Coromar Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 Hi All, Does anyone know if it is possible to have sounds on an analogue engine. I was told it could be done, but I don't know how. I don't wish to go down the DCC rabbit hole, but it would be fun to have one engine that puffs along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted November 30, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2023 5 minutes ago, Coromar said: I was told it could be done, but I don't know how. Go chuff chuff while you watch? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 10 minutes ago, Hal Nail said: Go chuff chuff while you watch? We've all done it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aac Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 I don't want to divert your question, as I'm not aware of sound for analogue locos. But as far as the DCC rabbit hole is concerned, I will assure you that DCC, and DCC Sound transform operation with smooth movement, braking and acceleration, all sorts of secondary sounds like brakes, whistles, squealing wheels on curves, and plenty more. Yes, it's an initial outlay, but if you are shunting especially, it's great fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 (edited) 15 hours ago, Paul H Vigor said: We've all done it! Better get The Johnster in! More seriously, some DCC sound chips can produce appropriate sounds automatically when run on DC, but thats a fairly expensive approach. Train Tech* make self contained sound modules for steam, diesel and electric locos which sense movement and don't have to be wired in, and are priced around 40 to 50 quid. eg: https://www.hattons.co.uk/75949/train_tech_sfx10_sound_capsule_battery_powered_express_steam_locomotive/stockdetail I bought one of the Diesel sound versions to put in a Hornby Railroad Class 31 some time ago, and it worked well enough to give some ambience to operations. * Now part of the Gaugemaster empire. Edited December 1, 2023 by Hroth Illustrative link, some tidying and a bit extra 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tim123 Posted November 30, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2023 To make a DCC decoder produce sounds on DC you'll need a high end decoder, for example ESU Loksound or Zimo MX400 series. None of the Hornby sound decoders will made a noise on DC. So budget around £130 for a decoder and speaker. The sound effects will be limited, as there's no way of invoking say a whistle or horn, though the sounds will change as the throttle is opened and closed. One thing to watch for is when bringing the loco to a stop the sound will go off as the voltage across the rails falls below a certain voltage, from memory around 5 volts. With practice you can find which position on the controller will keep the sound playing without the loco moving. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold markjj Posted December 1, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2023 I had 2 Dapol Jinties that I fitted Zimo sound decoders to. I got them from Youchoos they set them to work on a DC layout for me and they worked fine. You dont get to control all the options via DC though it just gives you the chuff matched to the speed. I hope this answers your question. I'm sure Loksound decoders do the same if you have the DC option turned on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 My Hornby R845 from the seventies has chuff-chuff sound (from the tender). It is mechanical. Regards Fred 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 (edited) 48 minutes ago, sncf231e said: My Hornby R845 from the seventies has chuff-chuff sound (from the tender). It is mechanical. Regards Fred I didn't want to mention the Hornby lo-tech sound option earlier... Didn't R845 have the glowing firebox too? I know the M7 of the same era had that as well as an opening smokebox door to reveal the boiler tubes, though it didn't have room for a chuffing mechanism! The old B12 had the chuffer box too. I found it preferable to move the scraper on the axle sideways and make the chuffing sounds myself! Edited December 1, 2023 by Hroth Missing "h", now inserted... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldfish Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 ETS supply an analogue sound module that works with AC or DC up to 18V. No idea what it sounds like, probably as annoying as the DCC offerings. https://www.ets.cz/en/sound-module-dc/ https://www.ets.cz/user/documents/upload/842 E.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 If you are capable of assembling electronic circuits, then Roger Amos's "Complete book of model railway electronics" contains several circuits for generating sound effects on analogue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold GWR57xx Posted December 2, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2023 Back in the day before DCC came along there were a plethora of sound modules available that basically produced hissing sounds that supposedly mimicked steam engines - I built one for my then N gauge layout. Not great, but possibly better than nothing. They mostly seem to have disappeared now, but I found this which looks pretty good to me and may be of interest: (no connection whatsoever with the product or the seller, just passing on information) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375046870439?hash=item57528915a7:g:sE4AAOSwJWFab3Ty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kes Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Hi, have a look at traxcontrols.com on the internet. They do sound modules and speakers which alter the chuff relative to the voltage applied. They are meant for larger ride on engines, but I have successfully used one under my o gauge shunting layout with the sound unit sensing wires connected to the controller output. Placing the speaker in a suitable box enhances the bass. Kevin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coromar Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 Hi All, Thank you for all your replies. the mumbling of "chuff chuff" seems the easiest option . Best of luck to those try the electronics option. Paul 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aac Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Thanks, Coromar. This has been a really interesting thread to follow. We have heard about the various technologies from very early attempts to get steam sounds, right up to the point where the genuinely useful discussion covered really good sound decoders that might usefully be installed in an analogue model, but won't perform to the full range of their capabilities. Funds, space, and time always conspire to derail our modelling ambitions; they can hold us back. It's the improving technologies - those that have given us better quality mouldings, exceptional printed liveries and paint finishes, finer detail, and the many elements of finer control - that pull us forward and keep us going. Earlier attempts at sound, smoke, lights and other effects failed for a reason, and I suspect that analogue control will go the same way in years to come. 35 years ago I messed about with the alarm from an electric alarm clock, stuck it in a tunnel and kidded myself it might represent the sound of an approaching diesel loco horn. It was discarded in minutes. If sound is needed - perhaps expected - in a loco nowadays, it seems logical to embrace the best technology we can afford and install a system that, from the outset, simply does everything that it says on the tin. That's why I think using DCC is ultimately the fairest answer to Coromar's question. Postscript - Just a thought. I first received a Triang Princess with two blood and custard coaches for Christmas 1956. My passengers had to jump the gap between fixed, inflexible corridor connections. In 2023, at fifty or sixty quid a coach, they still do. Now there's a manufacturers' techno-challenge to update the fleet! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 13 hours ago, aac said: Postscript - Just a thought. I first received a Triang Princess with two blood and custard coaches for Christmas 1956. My passengers had to jump the gap between fixed, inflexible corridor connections. In 2023, at fifty or sixty quid a coach, they still do. Now there's a manufacturers' techno-challenge to update the fleet! With all the attention to detail, sound and prototypical operation, using also DCC, it might seem that were are getting into accurate model railwaying. However, untill we are going to use radii of some 20 feet, we are still playing toys. Regards Fred 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKPR Posted December 9, 2023 Share Posted December 9, 2023 I've just obtained one of these - definitely one for the DIY analogue steam sound enthusiast ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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