ESU LS5 Sound Decoders New Feature? Prime Mover "Volume Dynamics"

[tehachapifan]

Noticed this on a couple of new or newly updated LS5 Sound files dated 11/21 and 11/22, which I haven't noticed before. Is this a new feature as of the last couple days? Note, this is not the same as the recently discussed "tone control" feature also recently added.

From the file description....

Prime mover volume selection mode. By default the prime mover has volume dynamics. Meaning idle is soft while notch 8 is loud. This is very prototypical. The next option is volume maxed out. Meaning idle and notch 8 are the same volume. This is more suitable for people who like it loud.

Change the sound configuration of the prime mover sound slot 1
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV263 = 0 Prime Mover Dynamic Volume Control
CV263 = 1 Prime Mover Max Volume

[Jbub]

This is what their Facebook post says about it

"We have just posted 9 updated sound files and 1 new sound file (S0853) to the sound library! https://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/18
All of these files have been updated with our new "Dynamic Volume Control" set by default. This allows for a volume variation from slightly softer to increasingly louder as RPM's increase between idle and notch 8.
If you prefer, these files also offer the option to have "Max Volume" at idle and throughout the speed/notch range by simply setting CV32=1 First, and then CV263=1. To change back to Dynamic Volume Control, set CV32=1 First, and then CV263=0.
This feature will continue to be added to all files as they are updated, and as new files are released. Enjoy!"

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, Jbub! This does sound like a useful feature as I have thought that some of my locos idled a little too loud as compared to the prototype.

I'm going to assume that, when they say "max volume", they are referring to the max volume the user already has set via the master volume and/or the sound slot for the prime mover.

This sounds like a potentially cool feature, but one at least N scalers may need to be careful with. I could see a potential problem where the user sets volumes based on idle with the volume dynamics active, where the volumes may be too high when in a higher notch, potentially overdriving the speaker or decoder components which could possibly lead to a failure.

Looking forward to playing around with this.

[kiwi_bnsf]

This is Dynamic Volume control might be touted as a "brand new" feature, but really it's just another demonstration of the amazing flexibility of the existing Lokprogrammer software for the ESU sound decoders.

It does not rely on any new firmware or functionality. Dynamic Volume Control can be added to any existing project by simply adjusting the volume of the sound samples within the Prime Mover slot. ESU have reduced the container volume to 50/128 for the idle modes and gradually increased this though to 128/128 for run 8.

I've spent a few hours with this today, and ironically I will not be using it for my current sound projects. With the volume turned way down like I prefer it — the idle just disappears. However, if you have an offensively loud idle mode and want to reduce that, or desire Run 8 to be louder, then these new schemes will help.

I'm much more excited about a couple of things:


1.  The new tone controls are crude, but very effective. For prime mover + speaker combinations that are too bright or sibilant in the treble, upping the bass [CV197] and dropping the treble [CV196] can work wonders. I've found this to vary with sound projects and speaker installs. It might not be a full EQ, but it has instantly improved my installs with a free firmware update, and I'm getting very close to the level of detail and clarity that I'm after 

2.  ESU are going back through their older prime movers and remastering them. Today's S0508 645 prime mover was already one of my favourites, and it is way more detailed since being remastered. I'm very happy that after an hour of faffing about with my Lokprogrammer, I have a loco that sounds so much better.


If you are interested in DCC sound, and not afraid of learning some software, a Lokprogrammer is probably the best investment you can make. The speed at which you can make changes to sound projects and test them is an order-of-magnitude faster than JMRI Decoder Pro (which I still use for speed matching and ops mode programming). Without a LokProgrammer, much of the inner workings of the ESU sound projects remains untapped. The available library of sound slots within the sound projects free to download from ESU is mind boggling.

I've gone deep down a rabbit hole of editing sound slots to better suit ProtoThrottle and realistic operations. I hope to post something when time allows — but it's still an ongoing odyssey!

Cheers

[Dwight in Toronto]

If you are interested in DCC sound, and not afraid of learning some software, a Lokprogrammer is probably the best investment you can make. The speed at which you can make changes to sound projects and test them is an order-of-magnitude faster than JMRI Decoder Pro (which I still use for speed matching and ops mode programming). Without a LokProgrammer, much of the inner workings of the ESU sound projects remains untapped. The available library of sound slots within the sound projects free to download from ESU is mind boggling.

I heartily endorse this sentiment.  I frequent three forums, and every few days someone is asking for some sort of help with ESU’s decoders.  Either something has stopped working properly, or they are curious about implementing a custom configuration of one sort or another.  I sympathize, because I too had lots of questions, over a lengthy learning curve, so I try to assist when I can. 

In many evolving discussion threads, I try my best to convince fellow modellers that a LokProgrammer is not only a relatively low cost expenditure, but the myriad of benefits truly make it an investment in every sense of the word.  Your post above succinctly conveys those benefits.

[tehachapifan]

Looks like ESU just put out another 10 sound files with the volume dynamics update.