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combined to bring you
There could be few better combinations for DCC onboard sound than the superb locomotive control qualities of ZIMO decoders with authentic UK locomotive sound programmed for realistic operation; welcome to DigitrainSound.
The range of locomotives' sounds offers a wide choice of diesel and growing range of steam options.
Any of our available "ZS" soundfiles can be loaded onto any of the current Zimo sound decoders. These presently include MX 644, 645, 646, 648 and 695 types.
To see the "ZS" soundfiles available now please click here
Coming on stream now is our unique range of Multidrive sound schemes. These have selectable different sound sets for your chosen loco type all loaded onto the same chip. For diesel locos you can choose between subclass variations or choose whether you want manual or automatic notching up and down of engine sounds. For steam there can be differences in the sounds of a lightly or heavily loaded engine or perhaps a choice of loco condition with leaking or non leaking cylinders. It all adds up to more choice and value from your sound decoders and more control at your fingertips.
Digitrainsound Zimo Multi-Drive Sound Projects
Thank you for visiting the DCC Sound section here at digitrains.co.uk; we try harder to provide you with the very best sound projects available.
All of our Zimo Multi-Drive sound decoders are accompanied with detailed notes which have been produced so that you may obtain the maximum satisfaction from your new Zimo sound decoder.
What is Multi-Drive?
This is a system developed exclusively for us by Paul Chetter, a regular contributor to Hornby Magazine on DCC sound related issues. You may have met him on the Hornby Magazine stand at model railway exhibitions. The sound recordings used were either made by Paul himself or provided by other members of ukdccsounds@yahoogroups.com and Zimo-DCC@yahoogroups.com
The decoders have been programmed in such a way that you, the user, may change the way that the sounds respond to your driving style or needs. This avoids the need for reprogramming and all the additional costs that would bring.
Each of our Multidrive soundfiles has its own set of ‘Multi-Drive’ features; Steam projects usually provide ‘heavy train’ and ‘light loco’ options, Diesels usually give alternative diving styles,’ automatic’ or ‘manual notching’. All of them are packed with a variety of sounds from the actual locos featured.
For those Diesel loco types that have not yet been offered as Multidrive or Notching sound schemes these are driving tips to suit how they work best:
Throttle Response Scheme, driving tips;
As supplied, the decoder will produce the sounds of your chosen locomotive type
Use F1 to switch on the sound. After the start-up routine the loco will stand with the diesel engine, the Prime Mover (PM), ticking over at idle.
When your installation is complete we suggest that you run the loco on 128 speed steps and note the steps that the engine revs increase each time to their next level. The different loco types will have different thresholds
The sounds will respond to the throttle control in the following way:
Select a speed step between 1 and your first ramp up. The brakes will release, the PM will increase power to get the loco moving, and will then spool down back to idle. This is entirely prototypical, and will allow you to make slow movements or shunt your yard without the PM ‘thrashing’ all the time.
Speeds above ramp up 1 will result in the PM increasing in revs. This will continue at the next level until ramp up 2 when a further increase in power will be initiated. The final high speed running sounds will begin at the last threshold you noted on your test drive.The sounds will ramp down at similar points on deceleration.
Also when stopping, speed should never be dropped down any further than step 16 for a short while to allow the engine to revert to idle before stopping.
Notice the complex transitions between the sounds. It can be quite entertaining to switch between speed steps just below and just above each threshold; the sounds change dramatically but with little change in speed. This is also prototypical, depending upon gradient and load.
These sound projects are ideally designed to be used on 128 speed steps and with gentle setting off with no more than 16 steps to pull away - then up to 32 or 48 to throttle up .
If you prefer running on 28 steps then the transitions can be noted for that range on test drive and the locos driven accordingly.
With Zimo sound decoders you will get best results using good quality 4 or 8 ohm speakers such as; Loksound V4 speakers (never V3.5 which are 100 ohm) , Digitrainsound "DSS" 4 or 8 ohm, QSI and QSI HB (high bass) 8 ohm or the Soundtraxx Hi Bass speakers. Note pairs of 8 ohm speakers may be wired in parallel, 4 ohm pairs in series.