|
|
Post by calzephyr on Jan 27, 2015 18:01:39 GMT -8
I drove over the LHS and picked up a TCS decoder for steam. That was the only one out at least here in my area, so I will do some tests on that one. It will be interesting to try some of the features to see if it performs well to my ears. I think we all hear sounds a little different from the comments in the post and some prefer one brand over the others.
I have various Soundtrax, Loksound, QSI and BLI decoders, and now one TCS. All seem to have some quality that might be missing from others. The turbo generator on most steam decoders except Tsunami stop after 5 seconds or so. Not so with regular steam prototypes as long as the turbo generator is on.
Larry
|
|
|
|
Post by bnsf971 on Jan 27, 2015 18:15:20 GMT -8
Larry, I've been told the generator sound fading out after a few seconds is so the sound doesn't get too "busy". Personally, I'd like the sound to stay on, and let me choose to lower the volume of it until it is barely audible.
|
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on Jan 28, 2015 7:17:17 GMT -8
Larry, I've been told the generator sound fading out after a few seconds is so the sound doesn't get too "busy". Personally, I'd like the sound to stay on, and let me choose to lower the volume of it until it is barely audible. That is exactly the way it should sound. The turbo should be on all of the time but in the background. Larry |
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on Jan 28, 2015 14:41:14 GMT -8
I bread boarding up the TCS WOW sound decoder and testing it today for the sounds. The speaker used for this test is one of the 28x40mm type with the enclosure. The sound is decent overall and I like many of the sounds this decoder makes. The turbo generator keeps running like it should at all times but is subdued in sound to a lower level like it should be.
All of the basic sounds can be controlled in volume and overall, I am happy with the way the chuff sound gets louder under load and the fact you can brake to a halt with function 7 and cause the chuff to get louder much like braking the train to a halt and keeping the slack tight. You can also release the brakes at any time slowing down with function 6. This is a fun decoder that can simulate a lot of sounds. For coasting, the chuffs go very low and disappear for a loco coasting. The fifteen or so whistles do give a great choice overall.
The Keep alive in the unit allows the sound to continue for almost twenty seconds after the DCC is removed. I realize in the running mode with the motor moving this time would be shorter, but the first time I shut the power down and the sound stayed on that long was a surprise.
I am going to try the diesel version when my LHS gets one in.
Larry
|
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Jan 29, 2015 3:32:01 GMT -8
In the "horns" arena, I find it interesting that some of us will say "The Tsunami Nathan M-such and such sounds better than QSI's version"; and so forth. I'm guilty of this too. HOWEVER, Something that I keep in mind now is that if I have two or three sound equipped diesels that have M5 horns, I certainly don't want them to sound "EXACTLY" the same. Like the prototypes, there should be some variety. For example, when viewing YouTube vids of older/early BLI EMD hood and cab units, one thing that drives me nuts is hearing the same EXACT horn and bell on every QSI equipped diesel. This was in the past but I'm sure that particular horn and bell scheme has been burned into the memories of a number of us here (me included). I used to want to pull my hair out every time I heard that horn when I was a member of a club because at least four guys had locomotives with that same sound scheme. Here's an example: Yes, thankfully QSI expanded its sound library and has made many nice improvements. The Titan's horns, imho, sound impressive. From my understanding the prime mover "pitch blend" issue was updated ( I hope). During my past railfanning ventures (when I recorded trains with a portable recorder) I noticed how no two locomotives within the same class equipped with the same type of horns (such as Amtrak SDP40fs) rarely sounded alike. Depending on maintenance practices some horns sounded very melodic, some squealed, some were "raspy" and others blew more air than music, LOL  . In my HO world, I want a bit of variety which is why this has me very interested. So far, I'm been a fan of LokSound but am willing to try other quality brands like the Titan within my fleet (as long as it also has good motor control). I hope that this TCS diesel version will be a winner. It's likely that after the BETA Testing feedback, TCS will continue to tweak and improve this product. |
|
Tom
Full Member
Posts: 235
|
Post by Tom on Jan 29, 2015 13:40:04 GMT -8
They've only got one prime mover sound, currently; so I'm waiting until I hear more.
ESU is very easy to program and has incredible motor control with a "stay alive" type feature.
|
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Jan 31, 2015 4:55:46 GMT -8
Some of you will laugh but I just learned (on another forum) that it's possible to change the speed of LokSound files. This way one can have slight variations on the same horn file. That's excellent! As I mentioned on my last post above, one of my concerns was having horns within the same class sounding exactly alike. AWKWARD MOMENT MODE: Ah.....Yall LokSound users could have told me instead of letting me rant on my soap box, LOL! I'm still planning on acquiring LokSound V4.0's. Although I'm very interested in the TCS WOW product, I don't want to "jump the gun" without seeing and hearing some reliable reviews (MONSTER and JLWII2000 "hint-hint"). I'm assuming that TCS, which has a very good reputation, is pushing for high quality and hasn't taken the "early MRC Sound Decoder" route. |
|
|
|
Post by craigz on Jan 31, 2015 18:49:04 GMT -8
Having heard the 3 main DCC sound systems (Soundtraxx, TCS & LokSound) at my LHS (RailMaster Hobbies) LokSound has them all beat by the quality of their sounds & the many features provided in their sound system. Agreed. I will stick to Loksound. I have heard the TCS decoders are a nightmare to try and program. I'm a Loksound diesel sound fan but I find them lacking for steam primarily because I cannot make them drift the way a QSI, a Tsunami or the WOW can drift. I've drank the koolaid for the TCS steam decoders. They run better than any other steam decoder out there and sound better too. Programming wasn't hard using their voice-feedback menu thing; what has been hard, evidently, is getting them to program with Decoder Pro. I don't use Decoder Pro so I can't comment on that...I do use the Lokprogrammer on my Loksounds and that works very well. If I didn't have that I'd be using Decoder Pro... |
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Mar 13, 2015 15:45:10 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Mar 14, 2015 19:16:35 GMT -8
You can order them direct now. Who know when's Kliens will stock them. |
|
|
|
Post by bdhicks on Mar 14, 2015 20:12:38 GMT -8
One of the guys at the railroad club does online and show sales and said he'd get some for me through his suppliers, but for the past month he has been unable to get them, even though they have supposedly been out the whole time. I gave in and placed an order through Litchfield Station yesterday, which is about the only place I've seen other than TCS that actually lists them in stock and they claim they sent them out today, so hopefully I can tell you for sure if they exist in a few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark R. on Mar 14, 2015 20:25:11 GMT -8
My local hobby shop has had them in stock for the last three weeks !
Mark.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockisland652 on Mar 15, 2015 18:52:50 GMT -8
Might be a great decoder. However, without a Nathan P5 old casting horn included, if is off my purchase list.
|
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Mar 20, 2015 17:13:19 GMT -8
Guys,
thanks for the update as to where these decoders may be purchased.
Rockisland,
TCS is open to input. Just send them an email and ask them to consider that particular horn. The original P5 was a sweet sounding horn.
For all we know, it might already be on their list. I've suggested to TCS that they consider adding the WABCO E2 single chime "Honker" in their offerings.
Just my assumptions but I'm certain that TCS' owners are serious about being competitive with a quality product. TCS is aware that LokSound's V4, QSI's Titan, and Soundtraxx's Tsunami are on top of the DCC-Sound food chain, so they're listening to customers.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2015 14:19:04 GMT -8
Guys, thanks for the update as to where these decoders may be purchased. Rockisland,TCS is open to input. Just send them an email and ask them to consider that particular horn. The original P5 was a sweet sounding horn. For all we know, it might already be on their list. I've suggested to TCS that they consider adding the WABCO E2 single chime "Honker" in their offerings. Just my assumptions but I'm certain that TCS' owners are serious about being competitive with a quality product. TCS is aware that LokSound's V4, QSI's Titan, and Soundtraxx's Tsunami are on top of the DCC-Sound food chain, so they're listening to customers. This is what Tom is referring to for the old cast P5R24. I remember those horns so well. |
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Mar 25, 2015 2:26:03 GMT -8
CG, thanks for posting that link. Very melodic! To me it sounds like a brassy version of the Nathan M5. BTW: Have any of you emailed TCS yet with suggestions/requests? Guys, This is what Tom is referring to for the old cast P5R24. I remember those horns so well. |
|
|
|
Post by ssw on Mar 25, 2015 9:49:47 GMT -8
Be careful with these and heat. I plugged one with a KA2 into the JST plug on an Athearn "Sound Ready" SD45. It sounds great, runs great. However, after a couple hours I noticed the dynamic brake hatch was starting to distort. Popped the shell off and the decoder was hot. TCS says that the heat is normal - it has 3 microprocessors on board.
|
|
|
|
Post by nebrzephyr on Mar 25, 2015 12:16:05 GMT -8
Be careful with these and heat. I plugged one with a KA2 into the JST plug on an Athearn "Sound Ready" SD45. It sounds great, runs great. However, after a couple hours I noticed the dynamic brake hatch was starting to distort. Popped the shell off and the decoder was hot. TCS says that the heat is normal - it has 3 microprocessors on board. So TCS is saying you need to run these sans the shell!!  |
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Mar 26, 2015 1:55:58 GMT -8
SSW,Nebrzephyr
Re: Heat. That's interesting. First time I've heard of this.
I'm seriously considering installing a decoder in an HO P2K GP9, which has even less room in the hood than the SD45. Imagine an Atlas Alco S2 or S4. Even an ant would find those interiors claustrophobic!
I'm aware that some sound decoders can warm up a bit, but from my limited understanding heat sinks can be utilized but I'm not a DCC pro. I'll forward this to a friend of mine who is a DCC guru and ask TCS some questions as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Mar 26, 2015 3:26:57 GMT -8
Maybe the heat is normal, but if it distorts parts of a shell it is near, that is not good basically running a nice diesel?
|
|
|
|
Post by antoniofp45 on Jun 15, 2015 13:01:28 GMT -8
Hey guys,
Sorry for the late post but it seems appropriate on this thread.
Some of you may be already aware of this feature but I just learned about the automatic notching. Imho, the vid demo is a good one!
The sweet music from that 645E3 sound scheme reminds me very much of the SDP40Fs I used to chase with my camera back in the day.
|
|
|
|
Post by cgstever91 on Oct 31, 2015 0:22:00 GMT -8
i have found that the wow decoder with the motherboard at least from the outside of the shell dose not seam to run as hot as my 101 decoders. as far as sound goes for the new ge 7-fdl 16 it blows away the sound from the qsi decoder i have with the same pm type just my take on this decoder.
|
|
. 
