Sound effects - how to

Try: Big Dawgs

The only issue I have with the Big Dawgs stuff is the volume is fairly weak.

The only issue I have with the Big Dawgs stuff is the volume is fairly weak.

 That's a Shame! I bet your store Hennings could sell a ton of of those sound modules that have a Squeel effect- for subways and sharp curves

Well, I'm working on a sound board that has no such limitations, it has PLENTY of volume from a 3W amplifier on-board.

I actually have two versions running, one that uses the ERR MiniCommander to trigger the sound selection, and one that has an RF receiver to control the sound selection.  Here's the RF version.

Try this guy:

Noma Station Sound Modules

He will do custom modules so theoretically you can get any one made as long as you have the sound you want.

Jerry

The only problem with that one is that you can't later change the sounds.  With the Big Dawgs or my module, you can freely change the sounds.  Also, I can trigger multiple sounds on command, so you can have variety in what is output.

Jeff,

You might take a look at the Dream Player Lite on the PRICOM Design Website.  You can load any .wav sound file from a PC (stock or modified) onto a micro SD card that is then inserted into the Dream Player Lite.  It can be triggered by the push button on the board or external triggers as well as controlling output to LED's.  May cost more than GRJ's development but if you are electronically challenged on things like this (like me), it may allow you to complete your project.

Larry

I bought a few of these, but without speaker, for same reason. I didn't find this kit which was only a buck something more than the bare board.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ISD182...;hash=item27eef137a4

Well John, how loud do you really think the sound of a switch being thrown should be? Trust me, it's not all that loud.

I have the five button module, there are other options: Big Dawgs Online Store

I like the Dream Player Lite for a single sound file, and the price is right.

The one that Charlie points to says 8.2 seconds of audio, that's not a lot of sound, that seems somewhat limiting.

Jim, if you have only one function like a switch sound, it's probably fine.  However, I've used these and I have some in my stock of parts, and the volume leaves a lot to be desired for many applications.  I didn't say it's not good for anything, I just stated the volume is fairly low, and I stand by that statement.  I have one in my command controlled Wienermobile, and it's slated for replacement because you can't hear it as it runs if it's more than a few feet from you.  I have the three button models, but the audio is all the same no matter what number of buttons they have.  Remember, these were designed for greeting cards, and for that purpose, they do just fine.

This is who I used to add a sound background to my Harly shop. I did it all over a phone call, I told him what I was looking for and he sent me sound sets email to listen to. Plenty of volume easy to hook up.

clem

Any price on these?

You bring up the subject of volume, which one must take into consideration. Do you need to hear, or even want to hear, a particular sound all the way across the room? Many times, sounds are too loud for the situation they are placed in. Does one need to hear the sound, like the sound of a machination that is supposed to emanate from an enclosed building no less, from 10-15 feet away?

As another example, take this "Crew Talk" into consideration. Does anyone think that a voice could be heard over the sound of a working steam locomotive? The people inside have a hard enough time just hearing themselves talk/yell! Do you really think that they can yell loud enough to be heard over their engine miles away? Can you imagine if this was true the effect it would have on the ear drums of someone standing next to them?

Even the real Weinermobile can only be heard so far away.

These modules should be just fine for local sounds. And the price is better than right. I have mine playing in front of me and the there is more than enough volume to be clearly heard for the purpose that it is intended. Even those greeting cards can get annoying after a while. And while they may not be for everyone, they can be the answer to a simple question.

BTW, the number of buttons has nothing to do with the volume. They operate different sounds in the same module. In my case up to 200 sec. worth.

Noise pollution, think about it. Really give it some thought, just as you would your scenery and have the sound volume fit the purpose.

John, no prices as of yet, I'm still in active development of the "full up" version.  I don't want to commit to making a quantity of boards until I have a robust design that has enough features to appeal to a wide audience.  I doubt it's going to be as cheap as the single channel units.  I'm also looking at higher-end capabilities with other options besides simple sound reproduction, motion, lights, and inputs to change behavior dynamically.

Jim, if the volume of the Big Dawgs stuff works for you, then by all means, I don't see why you should change. I'm not trying to change your mind, I'm just pointing out to other potential users what I feel is a deficiency in using those modules.  Obviously, folks that have a need for a sound module can judge for themselves if they need more volume than a greeting card sound module.  I'm sure for many applications they would work out fine, and as you say, they are pretty cheap.

Note that I don't say that I need to run more volume all the time, it's just that I want the option of doing so.  If you're running in a club setting with a number of locomotives running, you either have more volume, or you can't hear anything.  When I took my Wienermobile up to the NJ-HR club for Trainstock, I couldn't hear it unless I was about three-four feet from it, the overall background noise was just too great.  I have the same issue at our modular shows, with four or five other trains running, not to mention crowd noise, it just doesn't have the same effect.

Is this for the lever switch application or just in general for other sound effects you're considering?  Using a woofer may preclude some of the options since these generally require more power than a general-purpose speaker.  But there is something visceral about the deep bass sounds produced by the mechanical machinations of trains and railroad operation.

Note the Pricom Lite module assumes you have powered speakers.  I guess the good news is most powered speakers have a volume control as there seems to be some concern about what's loud enough.  It looks like they sell another board that has an on-board 2 Watt audio amplifier to directly drive a speaker.

The greeting card modules are obviously battery operated and I see notes about 50-100 operations before changing batteries.  So perhaps you need to add wires to hook to a suitable external power source. 

I found this youtube video of what I think you're talking about.  It's cued to start where some levers are thrown in a control tower.  It's apparently a museum so maybe the sounds aren't correct but what strikes me is different levers sound different.  So another idea or feature is to play a different lever sound on successive button presses.

https://youtu.be/MVhJtUerxUs?t=1m20s

You mention push-button activation but considering the application, how about a lever switch?

Edit: the link doesn't work but GRJ has it below (thanks GRJ!).  The relevant action starts at 1 min, 20 sec into the video.

Your link doesn't work Stan.

Here's the video.

Here is the Big Dawg one with the little flat speaker in a ERR baffle. John is right, the volume is on the low side. You can barely hear it with the trains running.

Here is a short video

Stan pointed out something that I forgot to mention.

"Note the Pricom Lite module assumes you have powered speakers.  I guess the good news is most powered speakers have a volume control as there seems to be some concern about what's loud enough.  It looks like they sell another board that has an on-board 2 Watt audio amplifier to directly drive a speaker."

I had enough room in my application that I use a pair of amplified PC speakers from an old desktop computer.

Larry

has anyone ,ever used the itt product,'thunder and lightning" modules .if so ,what do you think?

thanks rich

Dang! Sounded good to me.

quote:

When I took my Wienermobile up to the NJ-HR club for Trainstock, I couldn't hear it unless I was about three-four feet from it, the overall background noise was just too great.

If I can't hear it at four feet away, the sound is pretty useless for the intended audience. I could hear my VL-BB at the opposite end of the NJ-HR layout very clearly.  Let's see, that would be 185 feet * 48 or about 1.7 scale miles.

I don't know anyone, except perhaps you, that would be happy if they couldn't hear their train whistle a few feet from the layout.  And yes, when it's singing the Oscar Meyer song, I suspect you could hear the real one farther away.

If you're happy with your sound module choices, you shouldn't have to work so hard to defend them to me.  I made a simple statement, IMO the sound from the Big Dawg's modules are not suitable for many purposes, especially in rolling stock or motorized units.  You don't agree, I get that.

Jim, let's agree to disagree and leave it at that. 

Here is a short video of my ITT module  Harly shop.

Clem

It's pretty loud with nothing running but with three trains going and the carnival with its music you can hardly hear the polka coming out of the VFW hall.

Well that's the rub with the sound. What do you want to hear. The trains are not really quiet, even with no sound. I have a relatively small layout so the problem is larger with 2 trains running. And then with other sound from various sources it almost becomes too much sound all together. Personally if I have a sound effect that is short term, activated by me or guest, I'd like the sound level above the train noise. For a sound like maybe a carnival that runs for a longer period of time, I find it acceptable to have it less noticeable and more in the background and let the trains block out that noise mostly as they go by. Much the same as in real life. If you are near the train, you wont hear the carnival until the train passes. But I get your point, and John's as well. I have used the greeting card type with success but had to pump up the volume of the mp3's using mp3 gain, and then it wasn't loud but useable in my situation. But I guess it's all in what you want to do, and how much you want to spend.

It won't play.

It plays for me.

has anyone ,ever used the itt product,'thunder and lightning" modules .if so ,what do you think?

thanks rich

Rich, yes, I paired it with a couple of strobe light modules for a thunder and lightning scene and use a 4" speaker.  Works great and is a real show stopper for visitors.

PeterA  thank you just purchased the thunder &lighting module.question what type strobe module did you use,and how did you wire it in?

thanks again

rich

Interesting thread and thanks to all contributing.  Does anyone know if the Noma sound files are available anywhere independently?

I have a bunch of the Noma sound files in MP3 an/or WAV format.

Great,

John, do you know if one describes  the east coast corridor such as philadelphia, washington, richmond etc.?  My wife swears her family had a noma station and it narrated those stops.

Here's the only one I have for the east, it's a PRR one.

Thanks John, Perfect.

Well you guys have all made good points.But I just want to throw this out there about accessory sound levels.I have two upper main lines and two lower main lines on my layout.When I get an Allegheny a Big Boy a challenger and three lashed up diesels all on heavy pulls,it is LOUD,chuffing whistle,diesel roar,etc,etc.I bought a CD of steel mill sound effects for my mill furnaces.I have full size speakers under my layout fed by a 50 watt per channel Sony amp at about half to three quarters up I am hard pressed to hear the CD.Nick