I have some DC cab unit A-B sets I want to convert to Loksound decoders. To try and save some dough, I plan to install the Loksound decoder into one unit and either install a Lokpilot decoder into or dummy-out the other. For sound, I would like to use dual prime mover files. For example, with a F7 A-B pair I'd could install the off-the-shelf E-unit file, or make a custom dual PM file. If I wanted to operate a sound-equipped loco without its silent mate, I'd like to be able to mute one of the prime movers so there's only one playing. Is there a way to program this functionality into a Loksound 4 or 5 sound file, or will the files only support both PMs on/both PMs muted?
Depends on how the file was built. If the two movers are in the same sound slot, then no. But if they are truly independent, then yes. For the example you gave (dual E for two Fs), they are in the same slot.
Thanks for the clarification about the factory E-unit file. I found this tutorial (ctrl+F "Roll Your Own") and did a quick read of the LokSound V4 manual. http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/esuloksounddualprimemoversoundfiles.html It looks to me like if I were to build my own sound file, the second prime mover would have its own sound slot. If I'm reading the manual correctly, I could map a function key to the second sound slot to mute it. Does that sound right?
Correct, that is how it would be done. There are Select files which also have this capability, such as the GTEL Turbine files.
Thanks for the info. I tried using the copy and paste method with some single PM V4.0 files (Alco 244, Baldwin 608A, and F-M OP) but when I tried to write to my decoder, I would get an error message. I don't remember the exact wording but it said something like, "the silence container takes too long to read its state. Reduce the number of transitions." I took a peek at the V4.0 dual 567 file and the second PM is in its own sound slot with a slightly different flowchart. Both PMs are assigned to the same function key. I'm going to first try assigning the separate 567 to a different function key and upload it to the decoder as a test. If it works, then I will modify the second PM in the other files in the same way as the dual 567.
The silence container on the second PM in the dual 567 file has fewer outgoing transitions after all. I made a dual F-M OP file, modified the second PM's silence container transitions to match the dual 567's, and mapped the second PM to F14. I uploaded it to a V4 Micro and put it on my decoder test stand, and YAY, I got it to work! The only things left to do are to figure out how to remove the #2 PM's startup delay, and get the decoder into a loco.
