Found in the Yahoo Soundtraxx DCC forum. Not anything I want but something for some to look into at SoundTraxx. Have fun. The target market. The folks who cannot install a Tsunami and a reasonable size speaker want sound, too. Those in Z or Nn3, or even some N folks, cannot get reasonable sound out of their models. So, installing a Transponding (TM) decoder in the loco and the Digitrax supporting products and a SurroundTraxx unit on the layout is their refuge. Why Digitrax? They have the only functional, albeit funky, product that can easily locate a train on the layout and feedback the data. Steve designed the SurroundTraxx box with the LocoNet interface on a small board that cam be replaced with another interface board when (if?) another system comes along. No, you don't have to have a Digitrax system - the SurroundTrax box can be the LocoNet master. You do need some way to talk to the LocoNet, though. A Digitrax throttle or, perhaps, a JMRI interface. Yup, it will take something north of $750 to have the system up and transponding. Let's see, Micro Tsunamis retail at $140 plus a speaker, so let's use $150 per loco. So you can have sound for all your locos (yes, only a few at a time) for the cost of the parts for 5 installs! Why don't Tsunamis transpond? Well, Digitrax wants a royalty on ever decoder sold with transponding. Do you want to pay for a feature on every Tsunami that you apparently don't want? Didn't think so! A Tsunami (and transponder) equipped loco on a SurroundTraxx layout. It isn't pretty. The chuff (or prime mover) and horn and bell and all the other sounds won't synchronize. It is worse than an HD TV feed that is out of sync. Rich
SurroundTraxx video from train show. http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2011_NTS/SoundTraxx There is preliminary documentation at the SoundTraxx site. Rich
At least one thing that is disappointing to me is the lack of modern diesel prime movers and the inability to add new sounds to the soundfiles. Strange considering the pseudo-partnership with Digitrax which is adding new files to it's Soundloader Depot site. It appears to be a steam and transition era diesel product without upgradability. I hope someone corrects me on this, but it sounded like the guy from Soundtraxx said you couldn't add more sounds to it. They should develop a PC controlled version but it's too much to expect--this product took many years to get "from the cup to the lip".
We want sound in Z. I talked with the Surroundtraxx guy when he came to the Z layout at the NTS, and told him that most Z clubs use NCE, and that we need a Surroundtraxx system more than the N Scale guys, who really seem to prefer onboard sound. The N Scale guys mostly use Digitrax, which is the prefered system to use with Surroundtraxx. We really want to see the Surroundtraxx system updated to this decade's electronics and computer capabilities. It's been 11 years in the making, just like Duke Nukem Forever, yet never really materialized into the mainstream.
SurroundTraxx These forums are good but do not have all the info for this new system Don;t just depend on this forum. Take some time to investigate this system. It is being discussed in the Yahoo SoundTraxx DCC Group and the eZine, Model Railroad Hobbyist. Also, SoundTraxx has info at their site, a Facebook page and the SoundTraxx Blog. A lot better than making assumptions and developing your own opinions. I have read of more things being developed for this system. If you prefer rumors, then just continue along like usual. Rich
I thought the same thing but if you go back and listen (carefully!) what Jarrett says in the MRH interview he says something like "8 steam chuffs and 12 diesel prime movers". If you look at the Tsunami catalog and discount the subtypes there are 12 prime movers. Also towards the beginning of the interview he mentioned 3 EMD prime movers. Currently the spec sheet on the SoundTraxx site only lists two for the SurroundTraxx so I believe that means the 710 since that's the only other EMD sound offered by Soundtraxx. I think they just need to update their spec sheet.
I am starting a new n-scale steam layout (late 1800s), and I looked at SurroundTraxx. Too pricey for my blood, and I would like to use the DCC+ (Arduino based) control system (whereas it seems SoundTraxx wants Digitrax). So I am rolling my own transponding system using RFID tags and NFC readers for the block sections. The best part is that RFID tags are tiny, cheap and need no power connection - they can literally be glued onto the bottom of rolling stock. The worst part is that the NFC reader is going to cost me $30 per section. I am an embedded computer developer, so connecting this back to the Raspberry Pi controlling the whole shebang and modding the software is in my wheelhouse. What is perhaps even more interesting is that I am looking at some software called Mustajuuri that can locate sound in 3 dimensions for multi-speaker setups such as 5.1 or 7.1. I will be able to track my locos using my RFID transponders, and place them on the sound-stage using the Mustajuuri API.
The German company Velmo make sound decoders for some Marklin Z scale locomotives. Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
Indeed. And impressive as that is, and it is impressive, the amount of body space in that modern outline might still dwarf the space on an American steam outline in n-scale. I do still notice the motor sound in the video you sent. However, I would need to install a decoder and a speaker in each loco (quite a tricky feat, I would imagine). I assume the decoder is an all-in-one motor and sound. Looking at their site (and I speak hardly any german) I can't find any suggestion of steam sound.
