Variable speed clickety clack in caboose cupola !

[timken]

One of my projects is progressing pretty smoothly. I finally have variable speed (like the chugging) rail joint sounds in my cabooses! It got pretty involved, and the track sms files throw a lot of stupid sounds in that you've all, no doubt heard (weird thunks, clanks, etc. that I've never heard around a RR) . The only way to get rid of them was to open each wave file, and massively lower it's volume, or modify the track SMS files. I went the lower volume route, and now have very nice sounds. The annoying sounds are mp_joint1 through mp_joint12, and x_d9_random1 through 5.

I applied them both internally and externally, and it sounds very cool to have the train go by like it is on jointed rail. I've also added the sounds to a couple tenders, so now when you use the head out view, you hear rail sounds as well as the engine working.

The rail sounds were recorded in BN caboose 11411, just after the merger, an ex NP caboose. I used a portable recorder while riding with my conductor father in 1971. Putting myself back in the cupola like this is just very cool!

I've still got some work to do on these, and to install them, you have to change a line in the Wag file, along with over writing some wav files. If there is enough interest, I'll upload them.

I'm not getting anywhere with Dynamo sounds and steam plumes though.

Steve

[andyknott]

Thats a very historic recording you have there, don't loose it. Someday it might get published, or what ever you call selling it.


Good luck

[blue comet]

Steve

Please keep working on this. With all the cars, engines and visual stuff out there, the one thing very much lacking with this sim are good quality sounds.
Good luck on your project!

Bob S

[GMOF3A]

GREAT! I'm glad to hear of your progress and could'nt agree with you more on the "unknown" default sounds...I've never heard most of them and I worked for the RR...I'm excited to hear your final cut of the jointed rail sounds. Trouble Pryor was just telling me earlier that this was a possibility...and I'm glad you and trouble have stepped up to the plate on this sound thing!...Keep up the good work..I'll certainly use your formula...Thanks.

Paul Fowler k0iri@aol.com
GM&O WESTERN DIVISION

[timken]

It's coming along nicely! Problem is, I just want to listen to the trains roll by or sit in the cupola watching the scenery. I've found that after eliminating all the annoying stuff, the train sounds GREAT.

I'm using one SMS for the caboose, both passenger and external, with 7 different speed rail joint wav files. Then, a separate SMS file and another set of 7 wav's, slightly different for the other cars, external and cab . I adjusted the distance on the external sounds to 200, so you can hear it as they run by, and also in the cab of the locomotive! Something that surprised me, I tried using slightly differing sounds on each car, no frame rate hit, but not as real a sound as using the same sound on each car!

The one thing missing is getting the sound of a helper into the cupola. No luck on that score yet.

Sell, back to a nice ride! This just makes all the difference in the world, at least if your running in the jointed rail era!

Steve

[scefhwil]

Steve,

Don't the sounds of the rail joints syncronize when you get them played by different wagons? ie the triggers all occur at the same time as either Speed, Variable1, Distance_Travelled is the same?

Stuart

[timken]

Yes, they do, but.... When you are standing on the ground with a train going by, almost the entire rail joint sound comes from the ones very close to you, and this gives that effect. If you have differing sounds, either you can set the distance so several are hearable at once, and it turns into a mess, or you can set the distance so you only hear one at a time. I've experimented quite a bit on this, and have spent a large portion of my life around the rails, so feel I'm a pretty good judge of the effect.

I try to work it so about every 5th car actually has sound, this works out well without overworking the sound card. The effect is best at speeds under 30mph, where it is very convincing.

There is some difference in the way steam and diesel cabs handle sound. The rail sound works in cab and the head out on diesels, only head out on steam!

I'll probably have a beta for a few people to test fairly soon.

Steve

[scefhwil]

Steve,

Yes, it does sound as if you are a good person to judge the effects. I would like to help beta test these. I have spent alot of time in the sms files.

Stuart

scefhwil@barrysworld.co.uk