Freight Sounds - Looking for some advice

So yeah I'll update my own topic - I learned (through this forum of course!) that DCC is designed to work exclusively. It requires DC power and changes polarity to get its signal across. The only real option is to run my MTH Proto 3 stuff in DCC.

Long story short, it is probably best to just have to wait for MTH to make something or look into finally getting some Legacy stuff. They don't seem to make 'dumb' freight sound cars except for engine sounds. Shame.  

You may find some posts from a couple months back Interesting that had to do with using pretty cheap, off the (china)shelf parts to add some basic sounds to freight cars. 

I found this one GRJ was working on, but there was another thread I can't seem to find with similar ideas.  

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...io-for-rolling-stock

Thanks! 

I'm still working on my sound board, I've taken a detour for the holidays and cataract surgery.  I hope to have the version with sound, light outputs, and servo outputs for display at the spring York.  I have an earlier prototype of the board in several freight cars as well as in my Polar Express passenger train, having user triggered sounds really adds a new dimension.

Can't wait to use those Polar Express clips in one of your creations, John.

I read that entire thread start to finish, very innovative!

 I'm investigating going down the bluetooth route. The boards from China are about $12 and have 10w audio amps . In theory I can control multiple sound cars from a computer or tablet. For the power I have a lot of that stuff in stock already from LED passenger car conversions and would think a similar circuit design would do the job

The final cost would be about $15 but would require a dedicated computer and not have any control for lights, actuators, etc. I may build a prototype but there is not much point to build a bunch when the GRJ Design is generally superior! 

This is a completely different and very simple approach to having a sound car. Below is a photo of an item I purchased on Ebay a long time ago. It is called a Music Angel and was under $20 at the time I purchased it. The sound is excellent, is completely self contained with a built in rechargable power source and the size was small enough to fit in a Mth gondola. With a fake coal load top it became completely hidden. The best part is the sound source is blue tooth from your computer, so you can use any sounds you want from the Internet.

I did make a few small modifications to the gondola like remove a few internal ribs so the music angel would fit better and I drilled a few small holes in the bottom of the gondola so the sound would be louder.

I bought a couple BT speaker models, but I found the range left something to be desired and the sounds would cut in and out.  If they had better range, that would be a good option.

Just a note... my favorite feature on the vision line reefer cars is the initial coupler slack sound when the cars begin rolling.  The next added feature is being able to keep the sounds on and toggle the rail flange screech off... simply brilliant.

John - cannot wait to see what you have coming down the pike.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I bought a couple BT speaker models, but I found the range left something to be desired and the sounds would cut in and out.  If they had better range, that would be a good option.

Maybe it is the proximity of my computer to my blue tooth speaker or some other reason, but I did not recall hearing any significant sound drops during operation. I also maybe just not be noticing the small sound drop off sequences like you are referring to. Anyway for my use all has been good and I use this speaker for other applications as well so it has many uses for me.

If it works in your environment, it's a good solution.

JDADDY, as soon as I can see well enough to work on the code for extended periods of time, I plan on getting back to the sound project.

Has anyone tried using the MTH Protosound (Protocast or whatever it is?) features for something like this?

I have never tried using this feature, but it has always sounded interesting. No idea if this it would be suited for something like this, but I have seen youtube videos of people playing music and stuff through their engines and announcing departures and station stops and things. I will have to try this one of these days, been going to do this for a couple of years now (maybe I need a roundtuit).  

It sounds like GRJ's sound system might be a better fit here and the Proto stuff might not be suitable or he probably wouldn't be making his? Of course his will also work with all trains and not just MTH.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If it works in your environment, it's a good solution.

JDADDY, as soon as I can see well enough to work on the code for extended periods of time, I plan on getting back to the sound project.

A bit off topic, sorry, but I had the cataract surgery on both eyes last summer and the results were immediate. Next day when they took off the patch the improvement was just amazing. I was seeing like I was 25 again so I was a bit concerned when you posted about  seeing well enough again? You must have had something different done or more than I had done?

The first eye was like that, but it's coming back a lot slower for the second eye.  I just went in today to talk to them, they swear it's going to be fine, we'll see.  My wife said when I came out of surgery for the second eye that it was red around it, she thought maybe they had more difficulty with it and it's more irritated. 

Another big problem is until I get suitable glasses for up close work, I have great difficulty working on stuff.

FWIW, my wife had your experience last year, the next day she was seeing great.

Well that sounds better. I hope they are correct and you continue to improve. I think they have the cataract surgery down pretty well, so I am sure you will probably be fine. They did tell me things would continue to improve for a few weeks after the surgery, but the first day was such a big change I really didn't notice much more. My second eye was a little different than the first, as was yours, but nothing really drastic. It may have felt a little irritated for a day or two afterwards.

I can see fine without glasses now, but I still need glasses for fine work, same as you there. I can see the computer screen (24" monitor), but reading fine print is difficult. I ended up with a 1.0 for close up. Before the surgery I had 3.75 and still couldn't see up close. It is really an amazing change.

Good luck with the recovery getting back to the fine detail work very soon.

Thanks, we'll see after a week or two...

John- saying a prayer for your speedy recovery, no war movies, computer time, and lots of sleep. Keep the faith...

You don't need Legacy to use the Lionel sound cars.  As long as they get power, they'll make sounds.  You only need Legacy to change settings.