Late to the game here but many online retailers and stores will load the sound file of your choice before they ship it to you. I know a couple of my favorite online retailers will mention it in the decoder's product description. I've done it before and the decoder comes with the sound already loaded. I ended up buying the LokProgrammer anyways and don't regret it one bit. One thing to keep in mind, it's always best to load the DCC values to the sound file via LokProgrammer and then edit that file when programming the decoder. What's a bit sucky is that every time you make a sound specific change (except for volume and some other minor changes) requires you to reload the sound file again which can take around 30 minutes. Say you want to add a sound to an empty sound slot, you can do this but you'll have to reload the complete file again. I hope ESU will change this so that only the changes need to be uploaded to the sound card instead of the whole thing. Also, wow! That ESU LokSound install in that Atlas locomotive was so simple. No milling and soldering. Wish all manufactures would adapt this method and it would become an industry standard.
ESU The Best for Sound! My Favorite part is Custom tuning with LokProgrammer, all the various Sounds a available on Locos. Every one of mine is Slightly Different in some way. I enjoy it even though its time consuming.
Ron I want to thank you for this particular video. I just received a Scale Trains Dash 9. It came DCC ready so I got the decoder and speaker. The installation was the easiest ever but I'm not great with computers and such! Anyway your instructions and video made it look so simple that I was able to understand how. FYI the Amarillo Railroad Museum had the programer so I went and got the ESU decoder tester too so now the museum can test decoders. It also tests other manufacturers decoders too. Again I really want to say thank you, Chris
I recently also started converting several of my Kato locos from Digitrax to Loksound. The sound programmer was a little pricey but well worth it because of all the features you noted. I absolutely love the sound and running with these decoders. The only downside is they don’t play nicely with JMRI, which makes speed matching more complicated. Something I can live with. Thanks for a great video demonstrating Loksound.
The programmer isn't cheap, but it works like a dream..I wish I could use it with other brands. No, JMRI doesn't quite understand lok decoders, but I always pair lol decoders together in consists, which takes care of that issue.
Yes, Ralph is exactly correct. The "normal" range or page of CVs in a decoder is 1-256. CVs above 256 are "paged," meaning you have to set the page in CVs 31 and 32 to access them. It is these pages CVs that JMRI seems to have issue with. Everything in the 1-256 range works fine in JMRI, including speed tables. With ESU decoders, the higher configurable light and sound functions are controlled by paged CVs, above 256. Thus the need for the LokProgrammer to most easily configure them. Don't get me wrong, there are other ways, but the LokProgrammer is the easiest and most efficient.
Awesome video! A bit of an interesting decision to opt with a DC version instead of the DCC sound version, which I’m guessing is because due to the lack of availability of the sound unit
In this case the DC version was provided as a manufacturers sample, but it is ofter a bit cheaper to install you own decoder. Also, IN SOME CASES factory installed decoders are "eco" versions with less capability than one you install, so you get a better decoder.
@@RonsTrainsNThings That often tends to be the case with budget models like Walthers Mainline in HO for example. Athearn RTR and Genesis models from my findings appear to come with unique fully featured OEM decoders that can’t usually be bought new from a hobby shop
Ron, Have you made any videos on how to build & install a lift bridge, swing gate or drop gate? I am about to begin a new layout which will be square shaped with walkways inside it and need a BETTER entry point than using a Duck Under! My back doesn't let me bend as easy anymore! Any help would be Greatly appreciated!
Can I locate or extract the loksounds and convert them into .wav or .mp3 files? If they're stored in a specific location, where can I access them and what's the process for extracting them?
I just had Two of my locos updated to esu lol sound 5 decoders. I didn’t do the installation myself and don’t have the software. I’m extremely happy with the sounds but wondering what I can tweak using just the CV values in JMRI. Would you have any tips on what changes can be made and the corresponding CVs. Thanks for sharing
I would not use JMRI to adjust sound or light feature values on ESU decoders. Using it for speed tables is fine, but these advanced features are in higher pseudo CVs that JMRI has issues with. That said, here is what you can do. The software for the LokProgrammer is free and downloadable. Download the software, start it up, and under settings set it to show CVs. Now it will show you the CVs and values to set for every configuration. Next, set the features you want ONE AT A TIME. As you do note the CV values and use your throttle to set those values. Be careful, because these advanced features often require setting values in multiple CVs--thus the higher pseudo CVs I mentioned. Be sure to save the file on your computer at each step as sometimes multiple features my use the same CV so the value for one feature may be different than the value for both features. I hope that helps. Good luck.
Hi Ron, I’ve been enjoying your content since finding your channel, and found you videos to be very helpful! Given your experience with Loksound decoders, do you know if it is possible to ‘overwrite’ a sound project with a new sound project? I’ve tried it and get the message that there isn’t enough room on the decoder. I’ve search the internet and can’t find a specific answer on whether it is possible. If not, it seems that once a sound project is installed, it is on the decoder for life. Do you think that is the case?
Kato has as far as I know no sound ready locomotive. All require machining off space for the speaker. That being said, I decided for myself to go for sound if I can fit a decent speaker. There are small speakers available but they don't have a resonance chamber big enough for lower frequencies. My rule of thumb is to use the standard 11x15 sugar cube speaker with at least the smallest resonance chamber. Make sure the rear lighting isn't screwed up by the speaker. Mostly the location is either in the fuel tank or in the rear above the truck. As space is the critical issue in N-scale I often file off a bit from the inside of the shell.. I recommend to consult your dealer or modeler friends with experience for advice before screwing up a locomotive.
