ESU Tutorial Series - How to Change the Horn & Bell in a V5 Sound File 

Changing the horn and bell really is as simple as any other decoder. It's simply setting a CV to make the change. In this case changing CV163 to a value from 0-14 changes the horn. That's no different than any other decoder, the CV number might be different, but the process is the same. Since there are hundreds of horns in the ESU library, not all are included in every sound file. That means they can't publish a horn list in any manual. The horn lists are customized per sound file. ESU does list the horns on their website projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/18 for each sound file. You have to click the little "more" link in the sound file description and it literally gives you the horn, bell, and more lists of what they are. You do not need the LokProgrammer software at all to change horns, bells and anything else. Changing the horn through the LokProgrammer software is actually more complex than just using your DCC system. Since I use the LokProgrammer for all set-up of my ESU decoders, I just use it for that too. I set up the horn at the time I am setting all of the other parameters I want.

@krispavone3856 All sound files use CV163 for changing horns and CV164 for changing bells. You can always read these CVs using your DCC system's program track to know what they are set to by default. If you can obtain the OEM sound file for your locomotive, you can open it in the LokProgrammer software. The software is a free download and you don't need the LokProgrammer hardware. The sound files have a list of the specific horns. The manufacturer may also be able to provide this information by way of the sound file bulletin. Individual volumes are controlled by setting CV32=1 first. The prime mover is CV259, the horn is CV275, and the bell is CV283. This is the same for all sound files.

@@RioGrandeFan Ahhh, I see! I just tested it out. I've never seen this option before, it's like entering a CV for a CV, that's what was confusing me. Thanks for clearing that up for me! Kind of unrelated, do you have any idea why my engines bell rings every time I press the horn? It does it with every horn setting.

Yes, you can add sounds to a sound file if there is enough space. The memory on the decoder is limited. It is best to choose only the few horns/bells that are most appropriate for your locomotive and just keep those. For instance, if your locomotive only has 3 chime horns, there's really no reason to have 5 chime horns in the file and vice versa.

Not on the Essential Sound Unit decoders like what Walthers uses but on a regular LokSound 5 DCC. They are also called by their real names like Nathan K5LLA or Leslie S3L. The retail SD70ACe file S0822 comes with 20 horns including 6 variations of the K5LLA which is correct for the SD70ACe. There are also 5 bells, 3 steel bells and 2 modern E-Bells if your model has one of those. Some SD70ACe's have regular bells, and some have E-Bells.

This data isn't written to the decoder. While it will give you some information, it won't give you everything. You should always start with the original sound file whenever possible. Most manufacturers either post the files to their website or they'll send them to you if you ask. If you can't get it, you can always find a new retail file on the ESU website for your prototype and just move forward with that file.

Ahh, ok, yes the Walthers SD70ACe has an ESU decoder called the Essential Sound Unit. It isn't a true V5, it is a lower end decoder that is locked with what comes on the decoder. You can't change the sounds that are on these decoders. The horns and bells they come with are what they are, you can cycle through them with a CV change but as far as adding or removing horns and bells unfortunately you can't. I'm not sure what a chirping sound would be but yes, all ESU decoders are set by factory default to not move until the start-up sequence is completed. A real locomotive cannot move until it is fully started so this is just another piece of added realism. You can generally turn that off with a CV, but I am not as familiar with the Essential Sound Units. I would highly recommend just replacing it with a true LokSound 5 DCC. They are 21-pin and can be easily changed out. You would need to have a LokProgrammer to write a retail SD70ACe sound file to the LokSound 5 DCC. Some dealers will do this for you if you don't have a LokProgrammer. The sound quality is immensely better with the regular LokSound 5 DCC decoders and you can customize the horns and bells for what you want on the decoder. You can also turn off the start-up delay if you choose.

@@RioGrandeFan does the speaker need to be changed or is that compatible with. I think I may have a v5 decoder for that. It seems to me I got one some time ago. I will need to look.

@@RioGrandeFan what model would I need for that SD70ACe?

@@KimKeyboardKimFokken you can use the speaker that is installed though a Scale Sound Systems speaker would be a HUGE upgrade for sound quality. It would require soldering to move the wires from the factory speaker over to the Scale Sound Systems speaker.

@@KimKeyboardKimFokken The SD70ACe is retail file S0822 on the ESU website: projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/search?cat=18&q=S0822

I am very sorry for not replying sooner. If you still need this, the easiest way to get it would be to download the InterMountain Railway file 93486 from the bottom of this page: intermountain-railway.com/customerservice/dccwebpage/IRC-OEM-ESU-Sound-Files.html. The exact horn set-up you're looking for is in this file by setting CV163 to 15. Of course using my horn transfer videos as a guide you can take the horns from this file and transfer them to the S0735 file if you prefer.

I'm not sure I'm following the question. There shouldn't ever be a need to move prime movers between sound files. If you know what prime mover you want, start with a pre-made ESU sound file for that prime mover. Download it from the ESU website and open it directly into the LokProgrammer software. There are over 100 diesel sound files so you should be able to find a file that has the prime mover you need. With V5 sound files and decoders you can customize the pre-made file with horns and bells and other sounds that you want from other files if necessary. It is far easier to move horns and bells and other sounds between files than it would be to move the prime mover.

All of the individual sound volumes can be changed using the Sound slot settings tab in the LokProgrammer software. The prime mover is always Sound slot 1. You simply select Sound slot 1 and move the Volume slider bar up or down. If you have a LokProgrammer you can then simply click "write decoder data" at the top to write the new value to the decoder. If you don't have a LokProgrammer the prime mover volume is CV259. To set it you must set CV32 to 1 first, then CV259 to a value between 0 and 255 for the volume level. A value of 128 is 100%. A value of 160 is 125%, 192 is 150% and 255 is close to 200%. Individual sound volumes are really some of the easiest things to set in these decoders.

@RioGrandeFan i have an atlas gold series gp40-2 with loksound v5 and ive tried doing that and it does nothing. Your horn and bell vidoe helped me change those around tho.

@@jacobpfeifertrains1998 if you're trying to increase the volumes, you may be at the upper limit of the speaker. With some you can only go so loud before the changes aren't noticeable. Try setting it to an extreme low value to see if the decoder is taking the programming. Set CV259 to 30 or 40, it should get really quiet. If it does you know the programming is working. Are you using the LokProgrammer to write the CV's or your DCC system? I would also recommend changing the speaker out for a Scale Sound Systems as they are better all around. Better bass and sound clarity. You do lose a touch of volume, but loud volume doesn't mean good quality sound.

@RioGrandeFan i did try lowering to like 10 and there was no change. Same with horn volume. Also set cv32 to 1. Im using a NCE Powercab. I can change the master volume and change between dif horns and bells

@@jacobpfeifertrains1998 I just tried changing the prime mover volume on a different locomotive I have with a V5 using my PowerCab and it worked perfectly. I tried it using the main track and the program track and both times it worked as expected so I'm not sure what is going on. You are setting CV32 to 1 first right? I don't have an Atlas GP40-2 with a factory LokSound 5 but they all work the same. Choose the option to use the Program Track, when you type in CV32 the system will read it back, are you getting a value of 1? If not, change it to 1. Then type in 259, what value do you get back? If it is a high value over 100 try changing it to a low value, then read it back and see if the number you put in reads back. If so, exit out to the main screen and see if the volume has changed. If you aren't able to read back values and get an error message or it reads back 255, that would tell me you might have a faulty decoder. Another thought is you might need to reset your PowerCab. Sometimes the system itself gets messed up and needs to be reset. You would go to the Set CMD Station option and then press Enter through all screens until you see the reset option. You press 6 to reset, then press 1 to confirm. I have found the PowerCab needs to be reset periodically. The only other thing I could think of is maybe your locomotive doesn't have a LokSound V5 decoder? I just looked and the same CVs do change the volumes in the Select Decoder though, the only difference is 128 is the max value for 100% volume. You can't go higher. Overall I'm quite stumped, you should totally be getting this to work and very easily.

Hi Reddfox12...I'm not exactly sure I follow what you're asking. There is no way to download sound files from the decoder if that's what you're wanting to do. The decoders from ESU come "blank" from the factory (with test sounds only) and always need to have a sound file written to them. If you want to change what is pre-installed maybe from a manufacturer or a hobby store, you simply over write the entire file with a different one. There's no erasing or downloading what is already there. If you know what sound file was put on the decoder to start with you can open that sound file (after downloading it from the ESU site) and read the CV data into the file via the green arrow button. This only reads in the CV data, not the sound data. I always start with any decoder by downloading the sound files from the ESU website. I will modify the sound file I want for a particular locomotive and then save the file with a different file name. The file name has the road name and road number of the locomotive it is for. That way I have a specific file for every single locomotive. I also have the "base" original file as well that I will modify again if needed for other locomotives. Uploading the sound to the decoder is always the same, simply by pressing the music note icon always writes the sound data and the CV data and takes about 25-30 minutes. The red arrow icon without the music note only writes the CV data which takes only a few seconds. I hope that helps, and if not let me know and I will try to help further best I can.

@@RioGrandeFan thanks for a quick response. ok. I may have said confusingly. If you check my RU-vid video on a lot of my G scale they are all ESU sound file and custom programs. A professional installer did all that. Wiring and program ESU sound files. I need to learn to place the locos individual on the program track to get the ESU Sound file and programs to my Desktop for my own copies. Meaning I need to read the decoder ESU data and store it to a folder for future back up just in case I have to down load if the decoder get some glitches to restore it. Second I will get to learn to make a copies on the Master of the original and then the copied file can be edited to like changing bells , whistles, volume sounds. Etc. just basic tweaks. 3rd. To learn from the original how the pulse smoke and other accessories on Auxiliaries connection how lights are made to strobe , blink. There are a lot of learning on the master file that was made. Maybe to enhance or discover other tricks that is possible and allowed with the range. I have a test lab gadget that connects the decoder 58513 XL that will show all connection like FL, Front Light, RL rear light, speaker, motor, etc. to fine tune and before you make a final Decoder install. Now I know the Ho are ESU plug and play. But the G scale is custom wiring install. That is for the professional installer. But the learning to tweak or enhance the decoder data can be learned on the next phase of the hobby. You can change the locomotive sound file every month if you get tired and try a new file. Like ESU Is making more Hi fi sound file which are really great. Simply put. Backing up my Locos data and soundfile to my computer And learn to copy the master file to another file to explore other possibilities to enhance the features of the locos sound functions.

@@REDDFOX12 You can only download the CV data to your computer which I suppose is ok, but it would be better if you had the original file that was written to your decoders. I would ask your professional installer if he would give you the files he used. There's really no reason why he shouldn't give them to you or at least tell you what file number was used. With that you can download the file that was used and then read the CVs into it using the green arrow icon. Then save the file with your locomotive road name and road number. If he put custom sound recordings in the sound file you'll need the sound file he used. You cannot download the sounds themselves from the decoders. The software only writes the sounds, it cannot read them. It can only read the data. When I do professional installation work I always save every file and if the client wants it, I give it to them. From there you can save a copy with a changed file name and make your basic tweaks. The sound files don't care what the file name is so it can be anything you want. That's how I keep track of my locomotives.