GP20 sound set

Presumably you mean Proto 3; I have attached a few clips where I run a PS3 GP20. It has a multi-chime horn (I think). For $199.95, PS3 kits include boards, speaker, and lamps for headlights. In my opinion, MTH is the better option; Lionel seems to only have (in Legacy) an EMD 710 or a non-turbocharged 567 for its recordings, and I think MTH's PS3 is better than Railsounds (personal opinion). 

Edit: I did not realize Lionel used a different recording for the GP30; see below. 

Skip to 1:56. 

Jump to 3:25. 

If I were going to choose a sound set for a NYC GP20 (which I’ve test-built), I’d use a Lionel GP30 sound set. The turbo charged 567 and horn should be close.

I love the Lionel turbo and it really stands out. 

You can hear the GP30’s sounds here: https://youtu.be/_xo2EGP-DXg

It sounds like a single-note horn to me.

Thanks!

-Mario

Phil McCaig posted:

Hi, I am in the early stages of building a proper GP20 from parts of various manufacturers and I have no idea where I might find an appropriate off the shelf sound set that would be the icing on the cake, so to speak.  These were some of the earliest EMD locos with turbocharged prime mover and the ones produced for the Burlington had a single trumpet horn.  I have heard many sound sets that had either the turbocharged sound and a multiple-chimed horn sound or a non-turbocharged engine sound like a GP7 or an F3 with the correct single horn sound.  I know that MTH made a GP20 a while back but have never heard what they sound like.  I would love to know if I could order that Proto 2 system from MTH if it would fit the bill for me.  Anyone out there have a MTH GP20 or know of a Lionel engine produced with an appropriate set of sounds?  Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

thanks, Phil

Totally am interested in the end result of your project...my all time favorite diesel unit.

Thanks, guys.    Didn't realize that MTH had made a Premier GP20.     Anyway, the one I looked at on their site was a Railking Scale version with 3v Proto 2 in Burlington livery.   The horn is the big deal to me and I guess I am maybe fixated a bit too much.    The other thing is that on a GP20, the dimensions are the same as a GP7 or 9 and the low nose bangs into a can motor and so can't slide the body back into position on the chassis.  I modified a Williams motor mount to allow the can motor to tilt backwards at about 10-12 degrees and it just clears now.  Believe, me it was a ton of fiddling to make this work without having the gears binding up.   If I never find a proper sound file I guess it's the way the cookie crumbles.   I have a Lionel GP30 which I really like because it does have a great sound set dedicated specifically for Burlington 945, which the dispatcher calls out clearly.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Anyone know if it's possible to have a set custom made and installed on a sound board?    

There’s a lot wrong with the MTH GP20... both dimensionally and detail wise. 

https://ogrforum.com/.../build-your-own-gp20

The nose is short to accommodate the front motor, as well as too wide. All the grab irons are cast in and so much other thatbit was easier to cut down a Lionel legacy GP9. 

Phil McCaig posted:

Thanks, guys.    Didn't realize that MTH had made a Premier GP20.     Anyway, the one I looked at on their site was a Railking Scale version with 3v Proto 2 in Burlington livery.   The horn is the big deal to me and I guess I am maybe fixated a bit too much.    The other thing is that on a GP20, the dimensions are the same as a GP7 or 9 and the low nose bangs into a can motor and so can't slide the body back into position on the chassis.  I modified a Williams motor mount to allow the can motor to tilt backwards at about 10-12 degrees and it just clears now.  Believe, me it was a ton of fiddling to make this work without having the gears binding up.   If I never find a proper sound file I guess it's the way the cookie crumbles.   I have a Lionel GP30 which I really like because it does have a great sound set dedicated specifically for Burlington 945, which the dispatcher calls out clearly.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Anyone know if it's possible to have a set custom made and installed on a sound board?    

The version I demonstrated was Railking as well. MTH's Premier version is from 1996; the Railking Scale models use the same tooling. The problem with sound files is that, at least in 3-rail, the manufacturers use different file types for their decoders. With MTH DCS, you can record and play back custom sound files (like the Crewtalk dialogue you want) on your own, but you need the DCS system. As to writing sound

files onto the locomotive itself, that's a question for a service tech, but I don't think it can be done with DCS or Legacy. Of course, if you really want the most accurate sounds possible, and maybe custom recordings, you may want to look at O Scale DCC sound decoders that can be programmed, like the ESU Loksound L or TCS 501. 

This is the link to Digitrax's instructions for uploading custom sounds: http://www.digitrax.com/sound-depot/. I think they make an O scale-compatible decoder. 

I don't think either company has a turbo-charged engine sound with a single note horn.

I was thinking the same thing.  As a matter of fact there are many sound sets by all the manufacturers that leave much to be desired.  My Atlas SD40 has a great sounding horn but the engine, again, sounds like a geep and nothing like a SD40.  I have a long way to go on this project but will keep searching for a suitable set of sounds. 

Phil McCaig posted:

I was thinking the same thing.  As a matter of fact there are many sound sets by all the manufacturers that leave much to be desired.  My Atlas SD40 has a great sounding horn but the engine, again, sounds like a geep and nothing like a SD40.  I have a long way to go on this project but will keep searching for a suitable set of sounds. 

It’s an easy swap for the SD40, as I used a Lionel SD40 sound set for my altas GP35. Here’s a before and after comparison video.  I understand that it’s a 645 versus a correct 567 that should be in the GP35, but just listen to that turbo!

https://youtu.be/vLDzphXXunE

And yes, both of my Atlas units had generic EMD sound sets; the F2 and the GP35. To my ear the generic sound set is a normally aspirated EMD and a multi-note horn appropriate for a GP38 or GP38-2. 

Thanks!

-Mario

As for the Lionel GP30 sounds, I have a Burlington one and it's fantastic.  The turbo whistles perfectly and it couldn't be a better sounding engine.   Lionel even has the dispatcher calling out the RR & the unit number:   "Burlington 945" I would probably be inclined to go with this sound set if not for that.  

Centralfan, your GP35 sounds excellent.  The turbo makes it sound like it's saying "let's rock."