MyLocoSound-Steam sound on DC

[Colombo]

About 30 years ago, I built a DC loco sound system for my 4mm scale railway which was then based on Richmond in N Yorks.
It had a dedicated controller with a system which synthesised sound using circuit diagrams found in hobby electronics magazines and an analogue sound signal was injected into the track power circuit. Two locos had speakers in the tenders and it all worked very well. I had sort of synchronised chuffing, using a double ganged potentiometer on the controller, a steam whistle that could be tuned and a button for blowing off steam. All this was built using discreet components and worked for a while, but then it packed up and fault finding became a burden, so I packed it in. While it worked, I think it sounded better than much of the DCC that I have seen at exhibitions and on Youtube.

Then I built my layout based on the south end of York Station. I have a large collection of locos and many are kit built or -bashed, and I never felt a need to add DCC. In any case the upfront cost of conversion was daunting and I was never sure that it would satisfy me. And that is how I have let the matter rest for 10 years or more.

Just recently, something came to my attention that has been a revelation and that is the availability of DC sound from an Australian company called MyLocoSound, a company with which I have no association. I have been able to convert my Hornby A3 to a sound loco just by fitting a DC sound card and speaker in the tender, and for about 60% the cost of a DC loco. I use my Gaugemaster DC controller and there has been no need to make any alterations to my layout wiring at all. It also works with my Gaugemaster SS2 station stop module.
 

There is a vested interest in DCC in this country, and a lot of people have invested a lot of money and time, so naturally, I expect them to criticise my system and claim that their's are better. But can I say that I am very pleased with mine despite the fact that it uses synthetic sound and not sound samples. Sometimes technology can go off in what turns out to be the wrong direction and a huge amount of effort can be expended unnecessarily whilst a simpler solution is disregarded. Probably for diesel sound, there is no alternative to DCC, because each type has its own characteristic sound. However, I suggest that there is less variation between classes of steam loco, which has been accommodated by MYLocoSound. It helps that I have used the larger high bass speaker that will fit in a Pacific loco tender.

I control the settings using the Sony IR TV remote provided. You can select a chuff rate for either two, three or four cylinder locos, the chuff rate whilst running, and the point at which the loco starts to move initiates the chuff. There is also a tuneable whistle that can switch to a chime, like the A4 and the P2. There is a guard's whistle, a bell (for those who need one), and a Westinghouse pump. It lacks the squeal of brakes or the squeal of wheels through points etc.

Volume of each function is controllable. The chip recognises when the power has been turned down and the loco coasts, also it coasts when running speed has been reached. If I nudge up the speed, its just like the driver has opened the regulator.

In short, you can convert a loco to sound with little trouble at a fraction of the cost of DCC.

 

Colombo

 

 

 

 

 

[jdp298]

While I haven't been able to source the components, I have heard reliable talk of American DC sound chips work automatically as you start and stop. They manage whistles and the like by reversing polarity while running, sometimes twice in a second for the alternative note, and the chip takes care of the rest.

[davetheroad]

This might offer a simple solution for adding sound to radio controlled battery powered steam locos, either by having the radio receivers DC output driving the sound card or possibly using the receivers other outputs to drive the card. At the asking price I might well buy one and experiment.

[Colombo]

ADJ,

 

A friend once demonstrated an HO model diesel by Atlas, I think, with a factory fitted QSI DCC sound card. I can confirm that it worked on DC with the limited features that you describe. It was converted to DC from DCC whilst under power on the DC track by waving "a magnet on a stick" over it, where upon it loudly and unexpectedly  responded "Converted!" in a fine Yankee drawl, to our initial amazement and consternation. 

 

There is available a module that you can fit in the DC supply line from the controller which enables you to operate the DCC only sounds.

 

Dave,

 

If you look at MYLOCOSOUND'S web site and have a word with them, you will probably find that they can supply you with the bits you need for fitting sound to a battery operated, radio controlled  loco.

 

Colombo