I have had a few sound equipped locos that have needed reset due to my errors and it seems like the souund files are not as crisp and prototypical as they were when new. Predominately Lok Sound decoder equipped engines. What hardware and training will I need to reprogram these sound files, download manufacturer's files and possibly improve their sound? I envision needing a Lok Sound Programmer for that brand decoder but what all is needed in hardware and software to start programming? Lay it on me guys!!!
The software and sound files for the lokprogrammer are found on the ESU site. All you need is track with wires ran to the programmer unit then the software installed and running on your computer. There are some video tutorials online on how to use the software and worth checking out. If you can locate the sound file on the ESU site that was originally installed on your decoder I would first try to upload just the decoder settings only as that is a lot quicker than the full sound files. The software program gives you the option to choose between uploading decoder and or write sound data. Doubtful the sound files themselves were altered through any CV settings on your end. But worst case you can do both which takes about 1/2 hour to complete.
Thanks for the advice. My objective is to improve the sound quality. I can adjust CVs to get performance but there are no sound adjustments like are available with sountrax. I am heading to ESU's site right now to 'isten to their original sound files.
If the decoders are factory installed it is likely they are "select" versions which are limited as to what you can change sound-wise. You can individually adjust volume for the different sound slots but that is about it for select files. Is it possible that the speaker has degraded or come apart from the baffle it's attached to?
To re-load a sound file into a LokSound, you need a computer running Windows, a LokProgrammer, the LokProgrammer software (available from ESU's web site), the correct sound file (available from ESU's web site; if this is a factory sound installation, it is almost certainly a LokSound Select decoder, so you will need the appropriate LokSound Select file, NOT a V4 or 5 file), a piece of track to put the loco on, and wiring from the track to the outputs of the LokProgrammer (I use wires with alligator clips to go from the LokProgrammer to the track, and I use a piece of Kato Unitrack as my "programming track.") However, I doubt that the problem is the sound file. Like the previous poster, I suspect something has gone wacky with the speaker. John C.
I think it is a spurious perception. The sound files are digital. If the decoder is reset, there' no real reason for the original sound-files, uncorrupted, to load and sound differently than when the decoder is new. Instead, something else is likely at play, including the baffle's integrity, the age of the speaker, or some other phenomenon, including how the speaker sounds at different volumes and how different the sound environment is from when you first got the engine. Is there more scenery, rubbery floor tiles, carpet, skirting around the fascia, other competing engines...? How 'bout your ears...are they younger or older?
You all are giving me a good education on the sound decoders and the different types. It is beginning to make real sense and I can now understand why some of us prefer a custom installation from a known supplier vs the decoder provided by the OEM. I have some diesels and several steam locomotives that I installed and programmed myself that sound much better thatn the OEM sound decoders. I use an example the results Colombo gets on his steam locos vs factory OEM. I have a Fox Valley ES Loco done by one of our advertisers that makes almost everything else I have sound horrible. Supporting everyone's comments, I have scoured decoder manuals and found no instructions on changing the configuration of the sound, reverb, etc, of the prime mover sound. I fear that the quality of the decoder and speakers may be the issue I am addressing. As an example, I just bought a Dash 9 with sound and I am very disappointed in the sound quality and volume. I went so far as to "ventilate" the fuel tank to release more volume. It did increase the volume of the prime mover, did nothing for the horn and I mean nothing fot that frequency, and the overall sound quality at the increased volume of sound decreased dramatically. The detail and and pulling performance are excellent. I have a plan for this one as a test to improve sound quality. I will let you know how it works out.
Not all sound files are equal. Even the ones by ESU there are some that don't sound good and others that are as good as it gets. I just took delivery of an intermountain SD40 and it has the best sound yet of any diesel I own (uses loksound decoder). OTOH I'm not too impressed with the ESU sound file for the SD70Ace (version 5) Sounds good at idle till the engine transitions to the next step which sounds like the speaker is blown in that range. Speakers themselves also have a role in the overall sound some being better than others. I keep a couple of extra speakers on hand for troubleshooting sound problems but mostly I've found it's the quality of the sound file. In those cases I'll find a similar prime-mover file that does sound better and use that. No one will ever know the difference except you.
LOL! I have had a few birthdays but not that many. No elephant ears yet.. I appreciate your input. I am going to send one of my 3 less than stellar units out and see if it needs a new decoder and speaker installed to get my results, so be it. I know where to go to get quality work done.
99.9% of the time, disappointment with sound, particularly in the case of factory-installed sound, starts with the speaker. In nearly all factory installations, the speaker is NOT set in an air-tight enclosure with the proper internal volume, and the result is "tinny," sickly sound. Unfortunately, fixing this usually requires milling the frame to make room for a proper speaker/enclosure combo. In some cases, the speaker itself is lousy, and needs to be replaced anyway (BLI, Athearn, Bachmann are notorious offenders). Fuel tank speaker installations are almost uniformly terrible, because there just isn't enough depth to use a properly-sized enclosure (and make that enclosure air-tight). You can sometimes remedy this by milling a larger space in the tank area, and making a larger rectangular enclosure around the speaker at the same available depth. But either way - milling the top of the frame or milling the tank - requires work. Decent sound STARTS with the speaker/enclosure. Do that right, and even an MRC sound decoder will sound OK. Do it wrong, and nothing else matters. John C.
100% agree. It's very rare that a OEM provided speaker will get you what you want. They work but for some reason manufacturers ignore the most important piece with is honestly the speaker enclosure. I get why they do as it requires frame modification etc but John is correct and if you are picky and want really good sound best to get a DC loco and convert yourself or at least rip the speaker out and do your own with a proper enclosure. Its unfortunate the OEMs dont seem to care about it but I'm sure for 90% of public they just like taking it out of the box and running in circles on their layouts and making noise so fine for them. For the 10% of us who care it's a big issue.
