Adding Auto Startup/Shutdown Sounds To v5 LokSound - Part 1

When the author starts up his TSU2 equipped diesels there is a startup alarm bell that automatically sounds for a short period before the prime mover starts. Very few ESU decoders have this alarm sound that automatically sounds off when their prime mover starts up (some do have alarm bells that are function controlled but we want automatic ones). This article will show how to add that automatic sound to an ESU decoder that comes with an alarm bell by default and thereby demonstrate how to add any sound you may want. There is more than one way to do this so one method will be demonstrated here. The author hopes in the near future to add a Part 2 where we add a startup alarm bell sound to a prime mover that does not come with an alarm bell by default. This is a little more difficult but will introduce the reader to building and adding their own containers to sound files which would be a good introduction for those wishing to learn their intricacies. It's not that difficult!

First and foremost you will need access to LokSound Programmer hardware to accomplish what is going to be shown and second, you can only do this on version 4 and 5 decoders. It is not possible to change the sound files on v4 Select decoders as you have no access to the sound file. Also the locomotive sound file must have an alarm bell installed in a sound slot. As mentioned above, not having a built in alarm bell will be dealt with in Part 2.

Figure 1 shows the v5 sound file of an EMD 710 engine. We are using the file S0821-LS5H0DCC-Diesel-EMD-8-710G3A-T2-LATE-EXH-T-V1-R1.esux. You can download this file from the LokSound website sounds.

Adding Startup Sounds
Go to the Sound Slot Settings Pane and scroll down to sound slot 22. This is usually the default sound slot for alarm bells. Turn up the volume to 75% (you can adjust that later).

Figure 1 Sound slot 22 alarm bell

Now go to the Sound Pane and double click on the prime mover sound. In this case sound slot 1 (it is usually always sound slot 1). Double clicking will present the sound chart show in figure 2 (after reducing the upper right size box to 50% and scrolling down to the MS container). MS stands for “Mute to Standing” and is the engine start. This container is the key to any starting sound you may want to add.

Figure 2 “Mute to Standing” Container

Notice the high-lighted Timer Pre-Warm Start. Set this to about 14. What is this? If you double click on the MS container you’ll see it. In essence, it is the relative amount of time before the engine start sequence actually begins. Increasing the timer means it will take a little longer for the engine to actually startup. Why would one do this? Hold on we’ll get to that.

Go back to the Overview tab near the top of the page, scroll down to sound slot 22, double click on it and you will see Figure 3.

Figure 3 Inside the alarm bell container

Double click on the T1 = 30 and set the value to around 12. This is the relative amount of time the alarm actually sounds. A value of 30 is too long unless you really want it to sound off. You can see this value used on the right side of the Start state. Shortening the alarm length and increasing the time to prime mover start (we did that above) allows the alarm to ring before the engine starts. Adjust these as you see fit.

Now go back and click on the prime mover tab and then click on the MS container. You will now see State Properties on the left. Scroll down to the bottom and you will see three drop-down boxes labeled Mapping. Open the Sound drop down, scroll down until you see SD70MAC Alarm Bell 1 and check that box. Save the file and you now have an alarm bell that will sound when you press the engine start function key. You can adjust the time to start and the alarm length as we did above.

One word of warning here, in order to hear the alarm you will have to burn the sound file to the decoder. The simulator only plays what is in the sound slot you have selected before any changes were made.

Adding Shutdown Sounds
In order to add shutdown sounds the only difference from what has been discussed so far is instead of adding the sound to the MS container, look for the SM “Standing to Mute” state and add the sound to the sound dropdown in Mappings the identical way we did in this article.

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Walther's Shipping Update And It's Not Great News

E-Update 2021-08-18

Due to world-wide issues impacting every level of shipping and distribution Walthers is experiencing rising costs and high levels of delay on our products. You may have noticed similar delays on other consumer goods. With a shortage of containers, congestion at the ports, transportation shut-downs and congestion at local distribution hubs, delays are currently unavoidable. Please know we are doing our best to provide you and your favorite hobby shops all the modeling supplies you need in expedient fashion, and we hope for improvements in the coming months. In the meantime you may regularly see product delays by one, two, three or more months. As always, our website, walthers.com, remains the most up-to-date resource for availability information.

 Thank you for your understanding,

 

Walthers

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The (not so) Lowly NW2 And Her Calf(s)

                                            Figure 1 A NW2 Switcher from the Author's Brass Collection

The Electro-Motive NW2 1000 horsepower switcher is now widely regarded as one of the truly classic designs in the many years of diesel locomotive production by the General Motors Division. The NW2 successfully combined an arrangement which was both practical and accessible for maintenance, with design elements that link it to the 1930s and 1940s practice of making a machine stylish as well as functional. Together with the companion 600 horsepower SW1 switcher, which preceded it into production by one month, the NW2 helped to define the layout and appearance of switching locomotives for many years following its introduction in February 1939.

A detailed article on the NW2 itself will be the subject of a future post on the Hostlers Inn. For now we'll talk about her and her kids (wait! that's goats), I meant her calves.

The author is positive you realize what brings about changes in locomotives, horsepower, horsepower and more of it! At the same time as the NW2 the EMD FT units were coming on line. They came equipped with cabless "B" units for additional horsepower. The "B" unit doubled the horsepower to 2700HP.

As you would expect EMD decided to do the same for the NW2. However, instead of "A" and "B" the NW2 names became "Cow and Calf". As with many other names in locomotive heritage the origin is lost to history. 

A number of cow-calf versions of the NW2 were built. These were designated Model TR in prewar construction with the 567 “U" deck engine and Model TR2 in postwar building with the 567A engine. There was also a Model TR3, which had two calf units, popularly nicknamed a “herd”. Only two "herds" were built, both for the Chesapeake & Ohio. According to Wikipedia's list of GM-EMD locomotives these models continued with minor variations and engine changes to the TR4, etc. up to and including the TR6. 

There are some excellent brass models of these now long gone locomotives. Particularly from Overland Models. See figure 2 from the author's brass collection.

                                             Figure 2 A "cow and calf" from the author's brass collection

Some model makers have claimed "freedom of expression" rights with models they produce using liveries that never has the particular combinations. See figure 3.

Figure 3 Indiana Harbor Belt "Herd"

NW2 productions totals (from Kalmbach’s™ DIESEL SPOTTERS GUIDE) list 1119 units for US customers and 24 for Canada. There were three TR sets built (all for Illinois Central), 36 TR2 sets, and three TR3 sets (all for C&O).

Much more detailed information, including original buyers and quantities of these locomotives is available here.

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Moving Horns Between ESU Sound Files

There is a very good tutorial on moving horns from one sound file to another that will also help get your feet wet in modifying sound schedules. It is located on YouTube here. It was done by RioGrandeFan and if you do a YouTube search on his name you will find a couple of his videos that deal with modifying sound files. 

He leads you step-by-step through the modifications so no issues pop up if and when you try it. Have fun and get your feet wet. The possibilities are endless!

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Resetting the UR93 to Factory Defaults

Finally, some information has come out on the use of the buttons (OPS and ID) on the UR93. To reset the UR93 to factory defaults do the following:

1. Plug a throttle directly into the UR93 (no UP5 panel here!)
2. Press the OPS button on the UR93 - the lights will flash
3. On the throttle press SWITCH
4. Enter 40 and press "c"(losed)
5. Unplug the throttle from the UR93
6. Finally, press the UR93's OPS button again

This resets the UR93 to its factory defaults. The author has tested this with DT402D, DT500D and  DT602D throttles. All successfully reset the UR93.

Sadly still no information on the UR93's ID button.

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LokProgrammer v5.1.4 Released 29 July 2021

LokProgrammer PC-Software for all LokSound 5, LokPilot 5, LokSound V4.0 and older Decoders v5.1.4 has been released  by LokSound. It is available here.

Release notes detail these additions:

• New Firmware 5.4.139 for LokSound 5 and LokPilot 5 family
• New CV 114 controls the fade-in time for light outputs. 
• New CV 115 controls the fade-out time for light outputs. 
• New CV 131 can now define the brightness level of outputs if the logical function "Dimmer" is active. Servo settings now allow the servo signal to remain enabled for each end position.
• LokSound 5 micro E24 DCC renamed to LokSound 5 nano DCC.
• Added Initial support for the upcoming LokPilot 5 Basic.

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is required. It will be installed automatically if your computer is connected to the internet.

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