Soundtraxx has a new Economi decoder

[Paradise275]

Just added to their web site July 16th is a 16 bit N/HO sound decoder.
Does anyone have any info on it?

http://www.soundtraxx.com/

Rick

[jdcolombo]

Well . . . now that's interesting.   The micro version is about the same size as the ESU LokSound, and the feature set says that the steam version has a "motor load sync" for steam chuffs, which I assume is the same kind of BEMF-reading chuff system used by ESU and others (TCS's WOW).  Plus it has the TSU's 7-band eq. and you can select steam chuff sounds instead of buying a different version for each.

I might have to try one of these . . .

John C.

[victor miranda]

this thing?
http://mountain-subdivision-hobbies.mybigcommerce.com/soundtraxx-881003-eco-21p-steam-economi-sound-decoder/

the 15mm wide concerns me.  that may be a struggle for the smaller tenders.
( I like small steam)

well... I'll keep an eye peeled.

[peteski]

Hopefully it will have no problems with coreless motors.

[reinhardtjh]

this thing?
http://mountain-subdivision-hobbies.mybigcommerce.com/soundtraxx-881003-eco-21p-steam-economi-sound-decoder/

the 15mm wide concerns me.  that may be a struggle for the smaller tenders.
( I like small steam)

well... I'll keep an eye peeled.

That's the ECO-21P version which has the NMRA 21-pin (not the NEM 21-pin - slight difference with AUX3 and AUX4).  JD was talking about the ECO-100 version which is 27 x 10.5 x 5mm and almost identical in size to the ESU LokSound Select Micro

See the 3 sizes here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/econami/index.php?l=formats

The deal with this decoder is that it comes in 3 versions: steam, diesel and electric.  Each has a set number of "prime movers" to choose from via CV settings.  There are no downloadable sounds so if your engine is not a match then you are out of luck.  The steam may be generic enough, however, to be nice.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well . . . now that's interesting.   The micro version is about the same size as the ESU LokSound, and the feature set says that the steam version has a "motor load sync" for steam chuffs, which I assume is the same kind of BEMF-reading chuff system used by ESU and others (TCS's WOW).  Plus it has the TSU's 7-band eq. and you can select steam chuff sounds instead of buying a different version for each.

I might have to try one of these . . .

John C.

Yes John, please do. The enhanced motor control and 1 amp power sound promising. The question is what is it that this decoder doesn't have compared to a full-featured Tsunami? If it's crappy motor control, I'm all over it....
Otto K.

[jdcolombo]

Bryan at Streamlined Backshop has posted an extremely helpful chart comparing the Econami to the regular Tsunami, here:

http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/soundtraxxdecoderfeaturecomparison.html

In terms of size, the Eco-100 is 27mm x 10.5mm x 5mm; the ESU LokSound Select Micro is 25mm x 10.6mm x 3.8mm.  So not a lot of difference there, and each should fit comfortably in even small-steam tenders.

Looking at this chart, it appears that there is very little that you lose with the Econami, and you gain some key items, including the presumably-improved motor control ("Hyperdrive 2") and BEMF chuff sync, along with "open cocks" steam hiss.  Some folks have been bemoaning the loss of a cam-based sync, but honestly, cams are nearly impossible to do well in N scale, and my experience with the LokSound (and the QSI decoder that came in the Walthers 2-8-8-2 N&W Y) indicates that the BEMF-based chuff sync is extremely good.  So I won't miss the cam connection, and neither will I miss the adjustable reverb, which I never used with my TSU-750 installs anyway. 

I have always thought that Soundtraxx's basic steam sounds were excellent.   The heavy steam chuff, for example, has exactly the right amount of "bark" that you hear from Superpower steam engines like the Berkshire or modern 4-8-4's (e.g., the NKP 765, the UP FEF and the SP GS-4).  The ESU's chuff is a bit too "soft" by comparison.  Bell and whistle sounds are excellent as well.  That's one of the reasons I ended up using a Tsunami for sound (only - I have a Zimo for motor control) in my FEF.  The TSU's implementation of the UP Hancock whistle is just better than ESU's version, and that's what pushed me over the line.   But the lack of BEMF-based chuff control makes getting a good sync between driver rotation and chuff sounds very frustrating with the TSU-750.  The Econami promises to end that frustration, and if the motor control is anywhere near as good as the LokSound, I'm in.  Plus it has wiring already in place to add a keeper cap easily.

There is really a lot to like in the feature set, but the proof will be in actual implementation.   I've ordered one.  They are due to ship in a couple of weeks, and I plan to install my first one in one of my NKP Berks, just to compare it to the ESU that I've been using recently.

John C.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks John! I'll be watching for updates
Otto

[nscaler711]

Can I get a Soundtraxx decoder that drops in to my favorite locos? 
Hell id be happy if they made one that was 9.9mm wide... That means it could fit into most if not all hood diesels w/o modifications to the shell... I really don't like the thought of milling my shells for .4 clearance for a decoder that's 10.5mm wide when most shells are 10.1mm wide...
It's not like the tech isn't out there... *cough* smart phones *cough*
@jdcolombo if you manage to get one of the 10.5 ones can you tell us if you can wrangle it into a loco without filing out too much of the shell?

(yes the motherboards are wider, but the components on the motherboards are still smaller than what's on DCC decoders, to include sound decoders... But hey what do I know? )

[jdcolombo]

Can I get a Soundtraxx decoder that drops in to my favorite locos? 
Hell id be happy if they made one that was 9.9mm wide... That means it could fit into most if not all hood diesels w/o modifications to the shell... I really don't like the thought of milling my shells for .4 clearance for a decoder that's 10.5mm wide when most shells are 10.1mm wide...
It's not like the tech isn't out there... *cough* smart phones *cough*
@jdcolombo if you manage to get one of the 10.5 ones can you tell us if you can wrangle it into a loco without filing out too much of the shell?

(yes the motherboards are wider, but the components on the motherboards are still smaller than what's on DCC decoders, to include sound decoders... But hey what do I know? )

I doubt that an ECO-100 will fit any better in a hood diesel than the LokSound, and frankly right now I think ESU's diesel implementation (particularly its auto-notching, horns and overall prime-mover sound) is better (at least, it's better than the TSU-750; whether Soundtraxx has upgraded its sound files for the new decoder is an open question, but I doubt it - they aren't touting this on their web site).  Matt Herman from ESU has been doggedly tracking down and making new recordings of every diesel still alive (I think he just recently completed a project with a FM switcher somewhere in NY, and he assembled a collection of air horns that represent nearly everything put on a diesel; he remarked on ESU's Facebook page that he is sure he drove his neighbors completely nuts recording the horns).   Where I'm less pleased with ESU is its steam files; the files for the Big Boy and Cab Forward are excellent, but the "standard" two-cylinder files leave a lot to be desired, IMHO.  In any event, the ECO-100 I ordered is a steam version, so I won't be shoving it into one of my GP9's any time soon.

What we really need from ESU is for them to make the board being used in the Atlas S-2 as a generic end-user decoder.  I haven't measured the S-2 board because I haven't yet gotten my undec sound units (Atlas apparently didn't get them in the last container; still waiting).  But an S-2's hood isn't any wider than the usual hood diesels (at least, if you believe the width of my old Arnold S-2's), so I'm assuming that whatever is inside is something less than 10mm wide.  I suspect that this board will also be used for sound in the Intermountain SD40's, and ESU probably hasn't taken steps to release it as a general decoder because production is being eaten up by Intermountain and Atlas.   But I can tell you that a LOT of people have pleaded with Matt Herman about this issue, and he has sent the pleas on to the guys in Germany.   One person I know even drew out a component layout  to show how it could be done.

So, I'd counsel some patience on the diesel front.  I think there is a good chance that we will see a narrower board from ESU for diesel sound eventually.  But I don't think the ECO-100 is going to answer any prayers on the hood diesel front.

John C.