Thanks for this info. One thing I've noticed (and preferred), is a SD45 has more lower frequency "roar" and the idle has more lope, also lower frequency, than the 16-645 that almost everyone else puts in their decoders....
In fact, most sound like varying degrees of Turbo whine predominantly. Some actually prefer that, for some reason. I do not.
There's GOT to be a way to reproduce that "20 cylinder thunder" even though our tiny speakers! The exciting new wave of "sugar cube" speakers out, maybe in pairs, in a wood enclosure SHOULD be able to get close enough, right?
I'm no expert, but have been an audiophile for a few decades. Our HO Scale Diesels will never shake the walls (without a remote subwoofer and sophisticated programming), but I believe that they COULD sound better!
More like sound files in ALCo 244 and 251 non turbo, and EMD 567 and 645 Roots Blown, from ESU and Soundtraxx.
When starting off, or just working a load, you can hear THOSE models WORK! You hear the deep engine note.
Yes, I realize that there is no turbo present there...
But, when railfanning on an overpass, or a hillside, I can hear GP35s, 39s, 40s, and SD26s, 35s, and 39s actual "bassy" engine note, with turbo spool up as a background noise.
SD40-2s are just "whiny"!!
I think (assume!), that a lot of technicians recording this stuff, are on the walkway, and getting more Turbo (more dominant closer to the hood) AND, the generator whine, which is quite dominant, lower to the ground....
Some locomotive's generators really scream sometimes anyway.
Well, my original 2 cents has turned into $47.50 (sorry!)....
My real point is really, is there a way, and I have no suggestions, to get better recordings in the first place?? Something more representative of what one would hear from slightly above, and maybe a small distance from the locomotive?
If not, I'll continue to work around it, like a lot have done.
Thanks for giving me room to babble,
~ Carmine
