Addressing specific sounds in DCC

[parkicat]

Hi all

 

As you can probably tell from this title and description, I am new to posting on this forum, well actually new to posting on any forum!.  So I'm not sure how to start.  If I perhaps explain what my current set up is and what I want to do and then hopefully somebody will be able to point me in the right direction.  The current set up is moderately large OO gauge layout comprising of about 25ft of track, some DCC Concepts Digital IP point motors, and about 20 'steam' locos. We have a programming track and use a NCE powercab to program various addresses and CVs.  The main track, points,signals and engines are controlled through a Raspberry Pi and Gertbot board, using the open source software available with the Gertbots, which I have modified to accommodate the various engines, signals and points, each is assigned an address, two for signals and points.  I want to now move on to sound. As I understand it the original motion decoders  need to be replaced by one capable of sound as well as motion. For motion I address the short address given by the powercab to each engine.  This is my question:-  Can individual sounds e.g. shunting, whistle etc be addressed independently, or are they built in to the speed at which the engine operates?  

 

I'm sorry if this is basic stuff but I just cant get my head around it at the moment and could do with some guidance.  

[Danemouth]

The short answer is yes.

 

I too use a Powercab with steam locos using SWD chips. The sounds are each allocated a function number - have a look at this

 

https://www.southwestdigital.co.uk/F%20Keys/GWR%20Grp%201.png

 

Note two things about the Powercab:

• The "Option" key needs to be reprogrammed to address functions 10 and above, see Page 18/19 of the manual, the new value needs to be 122 rather than 94. Afterwards a single press of the Option key makes F10 to F19 available and another press F20  to F29. This is clearly seen on the screen,
• Pressing the "Momentum" key can screw some sound decoders. I opened by Powercab and put insulating tape over it to prevent accidents. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89097-beware-nce-and-esu-momentum-idiosyncrasies/?hl=powercab

Hope this helps,

 

Dave

[parkicat]

The short answer is yes.

 

I too use a Powercab with steam locos using SWD chips. The sounds are each allocated a function number - have a look at this

 

https://www.southwestdigital.co.uk/F%20Keys/GWR%20Grp%201.png

 

Note two things about the Powercab:

 

• The "Option" key needs to be reprogrammed to address functions 10 and above, see Page 18/19 of the manual, the new value needs to be 122 rather than 94. Afterwards a single press of the Option key makes F10 to F19 available and another press F20  to F29. This is clearly seen on the screen,
• Pressing the "Momentum" key can screw some sound decoders. I opened by Powercab and put insulating tape over it to prevent accidents. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89097-beware-nce-and-esu-momentum-idiosyncrasies/?hl=powercab

Hope this helps,

 

Dave

Hi Dave.

Thank you for your detailed response. Very useful hints. I will take a look at those links as soon as our sound decoder arrives.

[bigal10]

Hi ‘parkicat’

 

A few suggestions I would make,

 

Try and visit a railway model shop or two, especially those that do DCC sound.

Shops like Digitrains in Lincoln, and DCC supplies in rural Worcestershire (I think !)

 

I have no connections with either, just that they put me on the right path, 10 years ago when I started with DCC sound.

 

Also, go to one or two railway model exhibitions, and just wander around and ask the exhibitors some questions.

 

Another thing, you don’t say where you are in the world, it helps a bit for people trying to make suggestions.

 

And it also helps if we know your name!

 

Regards,

 

Alan.

[parkicat]

Thank you Alan for your suggestions. I have spoken with Digitrains and in fact that was where we ordered our sound decoder from. However, I probably didn't ask him the right question at the time. I thought I'd try this forum first.

Regards Cath

[charliepetty]

Thank you Alan for your suggestions. I have spoken with Digitrains and in fact that was where we ordered our sound decoder from. However, I probably didn't ask him the right question at the time. I thought I'd try this forum first.

Regards Cath

I don't know where you live but you can find Digitrains &  DCKits-DEVideos at many model shows, the can demonstrate there ranges of sounds too you.

 

Charlie ( www.dckits-devideos.co.uk )

[parkicat]

I don't know where you live but you can find Digitrains &  DCKits-DEVideos at many model shows, the can demonstrate there ranges of sounds too you.

 

Charlie ( www.dckits-devideos.co.uk )

Thank you for your comments Charlie. We have now received our sound decoder, and have installed it successfully. We played a bit with the sound functions using the Powercab on a programming track and having finally understood how the sounds are generated, thanks to everyone's assistance, btw, I was able to emulate it in software so that a button on the screen switches the sound on. Obviously a button on the screen for every function of every engine is not a working solution, so I'm now thinking of sound on at startup of engine and perhaps other sounds to be based on speed, still not sure how to implement, but I shall have fun trying. Thanks again all.

[bigal10]

Cath,

 

Oops, and sorry to Charlie, I should have mentioned DCKits as a brilliant supplier also, but they don't have a 'shop' per se. 

 

But if you go to almost any exhibition in the UK, just stand for a moment and listen, and you'll find out where Charlie's stand is, he's the noisiest !

 

And so are his trains ! 

 

Regards,

 

Alan.