Light power to the UP

IAIS's CBSW yard power running light to the UP for an interchange pull, showing the ability to simulate drifting or coasting using Loksound's Full Throttle functionality.  Once throttled up, Drive Hold is engaged to maintain speed, and the throttle is cut back to idle.  At the very end of this clip, the independent brake is engaged  in order to stop short of the joint.

Pulling the pigs

IAIS's CBSW yard job starts a heavy intermodal cut while pulling interchange from UP's Council Bluffs Pool Yard.  Loksound's Full Throttle features make it easy to simulate power that's down on its knees trying to start a heavy train.  Just engage Drive Hold before opening the throttle to prevent the motor from moving, then advance the throttle to about notch 5.  After a few seconds, quickly disengage and re-engage Drive Hold, allowing the motor to begin creeping to catch up to the speed indicated by the throttle.  Once the train begins moving, with Drive Hold still engaged, advance the throttle higher to about notch 7 or 8, then continue quickly disengaging and re-engaging Drive Hold repeatedly in order to allow the speed to advance.  Once the train reaches the desired speed, with drive hold still engaged, notch back on the throttle.

Drifting and pulling

This video illustrates the ability to "play" the engine RPMs based on the situation being encountered.  As this eastbound approaches, the engineer begins to cut back on the throttle while drifting down into the East Nishnabotna River valley.  However, on the other side lies the long climb back out, meaning the engineer must carefully advance the throttle while much of his train is still bunching up behind him.

Configuration

First of all, for anyone moving to Loksound, I'd highly recommend spending the money for a LokProgrammer​. Mine made this process SO much easier than it would have been if I'd been attempting to program individual CVs.  Seriously, you'll be very glad you bought it.

As for LokProgrammer settings, the main things I changed are as follows (listed by LokProgrammer tab name):

Address

Locomotive address - Set to the western-most unit number in the consist (all units in each of my consists are set to the same number as all others in that consist).

Driving Characteristics

Time from stop to maximum speed [CV3] (Acceleration) - 100

Time from maximum speed to stop [CV4] (Deceleration) - 200 (road) or 150 (yard)

Reverse Mode - Reverse Direction checkbox - Checked for east-facing units

Function Mapping

As defined in my post at the top of Page 3.

Function Outputs

Front light[1], AUX1[1], and AUX2[1] had their brightness adjusted, as I typically found the LEDs I was installing to be so bright that I was getting headaches from looking at the locomotives.  In fact, I often turned the ditch light LEDs down to a brightness of 0 on a scale of 0-31, and they were still plenty bright.

Front light[1], AUX1[1] and AUX2[1] - Output mode (effect) to Dimmable Headlight (fade in/out)

Motor Settings

Use speed curve (custom road and yard speed curves shown in my post on page 8 )

CV2 (Minimum speed) - 1

CV5 (Maximum speed) - 25 (Adjusted slighly higher or lower as necessary to speed match some models)

Sound settings

Sound selection - select sound configuration value - Set according to the Loksound values outlined for your project.  This field controls a variety of sounds, including horn type, brake shoe type, etc.  These settings vary from one sound project to the next, so the user must refer to the setting options at http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/2 (LokSound Select) and/or http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/4 (LokSound v4.0) for their particular project.  For most of my locomotives, the only value needed for this field was the horn type.

Volume - Master volume [CV63] settings:

• 20 (15.63%) - For Alcos, set a bit higher than others in order to hear that great burble
• 15 (11.72%) - For all other powered units
• 10 (7.81%) - For sound dummies, since apparently that wide-open shell makes a great speaker box, causing them to be much louder than their powered counterparts.  Also used this value for my Athearn Genesis SD70ACe, the loudest factory install I've ever heard.

Sound slot settings

Sound slot 1 (prime mover) - Matt Herman at ESU recommends that when you have more than one unit in a consist with the exact same prime mover type, decreasing the minimum and maximum sound speed values about 4 points on one unit, and increasing them by 4 points on the other unit, will cause the locomotives to sound like two distinct prime movers while still operating in sync with one another.  For example, from the default values of 128, decrease the min and max values in locomotive #1 to 124, and increase those values in locomotive #2 to 132.  This change also eliminates that odd UFO-like "phasing" sound you hear when two units with the exact same sound file pass you.

Sound slot 3 (horn volume) - 128

Sound slot 4 (bell volume) - 75

Sound slot 11 (independent brake volume) - 50

Sound slot 26 (automatic independent brake volume) - 0

Whew!  I think that's everything.  I'm no expert on Loksound, so if anyone sees anything amiss in my recommendations above, or if you just have settings I've missed that you'd like to recommend, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Loksound w/NCE

Joe -

I've been running a couple of the SD40s on my layout for a couple of weeks.  The NCE Powercab/Procab has a button that will set the momentum in a selected locomotive.  The settings are 0-9 with 9 being the largest momentum.  I have the cab set for a 25x multiplier. So Momentum 1 = 25, 2=50...9=225.  A momentum setting of 3 is about equal to the default of 80 where they were set as delivered.

Anyway, it's been interesting playing with the momentum variable on the fly.  Setting the locomotive running light to momentum 3, or setting it to 9 when pulling a string of steel coil cars, for instance.

I suppose it might be a lightweight version of what Scott T. is trying to accomplish with his throttle project.

I have to say it adds another dimension to the Full Throttle feature.

gs

Very nice

Joe,

I appreciate you making these videos. Having operated on your layout, I can say that your roster sounds and performs MUCH more realistic than before. Fantastic!

One small note:  I do know that with the 250 you should turn on the fast spitter function. I learned from the engineer who ran the unit for many years that the engine spit a lot.  Hey, more realism, right? 

Drive hold function key?

Complicated!!!!!

To many buttons, It sounds nice But, I think for this to work you need a more realistic throttle control !!!!!! Your eyes are looking too much  at the control I could see this as a problem !!!!!

Drive hold function key

I agree with moving drive hold.  I have mine on function 6.  I am finding though, that I am forgetting when the brake is on.  I'll be moving something around so I have it at or below 6.  When using the throttle wireless, I find the button at the bottom of the control will not show the higher function settings like it does if I plug it in.

Bart Hollis

Oh! And, Joe,

Very nicely done!  I'd love to see a good quality, lengthy video of your layout.

Bart Hollis

Loksound

George, that's neat to hear about the NCE momentum features.  I'm on Lenz with CVP throttles currently, so I'm excited to see what new worlds the ProtoThrottle opens up.

Scott, thanks for your encouraging comments, as well as the info on the 250.  Do you recall the config change you made for the spitter on the 250?

Joe F., I didn't know that about the NCE function keys, but I agree it'd be really nice to have a visual indicator of when Drive Hold is enabled.  As the video demonstrated, it can be a struggle at times to remember when either Drive Hold or the independent brake is on if I'm not paying attention...and trying to shoot and narrate a video while I'm operating made it even harder!   Fortunately, the independent brake is very effective, even with my deceleration value turned up to its max of 255.

Kamerad47, I can see how my description in the video might have made this seem complicated, but in practice, I actually haven't found that to be the case at all.  I chose the buttons I did for Drive Hold and the independent brake because of their position on the keypad.  It's easy to know when I'm touching them without looking, and the use of them becomes intuitive very quickly.

The best video I have seen using LokSound

Hi Joe,

Thank you so much for posting the best video I have seen describing operating with the FT features of the LokSound decoder. It makes much more sense now that I have seen how you are using the FT functions and what you are doing with your controller. I know it was not easy to film the video, hold the controller in camera range and operate the locomotive but it really helps the viewer understand using the FT features. I am going to submit your video for an Oscar

I am using Digitrax for my control system and the DT400 shows in the display what functions are activated so that should help me to see what functions, like the brake feature, are activated. Yes, it is a lot of "button pushing" but I really think it adds to the fun of operating. It also is a good reason to use a two person crew when operating so the Engineer can really concentrate on operating the locomotive, just like they do on the prototype. Thanks again for posting the videos.

Tom Klimoski

Modeling the Georgia Northeastern Railroad   

Very simple..

I am not trying to throw dirt in any ones coffee..that said.... I have to add what I have experienced using this system. There are many buttons ..maybe that is true BUT, only a few are actually used (my experience). I do not spend more than a second looking at my controller, nor have seen anyone I know staring at it for any length of time.. just isn't happening .Since the speeds that trains run on my layout are not train set speed (mach 2+), I can go get a coffee refill in the time needed to make decisions on running my train. Look at others videos during ops...do you see blazing speeds that there is no reaction time? Prob not.  

If there is a true emergency need such as a train going to run off the table, and you are in drive hold, turn the power off if possible.. it will stop.Some systems have that option, esp using wifi w/ jmri. As with my first point, there should be plenty of time to react if the train is not going mach 2.  I do agree that it would prob be easier with a visual indicator, and Re-mapping IS a great idea. I have thought about it a bit different. Instead of moving to lower numbers, I would use the numbers on the left side of the controller (closer to the thumb). I have not done this, but have been considering it. Drawback would be operators who hold the throttle in the other hand..

In summary, I don't have the issue some have suggested. I find running at slow speeds gives plenty of reaction time. I also do not have any issues with pressing a few buttons at those speeds. I personally enjoy using Loksound and like Joe A, will be replacing all my decoders (funds permitting) . To me they are that good and that easy to use. If they are not to your liking, then by all means use something else. After all it's about having fun and relaxing..ie a hobby. 

Lastly, Joe A.. thanks for adding the vids and such. IMO that is an area ESU can improve ( adding more vids to make understanding better for all) 

Bart

Thanks very much Bart!  FYI, Scott Thorton was kind enough to shoot the video below that shows the layout as it stood about 18 months ago.

Full Throttle Conversion

Hey Joe,

Congrats on getting over the hump and completing the Loksound conversion, not to mention the new features you'll have with ditch lights etc.  I've had some experience operating with the Full Throttle and it's a lot of fun.  I'm sure your operating crew is going to enjoy the benefits of your hard work the last few months.  Looking forward to seeing some more videos as you get time. 

Congrats again,

-Neil Schofield

Joe

What a great system you have!  I have a 28 inch 1080p monitor which makes videos like this almost like being there.  S'funny, around the 3:45 mark, I swear I could smell grain!  Corn, I think.  < G>   You've done a super job!  Thanks for the reply.  I really enjoyed seeing that.

Bart

The Independent Brake

Joe A, 
What are your settings for the independent brake, that is if LokSound has the possibility to change settings for this.
I am thinking not only on if you can adjust how effective it is, but also on the different sound options.
Is it possible for you to show screenshots from LokProgrammer on this?

Your layout is so beatiful and you have done a great job converting all those engines. Congratulations.
I have a few Tsunami 1 gen I like to sell, but it seems not to be a marked for those here in Norway....
Yes; I am a LokSound convert

Full Throttle set up for my Digitrax UT4

Joe, your videos were very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
Different throttles might need different set up, I think.
My throttles are Digitrax UT4D. 
I have done some function mapping so the Full Throttle matches this.
So far I have this set up. 

I use the F6 function for brakes as I have set up my Tsunami for this.
Something I did after reading your thoughts on this a while back, Joe A 

I am not sure this will be my final setup, though.
Others might have other set up for this throttle.
What are yours?

Loksound

Tom, thanks very much for your kind words.  It means a lot to me that you found the video useful.  If I can help with questions as you start down the Loksound path, I'd be happy to.

Tony, I think you made a good point about keeping train speeds low.  I'm normally very careful about that, but as you saw in the video as I moved light power back to my train, it can be easy to let that get away from me if I'm not giving it my full attention.  For me, operations are about replicating situations I experienced regularly while railfanning and riding my prototype, so it's important to operate realistically as part of that attempt, rather than rushing through a session as though it's a race.  

As for ESU posting more videos, I wish I could help!  That'd be a dream job.   But have you guys seen Matt Herman's demo in the November 2016 What's Neat video?  It starts at

Neil, thank you so much for your encouragement.  I'm always inspired by your videos, so hopefully I can someday put all that inspiration to good use.

Bart, thanks again!  I'm going to think of your comment every time I release the brakes now! 

KnuT, my independent brake settings are just the Loksound defaults, except that the volume (sound slot 11) is set to 50, while the automatic brake sound volume (sound slot 26) is set to 0.  I'm guessing that ESU offers a way to configure the braking effectiveness, but I was really happy with the defaults, so I haven't researched that further.

I hadn't thought about providing screen shots of the LokProgrammer pages, but that's a good idea.  I might do that as a separate thread, linked from here, to make the info easier to find for others who might struggle with the LP config down the road.  I'll try to put that together over the next day or so.

Finally, to answer your question about function mapping, I have my CVP throttles, like the one in the first video above, set up as follows:

F0 - Headlight

F1 - Bell

F2 - Horn

F3 - Headlight dim

F4 - Drive Hold

F5 - "Cab swap" - I have directional lighting disabled in my roster, so when a locomotive has its headlight and ditch lights on (F0 and F6 respectively), they remain on regardless of direction of travel.  However, when a consist reaches the end of a westbound out-and-back run and the crew moves to the cab of the unit on the east end that'll lead for the return trip, F5 can be enabled, causing F0 and F6 to now control the headlights and ditch lights in that east leader.  This prevents crews from having to memorize multiple new functions.

F6 - Ditch lights

F7 - Independent brake

F8 - Mute

Joe,

Please tell us more about the cab swap function.  I was thinking about that, but didn't come up with a way to do it.  How did you set that up?

Another thing I would like to do is: When you have two or more units in a consist, and you turn the rear headlight on, it should be the front headlight of the rear unit. The rear headlight of the lead unit should remain dark.  That would be prototypical.  Any thoughts?

Bart

Conditional function mapping

Hi Bart - Fortunately, both things you mentioned are really easily done through the LokProgrammer's conditional function mapping.  I'll include screen shots showing how I have them set up below, but first, I should explain how I have my consists configured in a more general sense.

Due to an issue with (at least) my version of Lenz, I couldn't find a way to build consists the normal way and still have every unit in the consist recognize commands such as the independent brake function.  Only the unit number I'd actually acquired on the throttle would act on that function, in spite of a number of attempts at various configuration changes.  Finally, I resorted to programming all units in each consist to the same unit number - the number of the west leader.  

That has worked great for me, and conditional function mapping has allowed it to work even better under Loksound than it did with Tsunamis.  For example, I have now programmed my consists so the horn and bell sounds come from the appropriate leader based on the setting of F5-Cab Swap, and, even more important for me, the horn type is correct for the unit that's leading.  That's especially nice for me, modeling the IAIS, since all their power in my era was purchased second- or third-hand from a variety of original owners, meaning a great mix of horn types.  When I had Tsunamis, I had to choose one unit per consist to have its horn and bell active, and therefore could only have one horn type active in that consist.

With that said, here are some example screen shots showing how I set up the consist in the first video, LLPX SD38-2 2805 and IAIS C420 850.  The 850 is the west leader, so both units are programmed to that number.

First, the 850's function mapping:

...and the 2805's settings:

As you can see, the headlight (F0), bell (F1), horn (F2), and ditch lights (F6) are all dependent on the Cab Swap (F5) function being off for the west-facing leader, or on for the east-facer.  Also, since prototype ditch lights are typically on a rotary switch with "Off/Dim/Mid/High/High w/Ditch Light" settings (exact wording may be off), ditch lights can't be on if the headlight is dimmed, or if it's not turned on at all, so F6 is conditional on both the presence of F0 ("F0" in the Conditions above) and the absence of F3 "not F3" above).

This method would, however, require changes if the unit you mentioned in your second question was going to move from single-unit duty to a consist, or vice-versa.  On my part of the IAIS in my era, though, no single units were operated.  In fact, when I added LEDs and ditch lights as part of my Loksound conversion, I didn't even bother with the backup light or rear DLs on any of my locomotives.

DUH!

F0, not F3, F5, F6...  Never occurred to me to add multiple conditions.  Thanks so much!  This opens up a whole new world!

With my NCE system, I can program many of the functions to respond or not depending on whether the unit is part of a consist or not.  Woo Hoo!  I'm off to the train room.  Probably won't see me for a few days! 

Bart Hollis

Putting the "fun" in functions!

I totally agree Bart!  I was really excited to stumble on this as I started playing around with the LokProgrammer.  I think this is really an under-appreciated aspect of Loksound, as it allows all sorts of fun conditions.  Besides functions, you can also add conditions on whether you've moving ("Driving"), your direction (whether moving or sitting still), and various sensors.  I'm not sure what the last one's about, but I've heard that some European locomotives have sensors that automate such things as coupler crash sounds, so I'm wondering if it's related to that.

I'm happy to be able to help you Bart, because I've certainly taken full advantage of the tips you gave me when I first got started with the LokProgrammer.  Your idea of splitting out the data settings from the sound files has been a huge help!

Joe.. F5

The cab swap is an awesome idea !  I may have to borrow this from you at some point soon