BLI Announces AC6000 with Rolling Thunder

[peteski]

If you have a large layout, so the rep explained, you put multiple subs under the benchwork, so that
as the sound fades down from one, it comes up in another.   The sound really did appear to "follow" the engine around.
Having the higher frequencies come from the tender speaker, with the bass coming from underneath,
does work.

Having said all that... after about 5 minutes, I just wished they would turn it off.
All that racket from a locomotive is really cool... for a few minutes.   Even turned down lower
(which I asked him to do)  I wouldn't want to have to
listen to that for a half hour.  And imagine a layout with 3, 4, or 10 engines all chuffing and clattering away.
It may be realistic, but it is very fatigueing, at least to me. 

Another thing struck me as I listened to it.  As good as the sound is,
 realistic locomotive sounds coming from something 3-4 inches long does
not make it a more realistic experience to me.  It makes the engine seem more like a toy - like
a little kid putting on his father's shoes.  In fact, the more realistic the sound is, the deeper and richer
it is, and the more it sounds like a real locomotive, the more (dare I say it) ridiculous is seems.

So yes, they have solved the problem of bass, and size, and perceived location.  And after all that,
it still isn't something I would want.

Exactly.  The full frequency range (deeper bass) sounds coming from a 6" model (or from around where it is) just seems like a novelty which to me becomes annoying very quickly.  It is a good for some WOW-factor, but IMO it has no place in a 3-hour operating session on a layout.

The other thing I don't understand is the large layout thing touted by the BLI. If someone does have a large layout there is almost never just one train running on it at a given time - especially during an operating session.  At that time there are usually few mainline trains and maybe a local or two and all the yard and industrial switchers. I can't imagine multiple locos generating that "full" sound.

[draskouasshat]

The issue I have is that from the distance we view our models, the sound should be as quiet as it would be in real life. Let's say you're viewing an idle locomotive from 3'away. That's 480 scale feet. You'd barely hear anything from that distance. Hell at 500' the two units on a grain train in notch 8 coming at me today on the Hannibal sub were quiet until the were maybe 200' out. Realistic sound at a realistic volume would be quiet in our scale from the distance we view things at and this system is not realistic.

Adam Draskovich

[unittrain]

The older diesels especially the EMDs were audible for miles back in the 80s and before, the new locomotives are very quiet a train can sneak up on you if you don't hear the horn.

[lock4244]

Sound is the single, most annoying feature add to model trains since the invention of the RR buttoned vest. Better that money be spent of bringing model models to N scale (GP40-2W for example) rather than this audio assult... at the least make 'not sound equipped' an option. It is sofa king annoying.

[draskouasshat]

The older diesels especially the EMDs were audible for miles back in theat 3 80s and before, the new locomotives are very quiet a train can sneak up on you if you don't hear the horn.

Yes the newer units are quiet, but we still ruin plenty of old units and they're not that much louder. I don't think you're getting what I'm saying.  At 3 ft away from our model railroads, you're not going to feel the rumble in real life that you'd feel come out of this system.

[peteski]

Yes the newer units are quiet, but we still ruin plenty of old units and they're not that much louder. I don't think you're getting what I'm saying.  At 3 ft away from our model railroads, you're not going to feel the rumble in real life that you'd feel come out of this system.

Some people just don't seem to grasp that concept.  They probably constantly listen to loud music all the time and their TV volume is cranked up too!    I like properly scaled sound - it is more of a background thing rather than in-your-face-assault.  And even then, the sound fatigue sets in fairly quickly,  I can't possibly image an operating session with half a dozen full-range-equipped sound decoders running at the same time.    At least there is a saving grace - DCC sound can easily be turned down or even muted.

[jagged ben]

Yes the newer units are quiet, but we still ruin plenty of old units and they're not that much louder. I don't think you're getting what I'm saying.  At 3 ft away from our model railroads, you're not going to feel the rumble in real life that you'd feel come out of this system.

3ft away on an n scale layout is 480 scale ft.  Which is to say that you shouldn't be feeling much rumble at that distance anyway. 

[Specter3]

I dont know, i am a measured mile and a half as the crow flies to the NS main here in Charlotte. When I am outside during the day I can hear them well enough to know if they are pulling hard or not. At night I can hear them inside the house. No there is no bass at this distance, but the volume is certainly decent.

[tehachapifan]

Stand at the Tehachapi loop (if you can even do that any more) and tell me you can't feel the rumble of an upgrade train approaching from a half mile away. 

[jagged ben]

Stand at the Tehachapi loop (if you can even do that any more) and tell me you can't feel the rumble of an upgrade train approaching from a half mile away. 

I've done that.  And yes it sounds like a jet plane is flying up the canyon.  But I didn't feel a rumble under my feet until the train got to tunnel 10.  Not the way I remember it, anyway.

This brings up another point.  A train traveling upgrade makes a ton of noise.  A train travelling downgrade makes hardly any by comparison.  Realistic sound systems would account for that, too.

[Englewood]

I live a mile away from a double track UP main in the middle of the city. It's in a quiet zone, which means the trains don't blow for crossings unless there's an idiot trying to go around the gates. I can usually feel the rumble when there's a train, and if the wind is blowing from that direction, I can hear the whine of the engines. Personally, I'd rather these not come with sound, but I'll still be picking up a pair in Southern Pacific.

[peteski]

Stand at the Tehachapi loop (if you can even do that any more) and tell me you can't feel the rumble of an upgrade train approaching from a half mile away. 

But the train passes by and that noise only lasts few minutes.  Imagine that kind of noise coming from several models at the same time and constantly in a let's say a 10 X 20 layout room.  That will get annoying really fast.

[up1950s]

Hides the fact that the freightcar wheels and squeals don't happen . Maybe that's what we need , sound systems in our boxcars . Plenty of room for speakers , boards , and wiring . Volume can be adjusted with the break wheel or magnetic wand to activate none ( off ) - one - two - or three switches ( highest volume ). Board can have various sounds combined via bridging clips . wires or a ganged dip switch . Each sound takes its turn every 5 seconds or so . Power via a single truck , having it cut off here and there would only add to the randomness . Three or four in a train would be enough I guess . The kit would work on any boxcar though speaker pin holes through metal floors would be a PIA . Boxcar doors ajar could vent the sounds , and false loads in them could hide the circuitry .

[peteski]

Hides the fact that the freightcar wheels and squeals don't happen . Maybe that's what we need , sound systems in out boxcars . Plenty of room for speakers , boards , and wiring . Volume can be adjusted with the break wheel or magnetic wand to activate none ( off ) - one - two - or three switches ( highest volume ). Board can have various sounds combined via bridging clips . wires or a ganged dip switch . Each sound takes its turn every 5 seconds or so . Power via a single truck , having it cut off here and there would only add to the randomness . Three or four in a train would be enough I guess . The kit would work on any boxcar though speaker pin holes through metal floors would be a PIA . Boxcar doors ajar could vent the sounds , and false loads in them could hide the circuitry .

But there is! 
IIRC, made by Soundtraxx.  Friend installed it in 3 of the Kato UP excursion cars.  These decoders generate all sort of rolling-stock sound effects. They produce speed-dependent rail-joint clicks, squeals, etc. They can also simulate generator noise and bunch of other stuff.

The effect can be made subtle, and it sounds pretty darn good. But again, this is one train on his layout that does that.  He runs it once and we're done. If all the trains were sound-equipped then the effect would be maddening (well, at least to me).

[up1950s]

But there is! 
IIRC, made by Soundtraxx.  Friend installed it in 3 of the Kato UP excursion cars.  These decoders generate all sort of rolling-stock sound effects. They produce speed-dependent rail-joint clicks, squeals, etc. They can also simulate generator noise and bunch of other stuff.

The effect can be made subtle, and it sounds pretty darn good. But again, this is one train on his layout that does that.  He runs it once and we're done. If all the trains were sound-equipped then the effect would be maddening (well, at least to me).

Sounds great to me but it is DCC , no ? http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/soundcar/soundcar.php  My design would be DC , and no rail clicks , just squeals , clanks , and clunks . None of it sync'ed to voltage , amps , or speed . Just enough voltage to activate the circuit and speakers and more does nothing more . Thus or is it hence ( never could figure that out ) the price is affordable .