sound blown' decoder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 This link gives some indicative pricing for LokSound products, the LokProgrammer is shown as £130, but currently out of stock. http://www.digitrains.co.uk/ecommerce/search/?loc=1&q=lokprogrammer&c=1&m=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western ranger Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 thanks guys some really good replyschrissaf you were right wanted to save shed load of money as ive got 20+ analouge locos to ddc and sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howbi Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Ranger...don't forget to have a look at Mylocosound.com. Including speaker and stay-alive capacitor, it is only £49 in the UK, A$69 in Australia and US$69 in America. I have been using one for steam for 2 months and so far so good. Helps to eke out the budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 thanks guys some really good replyschrissaf you were right wanted to save shed load of money as ive got 20+ analouge locos to ddc and sound Happy to oblige!! Some of the more well known specialist DCC sound retailers are:South West DigitalOlivias TrainsHowes SoundsThese three companies provide a range of services from full DCC Sound conversion of your existing loco, to a 're-blow' of an existing DCC Sound decoder and/or a blank Decoder. The price for a blank LokSound I think you'll find is in the £80-£120 price range or there abouts. You could also look at Zimo decoders, I believe they are cheaper, but not a lot. EDIT: howbiman's alternative might be of interest to you if you're working to a small tight budget. I've had a quick look at the website, their DCC Sound decoder looks interesting. But at such a low price there must be a catch somewhere as at the end of the day you get what you pay for. http://mylocosound.com/dcc-overview.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2e0dtoeric Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 As a nit-pick can we please use the spelling - 'analogue' - a louge is a modified tea tray that a particular group of nutters use for sliding down an icy tube while they are sitting on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Purely as another nit-pick can we remember that it is not forum etiquette to comment on a poster’s grammar or spelling no matter how irksome one might find it. It may be that English is not that poster’s first language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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