Wish you'd asked about future plans they might consider.

What changes in decoder technology are they looking at and where may the Tsunami line see changes/improvements?  Will there ever be any standard gauge products coming from Blackstone?

Very interesting interview.

There has been a few posts on the Santa Fe board complaining that the Tsunami sounds in FT units are wrong.  Apparently the Winton diesels used in the FTs sounded a lot different than the Emd prime movers.  I wonder if there are any Winton diesels left running?  I suspect that getting correct sound for the very early Emd units running the Winton diesel prime movers is probably virtually impossible at this time.

Scratchbuilding

Dear Russ,

Despite it being ruled out in the article, it's entirely possible that if no "RTR" units exist to record, scratchbuilding a suitable Winton sound file could achieve the desired result...
(whether it's in physical or aural form, when what you want isn't available,
scratchbuilding/kitbashing is always an option.

It's just that in aural form, the "workbench and tools" are only as far away as the PC you're reading this post on, and a suitable audio editing app...)

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

QSI Take on Wintons

I have both the Tsunami and Revolution QSI docoders mounted with the same speaker enclosures, and there are some interesting differences.. Although not recorded from a locomotive ( An Antique Immortalized ) you can compare the QSI Winton 201 Prime Mover sounds to the SoundTraxx FT sounds  http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/tsunamisound.php. Some of these differences could be the results of the different recording environment, recording techniques and post processing.    

Hi Amp Tsunami

I enjoyed this very interesting article but found the Soundtraxx response to your question on a higher amp Tsunami rather disingenuous.   

From the time the Tsunami was first released many 2 rail O Scalers began contacting Soundtraxx for a higher amp Tsunami. The response then, as now, was 'we are looking at it' and one was in development. It has been over seven years and nothing has been offered.  

Fortunately two years ago Protocraft, after waiting like the rest of us, took the initiative and developed a modification that allows a Tsunami to operate with motors drawing 3.5 amps.  I have purchased several and they work just fine.  Since it is obvious Soundtraxx is never going to offer a Hi Amp version, the least they could have said is that a Hi Amp Tsunami, is available from Protocraft right now.  I that that would have been a tad more classier than just repeating the canard 'they are looking at it'.

Excellent

Good to have an article of a manufacture and to see how things are done.

Ted Doyle and MikeM

DCC Impulses SoundTraxx interview

Excellent Bruce.  One of my main goals is to know that American Companies are aware of the need for the U.S. to bring back manufacturing to this country.  I would like to see more Bruce,  Great Job!    Doug

Excellance

Bruce another great article. Enjoy seeing and hearing from people that i do business with.

Thanks, guys!

Surroundtraxx

Scott -

Personal touch?

I wonder, would the fine folks at SoundTraxx be willing to work with a lone modeler (me) to slightly modify one of their decoders?  I want to add a bigger capacitor to a Bachmann Tsunami, but I'm not sure where to connect it, and I'm not sure what they would say if I asked for their advice.

Dear Ken, Is this of any

Dear Ken,

Is this of any help?

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Ken, try this!

Thanks Prof, Bruce

Yes, thank you.  Unfortunately (although not surprisingly) the page does not show my specific decoder, but hopefully I can use the information provided to find the proper location for a keep alive capacitor of some sort.  If not, I will use the address Bruce provided to contact SoundTraxx directly.

Ken - A picture might help

Ken, If you can post some good pictures of the Bachmann Tsunami someone may be able to identity the proper points to attach the cap circuit.

"I have put a SurroundTraxx column into the hopper"

 That's something I'm very interested in. I can't figure out why they have let it wither on the vine when it should be leading the sound development charge.  When you record a symphony you don't just record one of two instruments you record the whole thing yet we are putting sound and lighting decoders in our locos and leaving out the sounds of the whole following train. Surround sound with a few sensors in the right places could provide loco sound, car rolling sound, flange squeal, slack action, etc., dispatcher communications, plus any trackside industries and features we might want to model such as waterfalls, brass bands, or quarry blasting :> )  All from one installed system with no loco decoder/speaker installations to worry about......DaveB