LOL! This obsession AGAINST cell phone cracks me up. What a bunch of sticks in the mud. I was at a RailRoadianna show this weekend in Jacksonville and virtually EVERY vendor was conducting transactions on phone based credit card readers... Don't get me started on the York policy. Back to the point... While necessity is the mother of invention, amusement is the mother of innovation. I applaud all those who would bring a bit of innovation into the hobby, especially the KIDS of all ages. Lord knows the manufacturers are short on it.
Originally Posted by Principal RailRookie:
Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of wheel squeal and air let off like that of the Chisholm Trail stock car, which is the single most entertaining car I own.
I was thinking along the same line. I recall a few years back being in Scranton train shop and passing on some ethanol tankers with sounds for about 190 bucks. Thinking nobody seems interested in these, I'll get a better deal on Ebay soon. Well how'd that work out? Seems a lot more folks liked more than me. I never understood the flushing toilet sounds were supposed to be pumping?
I'd love to see a remote control HD camera-video that rotates, zooms, etc. I have a decent camera but it doesn't fit everywhere and doesn't have remote functions. It would be nice to start & stop recording while in different locations.
Many Moons ago, I had suggested somewhere on this forum, an idea I had for realistic trackside sounds... but I'll reiterate. I got the idea sitting on a bench in the Creston Iowa station watching the BNSF freight go by. Since it is silly to have every car sound equipped, the end result being a cacophony of sounds, one should strive to make sound on a SCALE similar to that of a real railroad. I do not mean louder, but rather, one that puts the listener in a position of hearing just a few cars at a time as if they were sitting in front of real cars as they go by... So pick a good aural vantage spot for your audience, and just as rockstar suggested, put hidden speakers in there. My system would use a simple RFID or Barcode scanner mounted in the track and detect cars as they approached the aural focal point. This would trigger the appropriate sound for that car based on its bar code (rattling auto carriers, moo-ing cow cattle cars, etc.) and don't forget the creaking rails and random squealing brake sounds. They could fade in and fade out as they approach and depart the station, and be mixed to get just the right level of realism. Add to that the doppler effect and now we are talking realistic sound on an appropriate SCALE. The digital sound samples could be created and traded by hobbyists and bar codes created for each. Make them with stickers to attach to the underside of the cars. What do you think?
Tommy has a good point. Maybe you would wire up an infrared or sensor to play a "train passing" track on an MP3 player! Now that would be cool! Position that sensor right next to where you expect to be, or expect someone to be standing and when the train approaches it begins to play a real recording of a train coming.... passing.... going.....
Although his is more involved and fancy, mine would be better for a single point with no change in freight vs passenger..... steam vs diesel.
Originally Posted by tackindy:
Tommy has a good point. Maybe you would wire up an infrared or sensor to play a "train passing" track on an MP3 player! Now that would be cool! Position that sensor right next to where you expect to be, or expect someone to be standing and when the train approaches it begins to play a real recording of a train coming.... passing.... going.....
Indeed, an observer proximity sensor on large layouts could trigger different sounds at different sections of the layout using multiple speaker locations. Once you think modular, or component based sounds, the possibilities are endless. Its a heck of a lot cheaper than putting sounds in every car and a lot less problematic. I can see such a system as used in large layouts like that at the Carnegie Science Center... approach the steel mill and get steel mill sounds, approach the carnival or circus ... well you get the idea.
Why is everyone so focus on I phone? There starting to get there butts kicked by samsung androids..Iphones you can only get 188000 downloads aps...Android phone you can get 450.000 down loads aps..I still think a SD memory card would be the ticket..can plug it into your computer and down load your up grades then pull the card out and plus it back to your train..alot better then sticking a big bulky phone into your train..
Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:
I do not mean louder, but rather, one that puts the listener in a position of hearing just a few cars at a time as if they were sitting in front of real cars as they go by... So pick a good aural vantage spot for your audience, and just as rockstar suggested, put hidden speakers in there. My system would use a simple RFID or Barcode scanner mounted in the track and detect cars as they approached the aural focal point. This would trigger the appropriate sound for that car based on its bar code (rattling auto carriers, moo-ing cow cattle cars, etc.) and don't forget the creaking rails and random squealing brake sounds.
No scanners needed, Lionel already came up with the idea 3 years ago. they squeak and rattle on their own,just like the real ones do.
Cows too!
Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:
LOL! This obsession AGAINST cell phone cracks me up. What a bunch of sticks in the mud. I was at a RailRoadianna show this weekend in Jacksonville and virtually EVERY vendor was conducting transactions on phone based credit card readers...
You misunderstand. It's not about the convience of cell phones.
I like the fact I don't have to search for a pay phone anymore when on the road or that my family can get a hold of me directly if there's an emergency. A good GPS app is priceless, I wish there was such a thing in the 1980's when I was a field service guy.
It's about the need for some who feel the cell phone MUST be involved with everything in life. Take away their phones and they'll probably go through withdrawal.
I've managed to enjoy model railroading, watch TV, listen to music without a cell phone and I have no desire to have it forced upon me. I will not let a phone rule my life.
Rusty
Oddly enough, I was thinking about all this again last night as I was watching Cars on the disney network. We had discussed the opportunity for Miller Engineering to design neon for the Radiator Springs building some modelers were doing. What got me thinking was the power of Music in imagery. Almost as strong as smell. Who can forget the Neon Light show Scene and the Sh-Boom musical score ...
Speaking of the Carnegie, their 24 hour dusk to dawn, nighttime effect is great. I once used X-10 modules at one point to emulate dimming overhead lights and other random lights on and off effects in my Snow Village pieces on one layout to simulate nightfall as well. Imagine sounds with crickets and frogs giving way to birds chirping... too cool.
Sorry boys, VOX is not back; I'll let a know when I am.
BTW, I am not a big tech guy; doesn't hold my interest. I only do very basic tech related things... I've never texted, yet: don't know how to; recently, asked my wife the other day what an app is? Just another fancy word for a computer program.
It's odd watching young people sitting in a coffee joint, working their phones when they are in the company of another person. Guess, the present company doesn't hold their complete attention; wouldn't want to miss out on yet another narcissistic picture...
Nah lads, that ****'* not for me.
Nice to see I'm still remembered, though: but, I'm just Rick these days.
It's to be expected, greatness usually has an expiry date.
Rick
If you REALLY want to put sounds in every car, you could do so cheaply with a selection of many CHEAP MP3 players, and the little Radio Shack amp I linked to earlier. It even has a 9V DC input so theoretically you could run off of track power... Follow the link and click on the owners manual for specs. I can see Lionel and MTH continuing to market individual sound-in cars, at a significant premium as after all, they are in the business of selling bigger more powerful transformers to run all those electronics... I am MP3 player agnostic but I do love all of the Apple products' form factors and usability. Real innovation in the interface. Overpriced? yes.
Totally off topic, but... Who on this forum has never dreamed of owning a real dick tracy two way radio watch and in later years, a Dick Tracy two way TV watch... Just wait until Apple comes out with their iWatch... Oddly enough, it was the smartphone that has led to the demise of the wrist watch, as kids stopped wearing them, as they were regardedd as unecessary and redundant given cell phones were more reliable for that purpose. Now Apple is once again going to turn things upside down by making hand held phones obsolete and wrist phones the latest fashion accessory! Watch and Learn how the geniuses there reinvent everything and convince everyone that you are simply not cool without one. LOL! The future of social media is wearable displays/fashion items as a means of self expression. I am personally looking forward to a Baseball cap with an electronic display that can express my interests in a crowd. Change team affiliations by the sport on the fly or display your favorite railroad logo at a swap meet... the possibilities are endless. Some of you anti-phone, anti-texting, anti-social media geezers may be lucky enough to live long enough to see it! I certainly hope I do!
Originally Posted by tackindy:
OMG that would be like.... totally wicked! I could like listen to One Direction and Katy Perry on my SD70ACE! OMG OMG OMG! A SUBWOOFER BOXCAR! Can we put hydrolics an the caboose? Get like... three wheel action going? And lets update the engineer uni's! And I'm not like talkin about those hoochie girl's LifeLike was pimping on us! Like some fresh gear from RocaWear or at least Abercrombie!
You used the word LIKE Five times LOL
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
Truth be told, most contemporary sound-equipped locomotives already have more sound features than are needed for realistic operation.
I agree. Swinging bell/whistle steam/blowdown = AWESOME. I've NEVER stood trackside and heard the dispatcher. I have heard the faintly audible sound of radio chatter between the engineer and brakeman while the local was spotting cars, but never loud enough to understand what they were saying.
Originally Posted by Wowak:
I have heard the faintly audible sound of radio chatter between the engineer and brakeman while the local was spotting cars, but never loud enough to understand what they were saying.
From a steam locomotive?
Originally Posted by Wowak:
I have heard the faintly audible sound of radio chatter between the engineer and brakeman while the local was spotting cars, but never loud enough to understand what they were saying.
Then maybe they need to change the sound to:
Jerry
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Wowak:
I have heard the faintly audible sound of radio chatter between the engineer and brakeman while the local was spotting cars, but never loud enough to understand what they were saying.
From a steam locomotive?
Considering I was born in 1979, no, I never watched a steam locomotive switch a local freight.
Originally Posted by Wowak:
Considering I was born in 1979, no, I never watched a steam locomotive switch a local freight.
Too bad, you really missed something. But my point was,,,,steam locomotives didn't have radios, except in extremely rare instances, back in the steam days.
I'm pretty sure they put Legacy in diesels too.
Well known manufacturer's engineering prototype for the "i-rectifier."
More like the i-suck at Photoshop 
Originally Posted by KMK:
Well known manufacturer's engineering prototype for the "i-rectifier."
Umm, wouldn't that be an i-EP5?
Jerry
It looks good, but could it be shown at York?
Tommy,
I've often thought of doing this with my P.E. but didn't know exactly how to go about it. Any chance you have photos showing what you did step-by-step that you could post for us showing where you've placed circuit board for RS amp , how Shuufle was mounted/installed and where (also if disassembled) how you acess it to recharge it, turn it on, etc., etc.
Thanks
Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:
Originally Posted by Tommys_Trains:
Not as far fetched as it sounds. I modified a lionel lines whistling tender to accommodate a radio shack mini amplifier and speaker hooked up to an iPod nano on which I had downloaded the entire Polar Express soundtrack. Used the shell from the original (non-scale) Polar Express tender. Beats the dickens out of any "Christmas Songs" boxcar that Lionel ever put out. Gotta think outside the box folks.
Here is a link... http://www.radioshack.com/prod...sp?productId=2062620 It includes a mic input so connecting to an iPod is easy. Cheap, and well made. I actually took the speaker out of the enclosure and mounted in a 2" pvc cap to make it sealed on the back... acoustic suspension, greatly enhanced the bass response.
When I go skiing, it is not enough for younger folks to ski to have fun, they have to go airborne and do flips. After having taught for 37 years, 3,000 classes, and 114,000 bathroom passes I can tell you without any doubt:
It is NOT GOOD to cater to children ! !
Eliot "Scrapiron" Scher
I guess I fall in the middle on this one.
My PS2 Steam engines have tons of sound clips in them, but for the majority of the time I just listen to Whistles, Bells, Chuffing and brakes squealing.
I do have a Horse car with sounds, and some other specialty items I run from time to time.
Most of those sounds are realistic for my layout. The Volume is set low enough you don't hear them except when they are near you.
Then again, I always trot out the Various Crews talking for visitors, they love it. Especially the Coors Light Silver Bullet Special playing the theme song for the bell.
It's all in what you like Folks.
And I'd Love a SD slot in the front of the tender to load up different sounds.
And as noted above and pretty much ignored;
For those that want music in the Engine, DCS is your system. Plug your sound system into the TIU and it plays from the engine as it travels the rails.Yes, it needs a good signal all around the Track, not hard with the new TIU and PS3 engines.
Actually not that hard with the original system, mine works fine.
