I want to add some ambient sound to my garden railroad to help “bring it to life”. I would appreciate hearing what you’ve done.
My plan is to add music to a bandstand or coming from a pub/saloon…perhaps with crowd noise. I have my own recording studio and can most anything on the computer I.e. Looping music tracks etc.
But I’m interested in how you have actually hooked everything up…iPod? Other system? Weatherproofing? Wiring.
Thanks,
Richard
We use a combination of systems including those from QSI and VCS for cows, sheep, and telegraph, ITT for industrial diesel, Cassette player for the bandstand (the singer sounds just like Aretha Franklin), and MP3 players for the “Low Rider Train” and station and yard sounds. The latter MP3 changes tracks each time the train returns triggered by a reed switch between the rails.
I just use the “natural” sound that’s already out there: dogs barkin, birds chirpin, frogs croakin, lawn mowers runnin, cars passin, horns honkin, airplanes flyin overhead, kids playin…
Usually gets the loudest when your videoing your RR…
Thanks Ken!! That is what I’m using currently as well. Any tips on how you’ve wired all of this?? Especially the volume control when videoing?? 
Richard Mynderup said:
Thanks Ken!! That is what I’m using currently as well. Any tips on how you’ve wired all of this?? Especially the volume control when videoing??
Yeah I guess all those sounds are just like the yokels that come along and ask “what are you filming?” as the train rolls by.
On that sound question, since you got the stuff to mix/match/assemble the sound on the computer how about going the next step using bluetooth to get the sound to the speakers?
BTW there was a discussion on a forum about the VOLUME — the discussion was after the guy fried the speaker. (http://rhb-grischun.ca/phpBB3/images/smilies/3.gif)
My contribution was: the sound needs to be the same volume as if you were standing at a distance from which the object appears at X size.
Right next to an engine is considerably louder than from a distance. A sample of how that works/can work
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/6621176[/vimeo]
Some of the decoders have “tunnel” functions where the sound gets muffled. Make me smile since real tunnels generate a better effect.
Hans…great video. Thanks for sharing!! And thanks for the Bluetooth suggestion…that is a great wireless idea…
Richard
MRC at one time made a sound effects system. I bought one and it was pretty lame, so I returned it.
Indoors I have a pretty big speaker system under the layout and outdoors there are some weatherproof speakers. I’ve been known to play some train effects CD’s through these on occasion.
Many moons ago Matthew (OV) sent me a CD’s worth of recordings from the original Edaville RR when they were running Maine 2 Footers. Great steam and crowd noises. Fit right in with my RR Museum theme! I’ve also purchased several CDs of train sounds, but Matt’s collection is by far the best.
I like the idea of Bluetooth and have a though. Can those speakers have a choice of channels?
I like the idea of having various sounds around the layout and would guess that you could broadcast various sounds to various speakers.
This would be a project for someone that knows what they are doing but it would add a lot to the layout.
I am currently using a player that uses mini disks and is rechargeable. I got it at the All Scales show in Ontario a couple years ago.
I put train songs on one disk and Christmas music on another, It squeezes through a cattle car door and rides with the train.
It’s fun to have on my layout and on the club layout.
Richard Mynderup said:
I want to add some ambient sound to my garden railroad to help “bring it to life”. I would appreciate hearing what you’ve done. My plan is to add music to a bandstand or coming from a pub/saloon…perhaps with crowd noise. I have my own recording studio and can most anything on the computer I.e. Looping music tracks etc. But I’m interested in how you have actually hooked everything up…iPod? Other system? Weatherproofing? Wiring. Thanks, Richard
Richard - for a rather cost-effective solution I use two USB devices that store a minute or more of audio - the units are very small and can be connected to a repurposed set of computer speakers for amplification.
Have a look at these two articles:
http://www.trainelectronics.com/MP3_USB/index.htm
and
http://www.trainelectronics.com/USB_Sound_4/index.htm
I am using half-a-dozen of the single channel units at the Children’s Hospital layout - they have been in operation for over 3 years without any issues.
dave
David Bodnar said:
Richard Mynderup said:
I want to add some ambient sound to my garden railroad to help “bring it to life”. I would appreciate hearing what you’ve done. My plan is to add music to a bandstand or coming from a pub/saloon…perhaps with crowd noise. I have my own recording studio and can most anything on the computer I.e. Looping music tracks etc. But I’m interested in how you have actually hooked everything up…iPod? Other system? Weatherproofing? Wiring. Thanks, RichardRichard - for a rather cost-effective solution I use two USB devices that store a minute or more of audio - the units are very small and can be connected to a repurposed set of computer speakers for amplification.
Have a look at these two articles:
http://www.trainelectronics.com/MP3_USB/index.htm
and
http://www.trainelectronics.com/USB_Sound_4/index.htm
I am using half-a-dozen of the single channel units at the Children’s Hospital layout - they have been in operation for over 3 years without any issues.
dave
Dave,
How do you trigger or sequence them?
HJ - there is a single trigger input on the less expensive unit and four inputs on the more expensive one - On the Children’s Hospital layout there are push buttons on the skirt of the layout that start the sounds and whatever animation or action is appropriate.
You can also trigger them from a micro-controller or other circuit or with a relay. Quite easy to use.
The coolest part is the fact that you can find tons of sounds on the web, especially by "borrowing’ them from YouTube videos.
dave
This one, that goes in the station where the Lowrider train parks, uses the “sledge hammer approach”, quite literally.
Thanks Dave for the headup on the source of the MP3 modules. Bought 2 to play with.
