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If anyone here's watched the later "I Love Toy Trains" videos, you may have heard some bitcrushed samples of steam and diesel trains chugging and whistling (or roaring and blowing their horn) I later discovered these sounds came from MTH's original ProtoSound sound system, developed by QSI in the late '90s (see attached .wav file). The questions I have for MTH collectors out here are:

1. If anyone has some PS1 locomotives that haven't been upgraded or still have working sound, please let me know. (a video of the train in action would be appreciated)

2. Has anyone found a way to rip these sounds and convert them to readable audio files somehow? I know QSI sent demos of the sounds to TM Books and Video (with MTH having been one of their sponsors), but I'm still wondering if there's an amateur method to doing so.

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Audio (1)
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GameBreaker, you're on to something here.

I have a 20-2205-1 Pere Marquette E-8 A-B-A set with PS/1 that I bought new back in the late 1990's.  Since the late 2000's I've been thinking about upgrading the A's to PS/2, and because I've been rather slow at doing it, now more recently PS/3.

MHM1-43141-03-DSC03047

I've known for a while that some, but not all, of the older PS/1 sound files were somehow converted to a PS/2 format, or perhaps re-recorded in that format.  You can download them from the MTH site.  Search for the product number of a known PS/1 model and if you're lucky you'll see an icon upon which you can click to download the new file:

Unfortunately there is no such file for my E8's.  The icons are greyed out.  So, I'd like to do what you suggest.

I have a couple TASCAM portable recorders, of two different types, usually used by musicians to capture their work quickly, without the bother or expense of using a formal recording studio.  They have surprisingly good record quality, and can store in several formats including MP3.

I'd like to temporarily fit a cable between the speaker in my powered E8A and one of the recorders, via the recorder's mini-audio jack input.  I'm thinking that two alligator clips on the opposite end of the cable can attach directly to the speaker terminals. Having done this before to pull audio off of other devices, like telephone answering machines, I think it will be successful, but there may be some 60 Hz buzz because of the AC powering the engine.

Here's my problem: I'm still too busy.  I'm currently supporting COVID-19 Back-to-Work preparation efforts at several manufacturing facilities simultaneously.

Q: How long can you be patient?

Mike

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Images (3)
  • mceclip0: MTH 20-2205-1 Pere Marquette E8A
  • MHM1-43141-03-DSC03047: PS/1 PCB Assembly, MTH 20-2205-1 Pere Marquette E8A Powered
  • mceclip2: MTH Site, Support, MTH 20-2205-1 Pere Marquette E8s, No Audio Downloads

I am with Sinclair.  I have several PS1engines that I have upgraded to ERR Command Control and RS.  However, I have four PS1 turbines not upgraded because I wish to retain the original sounds.  Big Boys, F3s, Alcos, Northerns have RS to update them, it is the unique turbine sounds that have me two blocked.  The older TAS and Digital Dynamics could be used to do so, but are now defunct for production.  Should someone be able to provide a method to upgrade with retaining the original QSI sounds, there will be, is, an anxious and viable market waiting in the wings.

Jesse   TCA  12-68275 

MTH did not convert PS-1 sound file to PS-2.  PS-2 5V sound files where made for PS-2 engines.  Then when they shifted to PS-2 3V boards they created PS-2 3V sound file with it.  Then they released the PS-2 3V upgrade kit.  At that point it also became the repair board for PS-2 5V.  So original 5V sound files were converted to 3V format. Additionally these converted or direct 3V file would be posted as upgrade files for PS-1 engines.  Pretty much everything MTH made as PS-1 was made later as a PS-2 engine of one or the other format, or both.  But PS-1 SF PFA sequences are unique, or the sound for a specialty engine is unique.

Now we are into PS-3 upgrades and you can use PS-3 or PS-2 3V Sf in the upgrade.  So if you like a PS-2 3V or PS-3 Sf, you use it to upgrade your PS-1 engine.  G

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This forum is sponsored by MTH Electric Trains

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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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