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Digitrax SoundFX (SFX) decoders come "ready to run" with pre-loaded sounds appropriate for the locomotive each decoder was designed for. Some SoundFX decoders, such as the SDH104K1A, B and C types are available with an optional add-on 4 function decoder (the FN04K1) that provides 4 FX3 functions with selectable outputs. SoundFX decoders support the playable whistle feature with F2 key on DT400 throttles. SFX decoders include a 28mm speaker with harness.
You can customize the standard decoder sounds with your own sound recordings. You can replace any locomotive sound part (a chuff, or a brake squeal, etc) with an actual sound recording you've made. You do this with the SoundLoaderä utility in conjunction with a Digitrax PR2 programmer. A PC-based program, SoundLoader's main function is to download Project files (Sound files) to the locomotive on a programming track via the PR2. SoundLoader has other capabilities:
It can be used to download control firmware updates to SoundFX decoders
It is the program you use to install new customized sounds in place of the Digitrax 'Factory' sounds.
Once you've overlaid new custom sounds, you can save the Project file with a new name, thus creating a 'custom' project file that others can use
SoundLoader runs on your PC and connects to your sound decoder using the Digitrax PR2 programmer. The PR2 interface has 2 plugs, an RJ12 that connects to your programming track and a 12v DC power supply, and a DB25 serial plug that connects to your PC. If your PC doesn't have a serial port available, Digitrax offers an optional USB adaptor that lets you connect the PR2 to an available USB port.
To get the most out of your SoundFX decoders you'll need an internet connection in order to get to the SoundDepot website (digitrax.com/sounddepot) . For the casual user, access to the SoundDepot site will let you download new Project files that other users have customized to suit their tastes. So if you want to change your loco's factory default GP38-2 sound set, and some other user has previously uploaded a GP38-2 Project file with something special, perhaps a different horn configuration, you can do it. It's easy:
Just go to the SoundDepot and download the desired new Project file
Make sure your PC's PR2 programmer is connected to the programming track
Make sure your SoundFX-equipped Locomotive is on the programming track
Start the free SoundLoader application and open up the new Project file
In SoundLoader choose "Program" and wait for the programming process to complete (usually 60-90 seconds)
That's it. You've just customized your locomotive (email that cool Project file's creator and thank him!)
If you're really motivated you can take Wav files you've recorded and make your own customized Project files. This process of converting 'raw' sounds you've recorded in the field into a Project file is exacting if the finished Project file is to sound realistic. There are two kinds of sounds in SoundFX decoders, simple sounds, and sequenced sounds. A simple sound is a sound that always sounds the same and always has the same length. An example of a simple sound is a bell. The striker strikes the bell and it rings for a certain length of time.
To prepare a simple sound, using one of the free sound editors found on the SoundDepot web page:
Isolate the sound by trimming the excess time from the recording by carefully marking the beginning and the end of the sound you want to create.
Save this trimmed file as a wav file. Make sure the saved Wav file format is "8 bit" and 11 kilohertz (khz). Note into which directory on your hard drive you save this file.
Open (run) the SoundLoader application.
The main screen of SoundLoader will show you various parts of the locomotive's sound scheme (Diesel Bell, Diesel Brakes, etc).
Locate the sound type you want to change in this list and "right-click" on that entry - one of the menu choices will be "Assign Sound File" - Select this option
Navigate (browse) to the new Wav file you've created, select the file and click the 'Open' button.
You've now successfully modified your Project file, Using the File|Save command save your customized Project file with a new file name.
You can repeat the above steps and replace as many (or all) of the sound types as desired in the original Project file. Once you've created this new Project file you can download it directly to your Locomotive using SoundLoader's "Program" button, email it to a friend who has a similar Locomotive, or upload the Project file to the SoundDepot website for other users to have fun with.
The other type of sound SoundFX decoders support is sequenced sound. A sequenced sound is a sound that is made up of three parts: an Attack sound, a Sustain sound, and a Decay sound. The Attack is the ‘starting’ sound, the Sustain is the ‘running’ part of the sound, and the Decay is the 'end' sound. An example of a sequenced sound is the horn. Blowing the horn for 15 seconds requires an Attack sound that begins the sequence, a Sustain sound that prolongs the sound for as long as desired, and finally ends with a Decay sound. In actual practice, file sizes for the beginning and end of the sound, the Attack and Decay, may possibly be larger than the Sustain because the Sustain is simply a small snippet of sound repeated as long as needed.
Examples of SoundFX sequenced sounds are the Whistle, Water Pump and Horn. In the SoundLoader main screen you’ll see each of these sounds have a Start, Run, and End component. To prepare a sequenced sound you'll need to make 3 Wav files (The Start, Run, and End parts)
Recording several complete sound events (several complete whistle blows from start to finish, etc) If possible, make these recordings each time varying distance from the Locomotive. If you’re going out to a distant site to make the sound recordings, you might as well come back with more than one recording to choose from. A single recorded whistle blow may sound great by the siding, but may not sound as good once you listen to the recording at home – get several recordings from different distances and give yourself the latitude to choose the best.
Once you’ve chosen the best candidate, again you’ll need to isolate the complete sound by trimming the excess time from the recording. The goal here is to get just the complete sound event (whistle/horn blow/etc) with almost no sound before or afterwards on the recording. Once you’ve got it, Save this file. Save a copy of it (with a different name) in a safe place on your hard drive. Next, we’ll chop it up the working copy of this sound file.
Listen to your newly trimmed sound. Repeatedly. Depending on the sound editor you’re using, playing from the beginning you’ll eventually be able to ‘see’ a place on the timeline where the sound stabilizes. In other words, you’ll be able to see the point on the timeline where the tone of the sound starts to remain consistent. That’s the point where you want to make your first cut. Save this file segment (again, in the 8 bit / 11 kilohertz format) Be descriptive, if it’s a horn recording name it something easy for others to identify like:
Start_GMF7_horn.wav
This one’s easy, depending on how long the total recording is, most of it will be the stable ‘run’ part of the sound. Copy a piece of this sound (typically less than 1 second long) to the clipboard and save this sound. Again, name it something consistent and descriptive:
Run_GMF7_horn.wav
By now you’ve probably got the hang of it. Mark the point in your recording just before the run sound starts to change, copy from this point to the very end of your sound clip. Save it naming it something like:
End_GMF7_horn.wav
You’re now ready to simply overlay these newly create sound components into a Digitrax factory Project file to create a new, unique project file. You might also modify someone else’s custom project file, there’s no limit to what you can create.
Adobe PDF of this document found here.
and Windows XP.
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