The following is an answer to a user's email question concerning decoder size and N-Scale sound capabilities.
The big difference between (name a DCC sound decoder manufacturer) and TCS is the sound file storage solution. As you can imagine, CD-quality audio isn't small! When you're storing a minimum of 30 minutes of audio per prime mover, and every single second of that audio consists of 44,100 16-bit data points, it takes up quite a bit of space. Other manufacturers such as ESU and Zimo and even SoundTraxx use a different means of storage for sound files than TCS; typically, NOR flash memory is used. NOR flash memory devices are limited in storage capacity, and as the memory space expands, the increase in cost per-device increases dramatically (even worse than exponential). NOR flash devices storage space is typically in the range of 32 Megabits up to 512 Megabits. There are, however, options coming out in recent years which reach into the 1-2 Gigabit range.
When TCS designed our first sound decoder, we made a decision that this method was too much of a hindrance, and would not allow our product to stand head-and-shoulders-above the competition. Not only in audio quality, but the capacity and quantity of audio files we could include on our product. For that reason, we developed a unique approach which uses micro SD cards. Every flagship WOWSound product has used an SD card. The SD cards we use in our products are as large as 8 GigaBYTES. You can do the math if you'd feel so inclined haha! Knowing that, take a moment to consider how much audio fidelity and diversity you are loosing when using a product which only has 128 Megabits of storage for sound files!
TCS' uncompromising dedication to audio quality has meant that our options are limited when it comes to storage. While it is true that we do have "access" to all the same electronic components as anyone else in the industry, it does not mean that these same parts are best for our product(s).
I would like to re-iterate that TCS is dedicated to delivering N-scale sound. Development is actively underway, and has been for some time now. We want to deliver a knockout product and take the time necessary to deliver a fully-formed, evolved product rather than a flimsy, half-baked, flop. The comments on this thread have been enlightening in some regards, and we do always take feedback from customers into consideration when designing our products.
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DanEngineering and Product Development
Train Control Systems
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