Dec 23 2008
How To - Add Realism to Your Railroad with Sound
How To - Add Realism to your Railroad with Sound
Add sound to your model railroad and add realism. Here’s how.
Some trains come with their own sound systems on board. Many older sound systems just run a continuous loop of digitized sound through the smallest and lowest cost speaker that a train manufacturer dares to include with the train. Others have taken great pride in putting the best possible sound computer chips on-board and best speakers that will fit inside the cramped space that a model train allows. These computer chips are capable of triggering particular sounds that are coordinated with the movements of the train.
It is possible to add sophisticated sound (computer) boards and speakers to your trains after they have been manufactured. The competition in this field is increasing. The results are better and better sound quality and easier installation.
Sound does cost money. The chips are expensive. The electronics boards are specialty items, usually in limited production quantities. The speakers have improved immensely especially when compared to those used in the past. Memory prices have come down, but railroaders are demanding better quality (higher sampling rate) sounds and more sounds for different situations (speeding up, slowing down, idling, ringing the bell, sound the horn, etc.) This increase in quality and number of sounds usually takes a larger capacity memory chip and therefore costs more money. The speakers must be designed to operate in very tiny quarters, with little physical volume, mass, or exposure to the air, to push the airwaves and make sound.
Manufacturers realize that sound makes such a difference (and in fact often make the sale) and are putting their best foot forward for this add-on technology.
Sound engineers have a better understanding of sound works and what works in the model railroad setting. This has improved greatly over the last 20 to 30 years. The know much better how to get better results than they did before.
In addition, train control technology has grown in sophistication and can be coordinated with the right sound board and sound systems. As the train throttled is turned up the sounds are coordinated and changed accordingly. As the train sits idle on the track, the sound is adjusted for idling sounds. The control mechanism can send a signal to the bell or horn on the model train. The results can be very realistic and satisfying.
The field of railroad sound technology is making advances off the train as well. Highly advanced sound theory is being used to created small local sounds that are placed around the layout. Sound cancellation technology is being used to create 3 dimensional impression of sound as you move from one area near the model railroad to another. This way the sound of a sawmill operation can be on the same layout as a harbor sound scene without overwhelming each other. Specialists in collecting, orchestrating, producing, and delivering ambient sound now deliver numerous sound scenes on DVD’s that can go with your scenery. The good news is that properly placed low cost speakers can do the job well. The realism achieved is astonishing.
When your train comes through the scene generating its own train sounds and they mix with the local scene sound the impact is remarkable.
There’s plenty of help available including a free book and free discussion group.
Have fun!
Trainguy
