No MTH, that is NOT a GP38-2!

A new sound set would probably make you happier with the loco. A friend bought an MTH Heritage unit, even I had to admit it sounded like an F-7 EMD. I had a friend install a sound set from a slightly earlier GE, which also had the proper horn. Sometimes "rivet counters" drive me, but he was right on this one.

That seems to have happened occasionally. All you have to do is just download another sound set and re-flash the locomotive. I've had to re-flash my share of locomotives.

Steven Michael posted:

Okay, so last year my dad bought a Protosound 3 D8-40CW, Conrail Quality. Ever since I first ran it, I thought it sounded more like an EMD engine than a GE, but I never really thought anything of it. Finally, I revved it through the notches yesterday, and it hit me, that's the roar of an EMD 645! Did this whole batch of Dash 8s have this problem, or was it just this one? Either way, I'm not happy that MTH let this happen. I have never heard of a sound inaccuracy this major, including in HO and N. I might take a crack at putting a new sound pack on it.

I'd suggest a new sound file. IIRC, a run of Premier Dash-8's from 2014 catalog had the wrong prime mover sounds... Listen to the mp3 file in the item's "support" tab, to verify.

Updated sound file download link: http://mthtrains.com/sites/def...150805au4x-cnsmr.zip

Item: http://mthtrains.com/20-20420-1

One great thing about MTH sounds is you have the option to change anything you do not like.

This run of Dash 8's had it, as did a run of Dash 9's from 2 years ago or so. Some of the newer SD60's (RK and Premier) have that problem as well, they sound like an SD40, rather than a 710 prime mover. Also, some of the earlier runs of GP30 sounded like non-turbo 567's, which is inaccurate.

ES44AC posted:

This run of Dash 8's had it, as did a run of Dash 9's from 2 years ago or so. Some of the newer SD60's (RK and Premier) have that problem as well, they sound like an SD40, rather than a 710 prime mover.

How does the 645 turbocharged engine sound different from the 710 turbocharged engine? From the SD/GP40-2 series, thru the SD/GP50 series, and thru the SD/GP60/70 series, the exhaust sound is pretty much the same.

Also, some of the earlier runs of GP30 sounded like non-turbo 567's, which is inaccurate.

That's for darned sure.

Hot Water posted:

ES44AC posted:

This run of Dash 8's had it, as did a run of Dash 9's from 2 years ago or so. Some of the newer SD60's (RK and Premier) have that problem as well, they sound like an SD40, rather than a 710 prime mover.

How does the 645 turbocharged engine sound different from the 710 turbocharged engine? From the SD/GP40-2 series, thru the SD/GP50 series, and thru the SD/GP60/70 series, the exhaust sound is pretty much the same.

 

 

While it's not radically different, the two differ in sound IMO. MTH's newer PS3 SD60's sound like this: 

When they should really sound like this:

This especially bothers me as I have both PS2 and PS3 SD60's, and the PS2 has a wonderfully accurate 710 soundset. Not sure what MTH was thinking...

In my opinion, those SD40 units (don't know whether they are '40s' or 'Dash-2') sound very nice. However that SD60 video is not representative of an SD60 under load, i.e. simply revving the engine up in neutral does NOT produce the proper exhaust sound of fully loaded.

Hot Water posted:

In my opinion, those SD40 units (don't know whether they are '40s' or 'Dash-2') sound very nice. However that SD60 video is not representative of an SD60 under load, i.e. simply raving the engine up in neutral does NOT produce the proper exhaust sound of fully loaded.

Maybe that's why it sounds so different to me. I wish I could hear that low end sound under load like it does. You can hear it in the video when the engine's rpm drops. I had guessed that it was missing the turbos sounds under loading? 

Engineer-Joe posted:

Hot Water posted:

In my opinion, those SD40 units (don't know whether they are '40s' or 'Dash-2') sound very nice. However that SD60 video is not representative of an SD60 under load, i.e. simply raving the engine up in neutral does NOT produce the proper exhaust sound of fully loaded.

Maybe that's why it sounds so different to me. I wish I could hear that low end sound under load like it does. You can hear it in the video when the engine's rpm drops. I had guessed that it was missing the turbos sounds under loading? 

Not sure about your actual question but, yes the turbo doe NOT come off the gear train until under load at approximately throttle number 6, when under load. Thus the revving up in neutral accounts for nothing.

Perhaps this video is better?

ES44AC posted:

Perhaps this video is better?

Nope. Too much "other noise" like ringing bell, horn, and the trailing GE unit. Couldn't hear much of the SD60, since it wasn't at full load.

Where I noticed most difference between the 40 series and the 60/70 series, sound-wise, was at idle.  The 60's and 70's have a distinct idle sound compared to other turbo EMD units.  

mlavender480 posted:

Where I noticed most difference between the 40 series and the 60/70 series, sound-wise, was at idle.  The 60's and 70's have a distinct idle sound compared to other turbo EMD units.  

That is because those units have the low idea, in order to conserve fuel, and the sound of the turbocharger gear drive is much more pronounced, i.e. that "gear ringing bouncing chirping" sound. Hard to describe it in words.

Hot Water posted:

mlavender480 posted:

Where I noticed most difference between the 40 series and the 60/70 series, sound-wise, was at idle.  The 60's and 70's have a distinct idle sound compared to other turbo EMD units.  

That is because those units have the low idea, in order to conserve fuel, and the sound of the turbocharger gear drive is much more pronounced, i.e. that "gear ringing bouncing chirping" sound. Hard to describe it in words.

That's a pretty accurate description- kind of a "ringing" idle.  Thanks for the explanation.

For the price of Mike's stuff, the proper sound program should be there from the start!

ES44AC posted:

This run of Dash 8's had it, as did a run of Dash 9's from 2 years ago or so. Some of the newer SD60's (RK and Premier) have that problem as well, they sound like an SD40, rather than a 710 prime mover. Also, some of the earlier runs of GP30 sounded like non-turbo 567's, which is inaccurate.

Kinda had a feeling that was the case.

ES44AC posted:

This run of Dash 8's had it, as did a run of Dash 9's from 2 years ago or so. Some of the newer SD60's (RK and Premier) have that problem as well, they sound like an SD40, rather than a 710 prime mover. Also, some of the earlier runs of GP30 sounded like non-turbo 567's, which is inaccurate.

Oh actually now that you say it my CR SD60 has this problem as well. Once again, didn't really notice at the time, but now that you say it, it does indeed sound like a 645. I'll have to get a little setup going with my laptop, I know Eric Seigel's got a video about changing soundpacks.