Cam for chuff sound sync

[RAILCAT]

Is it a viable option to add a cam or wiper to sync the chuff sound when installing a Loksound or Tsunami decoder in a steamer.

If so where can cams or wipers be sourced.

[garethashenden]

I know they exist, I'm not sure if they fit in N scale. I've only heard of them being used in HO and larger scales.

[delamaize]

I did one on my Kato GS4, put it on the 4th axle. it is a pain in the a$$, and I have not done another one since. I have a W3 that I am thinking about doing a chuff cam on, but I'm still on the fence.

here is a shitty video of my GS4 running at about 40 scale MPH.

[peteski]

I suspect that many modern sound decoders use BEMF for excellent sound synchronization.  I have not experimented with the ones you mentioned but I know that the QSI decoder installed in the Walters/LifeLike Mallet has excellent sound synchronization without a cam. 

[lajmdlr]

Went to a TCS Wow sound demonstration last night at my LHS. And it is a very WOW sound system. Here's a link to there website: http://www.tcsdcc.com/
Click on the two WOW Sound icons to see & hear all the different sounds for steam locos. Their decoder has four different chuff sounds. They also have Audio Assist so you program any sound or other decoder features w/o having to manipulate a bunch of CVs. And their diesel decoder will have all the features as the steam one, w/ diesel sounds of course.

[peteski]

Went to a TCS Wow sound demonstration last night at my LHS. And it is a very WOW sound system. Here's a link to there website: http://www.tcsdcc.com/
Click on the two WOW Sound icons to see & hear all the different sounds for steam locos. Their decoder has four different chuff sounds. They also have Audio Assist so you program any sound or other decoder features w/o having to manipulate a bunch of CVs. And their diesel decoder will have all the features as the steam one, w/ diesel sounds of course.

How does this address the original question? 

[RAILCAT]

Is it a viable option to add a cam or wiper to sync the chuff sound when installing a Loksound or Tsunami decoder in a steamer.

If so where can cams or wipers be sourced.

My original question posted under N scale and then moved to DCC did not mention N scale in the heading or text.

[lyled1117]

Is it a viable option to add a cam or wiper to sync the chuff sound when installing a Loksound or Tsunami decoder in a steamer.

If so where can cams or wipers be sourced.

My own take on users wipers is that they are more of a pain to install and to maintain than they are a benefit.  With the Loksound decoders I have been able to use software to get a very convincing 4 chuffs per revolution at slow speeds and have the 4 chuffs remain in good sync up to speeds where you can no longer tell if they're in sync or not. The Tsunami decoders aren't quite as adaptable, but good results can be gotten with them. The advice I was given and use is to set the Soundtraxx decoder running at about 15 scale MPH to have a 4 chuff pattern per driver revolution and live with the change as speed changes. It works. Soundtraxx with their DSD/DSX decoder use to be able to tailor the chuff pattern kind of  like ESU does currently, but they removed that capability. I'd love to see them restore it.

Lyle

[peteski]

QSI decoders excel at perfectly synching chuffs using motor BEMF, but for some reason they are totally oblivious to the N scale market.  It is really too bad.