Add Human Audio to Building/Car

gunrunnerjohn found this web site.

http://store.bigdawgspromo.com/product_info.php?cPath=492&products_id=12970&osCsid=97b323cd63b8859ba9d765d162f372e7

Dennis: Don't reinvent the wheel - Hallmark sells cards that are recordable. Get one for about $5 just to experiment with. I'm sure a button can be added to activate it, instead of the tag switch it comes with.

activating is the trick though!  I've found portable devices (one is at Radio Shack) but refrained from buying them because I couldn't figure out how to remotely activate any that I saw.  You can't ignore that function.

- walt

The 5-button $13 module above seems to be exactly what you need. 

If you go this route, try the Electrical forum for how to convert from battery-power to track/accessory-power (if desired), upgrade the speaker for more volume (if needed), replace one or more push-button switches with layout activated sensors (if needed), etc..

The motion sensor is intriguing, if a little expensive.

Scrapbooking aisles in large craft stores have recordable push-button units. If you need a remote trigger, the USB units would be the way to go, but I have no idea what software you need to set them up.

Thanks all, gonna try the 5 button unit, extend the wiring and have a longer USB cable so can make it easier to change recordings and maybe power it from the USB Cable verses the batteries.

Gunrunnerjohn,

If you see this, was curious, about two things...

If the sound volume is loud enough as is for the 5 button device in the link above?

Is it feasible or easy enough to have the batteries replaced with 5 vdc from the usb jack?

For Walt and any who may be interested in the Radio Shack module:  I simply mounted the whole unit except the speaker on the edge of the layout, near the (conventional) transformers.

          -BUT-

You may have done well to avoid buying one.  The speakers are uselessly weak.  I bought a replacement pair that greatly improved the sound at a yard sale for $1.  But after a time one of the two units started eating batteries, sounding garbled, and then quit altogether.

Visitors still enjoy the other one though.  I have the speaker placed near the Arttista "Dog biting Mail Carrier" figures, and the sound recording is Chevy Chase from "Family Vacation" shooing away Aunt Edna's dog (before he tied it to the rear bumper).

Thanks for the heads-up TrainsRMe.

- walt