SoundBytes, XXIII

Well, we have been busy preparing for and holding our annual Dealer Training. Lots to do in what seems like not enough time! In this edition, we will tell a little about what dealer training is and give you a hint to what we are displaying at this year’s NMRA National Convention and Train Show. For our Tech Tip, we’ll discuss using the custom speed curves available on the Tsunami decoder.

Dealer Training.
This year we held our Dealer Training June 9th thru 12th. This is a 4-day seminar where we invite our dealers out to Durango to learn hands-on from our staff about our DCC products and how to install and use them. This year we had a full curriculum for them as we discussed our company history, product line, how to get the best from the speakers, creative installation techniques, programming, Blackstone Models, and hands-on Tsunami sound installations. In addition to learning, we show them around to some of the fun events in Durango, like the Bar D Chuck Wagon dinner and western music show, a local 55' x 35' layout operating session, and of course, we take a day to ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Train! In this photo, Jarrette comes in to our car from the locomotive to say "Hi!" to everyone.This year’s attendees included: Lin’s Junction, Lansdale, PA; Mullet River and Southern, Plymouth, WI; EngineHouse Services, LLC, Green Bay, WI, TVW Miniatures, Greendale, WI; Discount Model Trains, Addison, TX; Sounds of Motion, Solon, OH; Central Coast Trains, Atascadero, CA; Mark Twain Hobby Center, St. Charles, MO, DCC Installs and Sales, Martinez, GA, Grizzly Mountain Engineering, Estes Park, CO as well as Representatives from Athearn and Bachmann. It is a fun and educational environment for all who attended. We are appreciative of all who attended and we encourage our customers to lend their support to these shop owners who invested their time and money in order to better serve their customers. With this year’s class done and in the books, we are looking forward to next year!


Blackstone Models:
The Drop Bottom Gondolas have arrived in Durango. This has unfortunately coincided with our dealer training, so we will be getting these out to the dealers as quickly as we can.

NMRA 75th Annual Convention And Train Show NMRA National Convention and the National Train Show are around the corner. This year’s annual event is being held in Milwaukee, WI July 13-18th. Anyone who is attending be sure to stop by to see the pre-production samples of the C-19, K-27s, Double-Deck Stock Cars, Tank Cars and Passenger Cars! Also, Jarrette and George will be giving Clinics Thursday and Friday Evening Covering getting the best from your sound decoders, and steam and diesel Prototype sound and how to set up the decoders to match your prototypes! Be sure to attend and don’t miss out on these informative clinics! Tech Tip:
In every Tsunami is the ability to adjust the speed curve that controls the speed of the motor and locomotive. Tsunami comes with 14 pre-programmed speed curves, along with the ability to adjust and built your own! Let’s take a look at how these are set up.
The speed curves that are pre-loaded into the Tsunami are able to adjust the speed commands to model the prototypical purpose of the locomotive. For example, the exponential curves allow more precise control at the lower end of the speed curve for switching, and the logarithmic curves allow more control at the higher end of the speed table.
To start setting up the speed tables, bit 4 of CV29 (value 16) will need to be active. When figuring the value of CV29, refer to the chart available in the Steam and Diesel User’s Guides. You can find the User’s Guides here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals.php
Next, CV25 determines which pre-programmed speed curve that will be used. Looking in the User’s Guide, a value of 2 assigns a linear speed curve, values 3 through 9 assigns a logarithmic curve and values 10 through 15 assign an exponential curve. Assigning a value of 16 to CV 25 allows the modeler to input his own curve, or ‘user adjustable’ to fully customize the curve. We will talk a bit more about the ‘user adjustable’ speed curve in the next edition of SoundBytes’ Tech Tip.

SoundBytes, XXII

It has been a while since our last post. My, how the time flies when you have been busy! Speaking of busy, we have been inspecting the initial test models for many of the Blackstone Models upcoming releases, including the much anticipated C-19 consolidation. We have also been busy finishing up testing for the UP Gas Turbine decoder. In this edition, we will share another story from the early days of SoundTraxx, and for our Tech Tip, using our new product, the DBX-9000.

The Evolution of the Model Railroader (from Nancy’s perspective)

While this is a story about a long-ago tradeshow, it is also a commentary on how far we have come in recognizing that women, too, have a place in the model railroading world.
In the early days, the only two employees of the company, Steve and Nancy, attended tradeshows. Back in 1991, we attended our very first NMRA National Train Show, which was held in Denver that year. We had now attended a year’s worth of shows and it had become apparent that many modelers were not used to women being involved in the manufacturing end of the equation, especially when it related to electronics. To be quite blunt, Nancy was getting a little tired of being treated like some piece of fluff! Steve was pretty aware of how much this irritated her.
During the course of the show, one gentleman in particular came up to the booth and stood patiently waiting while Steve explained the operation of the new D220-IR to another customer. Nancy was not otherwise occupied at the moment and asked if she could answer any questions for him. He looked rather disdainfully at her and said, ‘It’s technical.’ She told him that she was likely able to answer her question and he reiterated that it was technical in nature and that he needed to talk to a man.
Steve overheard this comment just as he was finishing up with his customer. Nancy stepped back and deferred to Steve, but as the gentleman began to explain his question, Steve held up his hand and said, ‘You’re going to have to talk to Nancy – I don’t know anything about this stuff’ and he walked away. The man sheepishly turned and this time allowed Nancy to answer his questions.
Nancy is happy to report that this sort of thing almost never happens these days, noting that model railroaders have accepted that women just occasionally do know what they are talking about!

The Turbine is ready for sale.
We have been working hard to produce the most accurate gas-turbine decoder available on the market. We have been working with the original GE operator’s manual along with help from former UP employees who have worked on these thunderous beasts to ensure prototypical operation and sound accuracy. Those turbine models will no longer have to be silent.

You can listen to the sound sample on our website here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/tsunamisound.php#turbine
Part number for these decoders is 827114 and can be ordered through your dealer today!

Blackstone News!
We have been receiving the pre-production samples of the upcoming projects for Blackstone Models. We are excited to see these and are doing extensive testing now to ensure they operate as good as they look. Take a look at the pre-production samples for the C-19;

the narrow frame tank cars;

and the passenger car.

We also have been given notification that the Drop Bottom gondolas are on their way to us from overseas. This means that provided that the shipment goes smoothly without any pirates, sea monsters or bad weather, we should see these cars arrive here in about 2-3 weeks. They will begin shipping to the dealers immediately after that. These cars are sold out, so contact your dealers if you have not ordered these cars yet to see if they have any available.

Texas Trip: George was on the road again visiting our dealers in the Lone Star State. During this trip, he was able to visit, Hobby Time in Amarillo; King’s Hobbies in Austin; Lone Star Trains and Collectibles, Dibble’s Hobbies, HobbyTown, USA, and Ligar Technologies in San Antonio; M&M Hobby Center, Larry’s Hobbies, Papa Ben’s in Houston; Spring Crossing in Spring; Discount Model Trains in Dallas; Greenville Hobby Depot in Greenville; and Angelo Hobbies and Model Train Crossing in Ft. Worth. George was able to meet with many fellow modelers and demonstrate the features of the Tsunami and show Blackstone pre-production samples. He was also able to demo the new turbine decoder for them as well! We would like to thank these dealers for their hospitality. Many thanks also to those who attended clinics at Ligar Technologies, Papa Ben’s Train Place and Angelo Hobbies! Congratulations too to Ligar Technologies for their Grand Opening! Please visit and support these dealers. For photos of these stores and any stores we visit, please visit our Facebook page.

Tech Tip:
One of our newest products is the DBX-9000, a 9-wire harness that allows easy connection from the locomotive to the tender. This will allow many of the Tsunami features to be transferred from the tender, where the decoder is typically located, to the locomotive, where most of the features are used.
The DBX board has 9 small soldering pads arranged in a semi circle pattern numbered 1-9. These numbers correspond to the wires in the mini-plug in order. This will help determine which wires would be wired to what in the locomotive. For example, we will need 2 wires for track pick-up (ideally), 2 wires for the motor, and 2 wires for the headlamp, for a total of 6 wires. If you want to use the cam option, there is another wire, and any other light functions for class lights or firebox flicker add in 1 or 2 more wires (These all use the same common blue wire). This necessitates a total of 9 wires. By determining which wires are hooked up to which soldering pads, this will enable the full features of the Tsunami decoder to be utilized. Let’s see how to wire it up.

For the above-mentioned example, solder to soldering pad #1- Track +, #2- Motor +, #3- white wire for headlamp, #4- brown wire for FX5, #5- blue wire for common, #6- green wire for FX6, #7- tan cam wire, #8- Motor -, and #9- Track-. Then simply hook up the wires from the harness to the assigned output or feature. If you would rather have a speaker in the locomotive, eliminate the 2 FX5 and FX6 wires, and use the speaker wires there. The possibilities are endless to be able to match your prototypes. It is easier to connect one small harness rather than 2 or 3 plugs based on traditional methods and it helps the model appear more prototypical as well!
To mount the DBX circuit board to the model, simply use a number 2-56 screw in the center hole to mount the board to either side, loco or tender, wherever it fits best. The versatility of this accessory helps make installation easier!

For George’s Bachmann Mountain model, he used the DBX circuit board in the tender, and wired the harness up into the locomotive, allowing 2 firebox flicker lights and a chuff cam, along with the headlamp, motor connections and track pick-ups. With the firebox lights using FX5 in phase A and FX6 in phase B, it produces a nice random flicker, along with a synchronized chuff, no matter the speed.

Looking Back at our First Sound System, 20th Anniversary Commemorative Boxcar, and Dynamic Digital Exhaust

It is time for another edition of SoundBytes. In this edition, we will share another story from the early days of SoundTraxx, this time at Timonium. We will share our first limited edition Anniversary special as well. In our Tech Tip, we will take a look at the DDE, or Dynamic Digital Exhaust.

Our First Sound System

Every company has its early memories of success (and yes, failure!). There are those that teach, those that lift your spirits and those that make you wonder what the !**@? you are doing.

Back in 1990, we attended our very first Timonium Train Show. For those who are not familiar with these shows, they occur roughly four times a year at the fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. The ‘exhibit halls’ are large buildings with concrete floors that generally smell mildly of hay, since they are most often used for livestock shows of some kind.

D220-IR (a revision of the D200-IR), released in 1991

We had just finished our first sound system, the D200-IR, which was a diesel sound system intended primarily for under-layout use and controlled with an infrared wireless throttle. It was the first of its kind and we were excited to have an opportunity to display at this show, since its completion had been a little too late for our first show in Springfield, Massachusetts in February. We were told that due to our late inquiry, we could have a booth at the far end of the hall in the back corner; it was all that was available.

It was a beautiful October day and we found our booth as far back in the hall as you could get and began to set up for the show the next day. The back doors (big barn doors) were open since it was such nice weather and you could see the CSX tracks running right behind the building. We set up our track, made our connections to the sound system and hooked it up to a big under table speaker and a subwoofer for the really low frequencies. We turned it on to test it.

All of a sudden, we looked up to see about a dozen men coming toward us. Not just coming, but sprinting. They rushed past us, out the door and stood looking down the tracks. They all started clamoring that they could hear the train, but they couldn’t see it. Cameras poised and ready, waiting for the train -- one by one you could see them start to look over their shoulder at our booth and drift our way, mouths open, listening to the diesel rumble of a GP7 emanating from under our table. It was at that moment we knew we had a winner.

Our First 20th Anniversary Offering: Commemorative HOn3 Boxcar

To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are proud to offer a special-run boxcar painted to celebrate our 20 years. This limited edition HOn3 offering from SoundTraxx and produced by Blackstone Models was decorated to commemorate this special occasion. These cars are available for purchase through your favorite dealers to run on your own layout, or simply to collect. A limited number have been made, so if you are interested, be sure to get yours quickly. This car (P.N. B340127), has a retail price of $39.95.

Look for more special anniversary specials in the months to come!

Tech Tip: Dynamic Digital Exhaust

One of the coolest features of the Steam Tsunami (In George’s opinion anyway) is the Dynamic Digital Exhaust (DDE). This feature allows the decoder to read the load on the motor using B-EMF (Back Electro Motive Force) and adjusts the chuff to match the locomotive’s load. When starting up or beginning the grade, the chuff will get heavier and louder to match how hard the locomotive would be working.

When slowing to a stop or after cresting the hill, the chuff virtually disappears and the side rod clanking increases to represent drifting.

Let's take a look at how to set this up.

CV 177 through CV 188 controls all aspects of the DDE, although adjusting only a couple of CVs, CV 177 and 178, will result in satisfactory results. 

CV 177 sets up the sensitivity to changes in the throttle setting, 0-255. If you are turning the throttle to start a train, this will adjust how sensitive it would be to changes. If this is set too high, then any slight adjustment will cause a dramatic change to the sound. The default value for CV 177 is 10. Start with this CV set to about 150. 

CV 178 sets up the sensitivity to motor load, 0-255. This will use B-EMF to determine if the load is heavier or lighter, for example going up a grade. Set this too high and the changes become subtle as any change in track, a turnout or curve, could cause the loco to change the chuff. The default value of CV 178 is 10. Start by setting this CV to a value of 150.

Play with the values in CVs 177 and 178 to determine good sensitivity settings for your locomotives. These settings are subjective, so spend a little time and get it right to your ears. Once these settings are determined, look at the some of the other DDE CVs to fine-tune the exhaust sounds for each locomotive in your fleet.

To get the most from this Tsunami feature, momentum will need to be added, otherwise the throttle changes would be instant and not give the DDE time to react. Using a value of 25 for both CVs 3 and 4 should yield good results.

Find us on Facebook!

Hi Everyone!

It's Allison here. I just wanted to let you all know that we have created a Facebook page. Please become our fan and pass on the word to your friends! Thanks so much!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Durango-CO/SoundTraxx/108666145830300

A Look Back at the Hyperlight, Blackstone Models Updates, and Using the Tsunami Sound Mixer

In this edition, we will take a look at the early beginnings of SoundTraxx in Massachusetts. Then, for our Tech Tip, lets look at setting and adjusting volume levels for our decoders.

As It Was in the Beginning. . .

In the early days before SoundTraxx, Steve and Nancy worked for a marine electronics company. Nancy was in the marketing department while Steve was in the engineering department. Steve was a model railroader who loved narrow gauge. One day, Steve approached Nancy with an idea to start a model railroad electronics company. He wanted to have prototypical sound and lighting in his brass Fujiama K-36 in HOn3. Nancy, not being at all familiar with model railroading, was not sure what he wanted. He returned the next day with his prized possession to show and Nancy thought it was the coolest thing she had ever seen. They then began to work together and formed the Throttle Up! Corporation in Pocasset, Massachusetts. Their first product was shown to the public in Springfield, MA at the Big Railroad Show in January 1990.

Our first product, the Hyperlight, released in 1990

This new innovation was the Hyperlight. This product was the first lighting module on the market that used a processor to control the lighting effect. One module was able to create many different lighting effects, including a Mars light and Gyralight. No longer would modelers need to purchase separate circuits for different lighting effects. The heritage of this product is still evident today in our line of Tsunami decoders. 

This was just the beginning…

Blacktone Models Update: Drop Bottom Gondolas

As of this week, our Drop Bottom Gondolas are sold out. These cars are currently in production and are expected to arrive here in early May. If you want some of these cars and have not yet put in your reservations, check with your dealers to see what may they have available. 

On the plus side, we have a few High Side Gondolas from the second run still available for order through your dealers.

Tech Tip: Tsunami Sound Mixer

When using Tsunami decoders, each sound effect has its own volume setting, as well as an overall volume setting. This allows the modeler to customize the sounds to desired levels. Volume setting CVs are considered percentage CVs, meaning that a value of 0 (0%) turns the sound effect off, while a value of 255 (100%) is maximum volume. These CVs will accept any value from 0 to 255.

CV 128 is used for the overall volume control for steam and diesel Tsunami decoders. The Tsunami decoders leave our factory with CV 128 set at 192, which translates to 75% volume. CV 129 controls the whistle or horn volume. CV 130 is for the bell, and CV 131 controls the exhaust, diesel or steam chuff. CVs from there become model-specific. You can reference the lists of specific sounds in the respective Steam and Diesel User’s Guides.

After learning the array of sound effects available in each decoder, it is time to adjust the sound volumes. By setting CV 128, or overall volume, to maximum level immediately, it diminishes the effectiveness of volume adjustments for the different sound effects using the other CVs. To begin to adjust the sound levels, we recommend starting by turning down the overall volume to about 50%, or set CV 128 to 128. When the overall volume level is lower, the changes made in each sound effect are more audible. Once the adjustments have been made to customize the sound, the overall volume can then be raised to desired levels, and all volume adjustments will be raised equally.

Customizing sound volumes can be used to match prototype locomotives. Late in the heyday of steam, many locomotives were much too large for one crewmember to shovel coal. For example, a Union Pacific Big Boy was equipped with a coal stoker, so set CV 148, volume control for sound of coal shoveling, to a value of 0 to eliminate that sound effect. This way, Fireman Fred will not be worn out by the time the train leaves the yard!

Another example of using volume levels is to customize a locomotive to match the prototype can be found on George’s Mopac layout. Adjusting an EMD SD40-2 non-dynamic brake equipped loco is easy. When these locomotives were in a consist with dynamic brake equipped locos and the dynamic brakes were applied, the prime mover on the loco in question still followed the railroad’s practices by ramping down to idle. By setting CV 133, volume control for dynamic brakes, to a value of 0, this will turn the dynamic brake fan sound off, eliminating that sound effect. To control the prime mover, set CV 116 to 103. (7, auto-notching at 7 speed steps, +32, auto start enabled, +64, EMD dynamics runs prime mover to idle =103). This will allow the locomotive to drop to idle, as was the practice, but it will not play the dynamic brake sound when activated. This is effective when consisting locomotives using advanced consisting.

Using sound mixer CVs, you too can customize your locos to act more like their prototypes and get great reactions from your friends and operating crews!

SoundBytes XIX

Jarrette is back at work following the birth of his daughter. Some of us are thinking that he is only here for time to sleep!

In this edition, we will look a little at our 20 years we have been here serving the model railroading community. We will also be featuring “A look back at SoundTraxx’ history” segment as well as 20th anniversary specials to celebrate this year.

20 Years In The Model Railroad Community:
SoundTraxx’ corporate entity, Throttle Up! Corp. was started in Pocasset, MA in late 1989. Our first product was the Hyperlight, introduced and shipped in January of 1990. This was the first lighting module using a microprocessor to control which lighting effect the modeler rather than purchasing different circuits. The Hyperlight is still evident today in our products recreating brilliant lighting effects on our Tsunami line of decoders.

In 1991, SoundTraxx introduced the D220-IR, a diesel layout sound system. This was the first sound and throttle system to incorporate wireless control. Next year, the S220-IR steam sound system was released, and was the first sound system to offer a ‘playable’ whistle.

In 1994, SoundTraxx moved to Broomfield, CO, a suburb of Denver. Then in 1996, we were proud to release the DSD-2408 Digital Sound Decoder for steam. This decoder was the first DCC decoder to be integrated with sound and lighting. This was also the first decoder to offer DDE (Dynamic Digital Exhaust) and introduced polyphonic sounds. No longer would one sound interrupt the playing of another sound. Next in 1997, we introduced the DSD-050 and DSD-150, smaller cousins of the 2408.

In 1998, SoundTraxx moved to Durango, CO and purchased new SMT equipment allowing us in 1999 to introduce the ‘LC’ series of decoders, the first DCC sound decoders available under $100. In 2001, we moved to our current 6100 sq. ft. home in the Durango Tech Center. In 2004, Blackstone Models was created. In 2005, the first 16-bit Tsunami steam decoders were released and in 2008, the diesel versions were released.

SoundTraxx is proud to manufacture all of our Tsunami decoders here in our facility in Durango, CO, USA. SoundTraxx employs a full-time staff to assemble, test and package every decoder that we build here. Our customer-service department will do everything we can to ensure your enjoyment. We have had 20 years of innovation and helping make our hobby more enjoyable and fun, and we are looking forward to the future. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our longevity and enjoyment in the hobby.

New Product Announcements!At SoundTraxx, we value our customer’s opinions. We take every call to heart with suggestions to help make the model railroading experience better for everyone. As a result, we have added to the Micro Tsunami product line-up. We have added the EMD 645-Turbo (p/n 827002) and the EMD 710 (p/n 827003) to the TSU-750. We are also proud to announce a new sound added to the Micro as well. This is a GE ‘Center-cab’ Cummins diesel prime mover (p/n 827014), ideal for GE 45-tonners, ‘center-cab’ switchers and other light industrial switchers. These new sounds will be shipping soon!



For our Blackstone Models line, you now have a chance to voice your opinion to us as well. We are conducting a survey about possible future products. The survey is linked from our homepage, http://www.blackstonemodels.com/ . Please take the time to help us plan out future releases.

SoundBytes XVIII

SoundBytes XVIII

In this edition, we will look ahead at some of the exciting news from Blackstone Models. We will also see how our Tsunami can be used with an actual functioning brake!

Blackstone Models:
Next week, assembly will begin on the drop-bottom gondolas. We have received the decorated samples here to view and approve. These cars will look great and we are excited. We are close to being sold out on most of these cars. Be sure to get your orders in quickly before they are all spoken for!

We have been getting many pre-orders for the K-27 re-release that we have scheduled for this summer. A sample of the 458 is here at the offices, so we wanted to share it with you. All of these models will be equipped with the top of the line Tsunami dual-mode DCC sound decoder already installed. In addition to the K-27, we will be ordering the K-27 snowplows and doghouses as well as a limited number of the K-27 drawbars for sale when these all arrive here. If you are interested, please place orders for these items with your dealer.
The tank cars,









Passenger cars,
and the C-19 model designs have been approved and have now gone to the tooling department. Hopefully we will see samples of these here before long.

Tech Tip:
Tsunami has many features built in to help your locomotives and your railroad operate as close to the prototype as possible. Included in this is the ability to have the brake squeal sound play at the press of a button. But, did you know that you could actually turn this sound into a functioning brake? Using some programming, your locomotive will be able to slow down without touching the speed knob. This handy feature is great for switching yards or industrial areas. Let’s see how to do it.
To start, put some momentum into CV3 and CV4 for realistic acceleration and deceleration. We typically enter a higher value for deceleration, so for this example, we will enter into CV3 a value of 25 and into CV4 a value of 100. This means that the loco will take a while longer to slow down than speed up using the throttle knob. CV 61 allows the brake squeal function to actually apply the brakes. Values above 128 detract from the value in CV4 and allow the locomotive to slow down quicker, like the brakes are applied. To figure this, the value above 128 – 128 will determine the value subtracted from CV4. For this example, we will set CV 61 to 178. (178 – 128 = 50; 100 – 50 = 50) This will then set the brake rate to 50, when the brakes are applied. If we wanted it faster, we could set CV 61 to 203. (203 – 128 = 75; 100 – 75 = 25) The actual values are up to you, but understanding how these work will help you while implementing it.
Setting lower values into CV 61 will add to the deceleration rate, simulating a heavier train. So numbers less than 128 will add to the value. For example, if CV 61 is set to a value of 78, using the previous set deceleration rate of 100 would give us a much longer slowing rate of 150. (128 – 78 = 50; 100 + 50 = 150)
Either of these effects would only take effect when the brake squeal sound (Typically F11) is played, and in turn, the brakes are applied, so the normal rate set in CV4 is the slow rate when using the speed knob turned down to 0. Applying the brakes will stop the loco without touching the speed knob. Setting CV 61 set to 0 or 128 disables this effect. The default is 0.Using this feature will allow more precise spotting of cars, or coupling the trains together. This will also work well in a club setting if the train on the main in front of you suddenly stops. (As was common in George’s old RR club in Dallas!) After practice, this will become one of the most used features in your Tsunami decoder.