N Scale BLI PRR M1a/b Engineering sample photos on Facebook

[Dave V]

I didn't think M1s had banshees...   They were designed for dual-service, so I thought they were given passenger 5-chime whistles.

In this "video" (really audio) of pacing an M1 you hear a throaty 5-chime...

Double-headed M1s with what sounds like a K4's whistle...

But, nothing says Pennsy like a banshee...  If I were to do sound in my I1sa I would put a proper banshee in it.

EDIT:  And oh, speaking of PRR banshee, this happened:

[bbussey]

Although I want mine with bells and whistles (literally), I know there's a market for DC and quiet only.

Not as large a market as you may think, relative to DCC and DCC/Sound.  At InterMountain, with any given model, the DCC/Sound version regularly outsells the DCC and DC versions combined.  Those are primarily HO numbers, but the N advance reservations are working out the same way.  I'm personally for DCC-quiet, but it seems the majority in general want DCC-sound if it is offered factory-RTR.

[CodyO]

While sound is expensive I've come to like having it in engines
I'm all for more DCC sound
Though mr wallet says I should go back to DC

[eric220]

I do enjoy sound, but I very much hope they come with volume control. I like throttling the sound waaaay down, where the tinny qualities aren't so obvious, and you only hear the whistle from across the room.

[peteski]

I do enjoy sound, but I very much hope they come with volume control. I like throttling the sound waaaay down, where the tinny qualities aren't so obvious, and you only hear the whistle from across the room.

I have never seen a sound DCC decoder without at least a master volume control (down to zero volume). Usually there are several volume controls (for controlling volume for various effects, then a master volume).  I can't imagine why BLI would come out with a decoder with a volume hardcoded to maximum. But even in that case, you can always cut the speaker wires. 

[Dave V]

[reinhardtjh]

I do enjoy sound, but I very much hope they come with volume control. I like throttling the sound waaaay down, where the tinny qualities aren't so obvious, and you only hear the whistle from across the room.

Broadway Limited has generic Steam and Diesel sound decoder manuals on their support pages http://www.broadway-limited.com/supportdocumentation.aspx

Page 22 of the Paragon 2 Steam Operator's Manual details CV133 as the Master Volume control and then quite a number of CV's after that are individual sound effect volume controls.  So I imagine you can adjust things pretty much how you want.

CV #	Sound Effect	Range	Default
CV133	Sound Unit Master Volume	0-128	128
CV135	Whistle	0-255	128
CV136	Bell	0-255	128
CV137	Steam Background	0-255	128
CV138	Whistle 2	0-255	128
CV139	Coupler Slack	0-255	128
CV140	Coupler	0-255	128
CV141	Uncouple	0-255	128
CV142	Wheel Flange	0-255	128
CV143	Air Pump	0-255	128
CV144	Blow Down	0-255	128
CV145	Steam Cock	0-255	128
CV146	Brake Set	0-255	128
CV147	Brake Release	0-255	128
CV148	Pop Off Valve	0-255	128
CV149	Blower	0-255	128
CV150	Dynamo	0-255	128
CV151	Brake Squeal	0-255	128
CV152	Coal Auger / ShovelVolume	0-255	128
CV153	Water Fill	0-255	128
CV154	Water Injector	0-255	128
CV155	Chuff	0-255	128
CV156	Passenger / Freight	0-255	128
CV157	Maintenance / Radio Comm.	0-255	128

Spinal Tap - "These go to eleven"

From the documentation it seems most go to 255!   

[eric220]

That's the kind of mixer control that I like. I figured that BLI would do it that way, but you never know.

[robert3985]

One thing I like about the Soundtraxx TSU decoders is that they have an equalizer, which allows me to fiddle with the bass, midrange and treble.  Since I'm N-scale and my speakers are tiny, there's no way they're gonna reproduce bass, so I turn it off, directing power to midrange and treble, instead of distorting a tiny 10mm speaker with frequencies it can't reproduce anyway.  The TSU equalizer feature really makes the sound better in my estimation.

[Smike]

Since I'm N-scale and my speakers are tiny, there's no way they're gonna reproduce bass, so I turn it off, directing power to midrange and treble, instead of distorting a tiny 10mm speaker with frequencies it can't reproduce anyway

It would be super awesome to be able to have a slave sound decoder that would only output low frequencies to a dedicated bass speaker on the floor, so the on board speaker handles the mid and high like you have it. Since bass waves are non directional the bass would sound like it was coming from the engine. (think home theater systems).

I have no practical use even if i bent time by 50 years for my era to need the M1a, but my pre-order is in for the full blown sound version. 

[peteski]

It would be super awesome to be able to have a slave sound decoder that would only output low frequencies to a dedicated bass speaker on the floor, so the on board speaker handles the mid and high like you have it. Since bass waves are non directional the bass would sound like it was coming from the engine. (think home theater systems).

That is something I don't understand. To me it would be really weird for a tiny model to emit a thunderous bass sound.  I see our N scale models like a train viewed from a distance. Low volume sounds.

Also, if every locomotive on a layout was producing loud sounds (low and high frequencies), that would get really annoying if there were 6 or 7 locomotive running at the same time (as it often happens on layouts during operating sessions).

[Smike]

Its not to make it louder, its to make the same level of volume sound better. As Robert pointed out that the tiny speakers are incapable of producing any decent low frequencies at any volume. 

HO models with larger speakers and enclosures sound much better by a significant factor at the same sound levels. The Home theater ref was to point out how you can put a single bass speaker in the room almost anywhere and the bass seems to be coming out of where the treble speakers are placed.  (hence non directional) 

Along slightly similar lines , Lance Mindheim did something where he use a slave sound decoder off loco and piped the sound to headsets.

http://www.lancemindheim.com/headphone_sound.htm

[peteski]

Its not to make it louder, its to make the same level of volume sound better. As Robert pointed out that the tiny speakers are incapable of producing any decent low frequencies at any volume. 

Still, low frequency sounds, even at low volume seem to "large"for a tiny locomotive.  I know, it is just me.

Along slightly similar lines , Lance Mindheim did something where he use a slave sound decoder off loco and piped the sound to headsets.

That would not work for me at all. I still have directional hearing (both of my ears are working) and to me being able to tie the sound to some specific moving model on the layout is really important (especially the whistle or bell).  Headphones will totally nullify that effect.

If I wanted that kind of sound headphones provide, I would build myself a 1:1 scale locomotive cab simulator.  At that point, loud locomotive sound coming from all around me would be appropriate.

[skm]

FWIW: looks like the delivery schedules have changed = with the exception of the H2a hopper, the others are now for next year, with the M1 in March 2015 

[delamaize]

Quick! someone give me a reason why a M1a/b in the pnw.....