Sound for a unit that doesn't yet have any to my knowledge? (in my case, a 197)

[RWL2024]

Hi,

 

Up until now I had only owned a loco (97) and two units (800 and 158) - all OO gauge - that all have sound available and are all fitted with sound.

 

However, I've just acquired an OO gauge 197 (painted, glazed and transferred 3D-printed bodies with working headlights and tail lights on modified Bachmann chassies) and I'd also like it to have sound.

 

Of course though, there is (to my knowledge) no 197 sound file available yet, which is totally understandable, as 197s don't yet exist as off-the-shelf products - only as builds like mine (done by the previous owner in my case).

 

I'm wondering then, if anyone could tell me (possibly even anyone who makes sound files if any such people are on here) what's involved in making a sound file from start to finish?

 

As far as I understand, the sounds are recorded from real locos/units, yes (do any recording sessions need to be arranged with the operator, or can all the sounds be recorded from quiet locations near to the train?)

 

I do own two enormous wind-shielded microphones with rechargeable battery-powered phantom power supplies, and I wouldn't mind buying (a) portable audio recorder(s) if [recording videos with my camcorders with the aformentioned external microphone setups and then extracting the audio] wouldn't suffice.

 

I'm also quite good at audio editing. The bit I don't understand is how a collection of recorded and edited sound files is turned into a DCC sound file that can be loaded onto a DCC sound decoder.

 

If anyone could help me with this, I'd appreciate it a lot 😊

[Dungrange]

26 minutes ago, RWL2024 said:

if anyone could tell me (possibly even anyone who makes sound files if any such people are on here) what's involved in making a sound file from start to finish?

 

You could always try this description by @legomanbiffo

 

26 minutes ago, RWL2024 said:

the sounds are recorded from real locos/units, yes (do any recording sessions need to be arranged with the operator, or can all the sounds be recorded from quiet locations near to the train?)

 

Yes, the recording will need to be arranged with the operator.  You're going to have to get close to the real thing and then record and catalogue each sound. 

 

26 minutes ago, RWL2024 said:

The bit I don't understand is how a collection of recorded and edited sound files is turned into a DCC sound file that can be loaded onto a DCC sound decoder.

 

Specialist equipment - a Lokprogrammer if you're looking at ESU decoders.  In essence, as I understand it, you're recording each of your sounds into a 'slot' or a particular address within the memory on the decoder and then coding the decoder such that when a particular function key is pressed, the audio file that has been saved at a particular location on the decoders memory is played.

 

Edited May 16 by Dungrange

[Dungrange]

You might like to have a watch of the video in this first post, which shows why you need the operators permission (and why it costs money).

 

 

[RWL2024]

Thanks very much for the replies and links Dungrange.

[charliepetty]

On 16/05/2024 at 17:34, Dungrange said:

You might like to have a watch of the video in this first post, which shows why you need the operators permission (and why it costs money).