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Steam sound MRH magazine help DCC
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Prolific poster 1,394 posts ray schofield Prolific poster 1,394 posts
ray schofield

There has been a great deal of talk about the recent sound releases and upgrades, particularly Loksound and Econami and Tsunami 2, but it seems to all focus on diesels. This is not meant to be a steam or diesel preference debate, I have too many of both. It is to get the opinions of what steam sounds you have and and like. I have mostly Tsunami, one Econami but a few BLI. I recently had an old PFM CV Texas  tuned up and a WOW sound  decoder installed and I love it. Now it maybe because the tune up and decoder installation were done by a very knowledgeable individual including adjusting the CVs, but I think it runs and sounds great. Here is a Youtube video of it in action. The video really doesn't do it justice though. 

What are others using and what are your favorites?. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvI8_8qFz9g&list=PL86E939081C7DACE6&index=7
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Brent Ciccone Brentglen MRH Author 985 posts
Brent Ciccone Brentglen

TCS

I haven't heard the new Tsunami yet in person, so it is hard to judge, but the TCS WOW was defiantly the best for steam sounds. Loksound is great for diesel, but not so good for steam. TCS was better than the old Tsunami, I don't know if the new Tsunami sounds any better. The Economi is basically the same sounds as the old Tsunami. I know that I will only by the TCS WOW for steam sounds now.

 

Brent Ciccone

Calgary
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debaker02 Active Member 57 posts
debaker02

Sound

Hi, I am very interested to try my tsunami 2 when it comes in. Their decoders tend to work well. I also hope the cut off and throttle will be nice. Order then that, wow is the only decoder I have tried (out of all the other ones) that sounds even close to a real locomotive. The fact the chuff works even close, the drains sounds are the best, and the wishes are wonderful. The Titan has a good drift sounds, and I have not heard esu up close. I also need to hear a blue p3, although I am not thrilled that their wireless is proprietary. It's aways amusing when Cynosure's try to patent stuff, in a field that is proven open standards make more money.... Think about it, I would already buy the base station if it came with either an open interface or a chip to add in other decoders. - d
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debaker02 Active Member 57 posts
debaker02

Darn auto correct

Wishes should be whistle Blue should be bli
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debaker02 Active Member 57 posts
debaker02

Cynosure's should be

Cynosure's should be companies
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Neil Erickson NeilEr Moderator 5,802 posts
Neil Erickson NeilEr

Tsunami 750

I love the sound of my geared locos with this little decoder. Mind that I am modeling On30 but there isn't much room in these engines along with batteries and receiver. My BlueRail Trains board has some great potential but it isn't quite there yet as the momentum features haven't been incorporated into the steam sync but my hope is that it will allow some tuning similar to the Tsunami that will have braking and drifting.

No system (yet) lets engines walk away with little "chuff" sound that you experience trackside of a steam engine. Somebody please prove me wrong!

Neil E

Neil Erickson, Hawai’i 

My Blogs
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ray schofield Prolific poster 1,394 posts
ray schofield

Steam

Thanks all

Debaker02 Sorry to show my ignorance,but what is blue p3?  I know MTH is proprietary, but didn't know there were  others. .I recently printed out the list of DCC manufacturers and there are over 200.

   I do think programming can do some things to help I am not well versed in adjusting them.     
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herronp Prolific poster 1,847 posts
herronp

I am partial to the QSI Titan with ET for steam sound.........

......because they make a very realistic sound file especially for mallets.  Listen to the difference between the high and low pressure cylinders and the engine offset in this short video.  It's an O scale NJCB  2-4-4-2 Little River #126 updated to an oil burner with modern headlights.

Peter
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Mike C Regular poster 115 posts
Mike C

I think blue P3 is BLI

I think blue P3 is BLI Paragon  3 .

 
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ray schofield Prolific poster 1,394 posts
ray schofield

Thanks Mike

Thanks Mike

I   didn't realize they were proprietary
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debaker02 Active Member 57 posts
debaker02

BLI Rolling Thunder

Hi, I had an awful time with auto correct sorry. The decoder it self is DCC. The proprietary part is the wireless data link to the speaker. So the decoder may sound nicer, but the neat ish only works with their brand....
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ray schofield Prolific poster 1,394 posts
ray schofield

Debaker02 Who is the

Debaker02

Who is the manufacturer?
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