This morning I decided to get out my BLI On30 2-8-0 and run it around the Xmas tree layout. I noticed after about 5 minutes of running, the sound became somewhat annoying. Maybe I just got annoyed because it was just running circles and not doing any stopping, switching, ect. Have you run into this problem?
We were just having this discussion at the SAMRA club last night. One of the interesting ideas is that BLI is selling sound, so the volume is turned up. Some members liked the BLI sound better when the volume was a little lower. Also, they said that you can control different facets of the sound like whistle (7 different types available), chuff, blow off, etc. The volume of these can be controlled individually. In any case, they suggested that these be adjusted some before you give up on sound. Still, there are some in the club who do not like the sound; some members just love it. Personally, I get tired of my "generic" switching sound (from a CD) on my N scale switching layout and usually do not use it. (I prefer to have the dispatcher radio playing from Live Railroad Radio.) I will further add that the sound is less objectionable to me when used in the large 30 x 60 foot layout area. Just my two cents.
I went to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum a couple weeks ago and many of the T-2s on the La Mesa Tehachapi layout had sound. It really added to the ambience. Though there wasn't enough dynamic braking sounds for trains moving downgrade.
I would agre with yoho as I was there last Tuesday and think that the sound really added to the La Mesa clubs layout.
I think part of it has to do with how much time you actually spend around "prototype" sounds. Some people don't want to be around it. Others want to nitpick the sounds they hear. While others get a better "feel" for the trains as they move around when there is sound. Another point, steam always had an advantage because you could always hear one before you could see one. That is not always the case with the diesels.
I've been using sound on the JJJ&E for over seven years now. I wouldn't have it any other way. Stay cool and run steam.....
I like sound. Running an engine with your ears is another level. But it's important you know the shut down bottom. Wolfgang
Now that I have used sound I couldn't deal without it. It adds a new level of realism. My only issue that I have is having a locomotive sit idling for any amount of time gets on the nerves. But that is easy to fix by just muting the sound when the locomotive isn't moving or turn off power to that track.
I and most people I've spoken to about it like sound and I wouldn't want to go back to silent running. BUT it certainly can get annoying after a time if it's too loud, so I tend to keep the volume down to a 'background' level. If you think about it, you generally only hear an idling engine over other ambient noise if you are within a hundred feet of it - not half a mile away. It's easier to do this at home of course as it's fairly quiet; at the club there is usualy a lot of conversation noise, so everything is turned up to full and it does get a bit unpleasant. Maybe sound is one of those things best enjoyed alone
I haven't been sold on sound yet, but when I visited Mizell Trains in Denver, and the new HO UP Turbines and Challengers come out in HO, you could hear them all across the store! They were very impressive in person, and the sound quality was pretty good. With 2 Athearn Challengers in N coming, I hope they are just as impressive, but I expect some tinniness to the sound, due to the small speaker.
Is it possible that it may to an extent depend on the size of the layout and how many trains are running at once? I would love to add sound if I could afford it. For now I just enjoy the soothing "rain" like sound of the wheels on rails.
Well, I like sound but too much can be annoying. Turn down the volume on engine sounds and let the whistles and clangs and bells be unnaturally loud.
I have some sound files on computer. I use them at home with the kids. They get a charge out of them. They are kind of a novelty. Even when hanging around the tracks waiting for a train, you don't always hear "train" sounds. Somedays, it can be hours before hearing any noise from an approaching train.
The PCM E units sound ok in N, but are too big and not my era for my N scale needs. Tina's MTH Proto 2 has a good sound file to it and the sounds, bell, horn, engine etc are all adjustable seperatly from the hand held remote. One nice thing is when the engine runs at 30 MPH or greater, a clickty clack sound takes over and sounds good. One can even use the doppler effect to make the train sound louder when it gets closer to the front of the layout. I never get tired of the sounds my GS4 makes:shade: .
Well, I went to Caboose yestarday (I'm so lucky to live close) and heard two different HO scale locos. One was the new 4-4-0 by MDC. It sounded like the volume was adjusted to high as there was quite a bit of reverberation. The second was the Lifelike 0-6-0. It sounded great. I think it sounded better because the volume wasn't as high. Both locos ran really smooth. Hmm. HO steam is awsome. HO-N-HO-N. Maybe I sould get a daisy and peel the petals to decide.
My sound system is just a train dvd with the narration turned off. This give me just the sound of trains comming and going. It's not exactly in sync with what you see, but with 4 trains running on seperate tracks eventully one of the trains will get in sync with what you hear. Ideally, I would like to have wave files for each track that play in sync to what you would see. This will require exact timming of startup of the train and the wave file at a specific location to be in sync with what you see.
For steam with sound just go HO. there are also more resources for kitbuilding steam era rolling stock.
