Virtual Sound Decoder

trainsdownunder · July 14, 2013, 03:39:47 AM

Came across this whilst browsing. Haven't looked further, but didn't know if anyone else had tried it, as I was totally unaware that it exsisted.

Part of JMRI Decoder Pro, so open source and could be the answer for many of us who don't feel able to handle surgery on our tiny locos.

http://youtu.be/-Tgzz72Y0ao

I'm sure this could become a hot topic and useful addition to N gaugers if suitable. Here's hoping.

Chatty · July 14, 2013, 07:03:31 AM

Thanks for posting.

Very interesting. Is this the way of sound in the future I wonder.

Kind regards

Geoff

steam-driven boy · July 14, 2013, 08:15:11 AM

Hi,
There was a guy developing a system around more of a hardware basis, which looked very promising for my poor 'puter illiterate brain as, although the sounds were stored on a 'puter they were accessed by equipment more in keeping with my puny understanding of old fashioned physical elements.
For myself, if I'm confronted by multiple jargons and multiple screens having to be opened my technophobic self starts blanking out rapidly.
Here's a starting point for his system on YouTube, there are three more, increasingly sophisticated demos you'll be able to follow links to if you click the "watch on YouTube.com" button:

DC Loco And Layout Sound
He did start a topic on another forum for this, but in my view was harshly treated by some who seemingly needed to deride his efforts as a form of 'defence' of on-board DCC sound systems, pity really as he was simply offering a potential alternative to 'puter 'phobes such as myself.
I've not seen anything more about the 'Brit' system since, and I'll be trying a generic under baseboard system as mentioned in my layout topic, with this method:
http://www.rightangle.co.uk/havertonjunction/sound1.html

Regards, Gerry

Tom@Crewe · July 14, 2013, 08:30:15 AM

Very interesting - my only initial question is what if you are running a diesel and steam loco together?

steam-driven boy · July 14, 2013, 09:06:52 AM

Hi Tom,

Quote from: Tom@Crewe on July 14, 2013, 08:30:15 AM
Very interesting - my only initial question is what if you are running a diesel and steam loco together?

I'm pretty sure that the JMRI system interfaces with DCC systems so should be no problem, although I'll be happy to be educated otherwise by those in the know

The two methods I've posted on are purely for DC systems , so are constrained by the usual requirements of that. On my layout there are passing loops at the station so I'm thinking it should be possible to switch between those as a means of holding each loco on the same line using the usual isolating sections. I will need separate decoders for each steam/ diesel/ electric type of course, but it should be fairly straight forward in terms of adapting conventional DC operation

Regards, Gerry

trainsdownunder · July 14, 2013, 09:23:32 AM

QuoteVery interesting - my only initial question is what if you are running a diesel and steam loco together?

From reading and looking at the initial files at JMRI. It doesn't matter as the sounds are allocated against a loco address. I may be wrong but have since found these other bits of info.

http://youtu.be/sWm0YIzXSfM

More info here http://blog.chfrrailroad.net/2011/08/12/virtual-sound-decoder-for-jmri/
http://ehc.ac/p/jmri/patches/860/?limit=25

Lot of posts here [url]http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?21961-JMRI-Virtual-Sound-Decoder/page8&s=1f2f16230408b58f75ab41f89e085dc7]http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/package/jmri/jmrit/vsdecoder/VSDecoderFrame.shtml9/url]

Lot of posts here [url]http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?21961-JMRI-Virtual-Sound-Decoder/page8&s=1f2f16230408b58f75ab41f89e085dc7

It looks like there is some work done. So now it's all down to more looking on the "Wibbly Wobbly Web" to find out .

This definitely looks like one to follow.

trainsdownunder · July 14, 2013, 09:31:10 AM

found another video using VSD

http://youtu.be/04RHOqRbt_E

tim-pelican · July 14, 2013, 10:27:50 AM

I had the JMRI VSD working out-of-the-box in about 30 seconds flat on the Mac (large, and far away from the railway). Unfortunately, after days of fiddling, I can't get it work on the laptop (Windows or Linux) or the Raspberry Pi (Linux). OpenAL and Java seem to be a bit of a nightmare combination

That said, it did seem to do what it says on the tin (on the Mac, at least), I have little idea how close to any prototype the supplied demo sounds are, or how easy it is to roll your own.

trainsdownunder · July 16, 2013, 02:15:43 AM

Had a further look at this and whilst okay, my first findings are that for most getting started or interested in this, it is going to be a struggle. I found very little info with no help files of any use to a newbee.

As I feel sure it is something that DC'ers will also find useful and applicable to their layouts I'm going to try and find out more. Let's face it guys we all would like some sort of sound and this system is free provided you have a PC.

So, does anyone know of a guide or such like that we can link to.

I know JMRI scripting can be a bit daunting

, but there must be a start point somewhere.

I hope this just doesn't become another item that is great for geeks, but others miss out on. Our hobby needs to be able to be understood and followed by everyone interested.

A bit like asking for directions when travelling - No-one really likes going onto user groups and looking a bit dim.

However I am tempted to play the "dummy"

on this one to see where I get.

Stage 1- I've joined the Yahoo Group.

Stage 2 - Today will post first question.

Stage 3 - let you lot know what happens as soon as

Mark K · July 16, 2013, 08:03:57 AM

Don't feel daunted by the JMRI Yahoo group. It exists at several levels of knowledge from the raw basics to more advanced and the more geeky stuff happens off group anyway. So ask away and I'm sure you'll get a good response.

Mark K

Robin2 · July 16, 2013, 08:09:26 AM

I have done a little experimenting with sound files on my PC and it is easy to use the PC to cause the sound to pan between a pair of stereo speakers. The PC can also vary the "chuff" rate as the throttle is increased or decreased, and, perhaps fade the sound to give the impression of a loco disappearing into the countryside.

I am planning to use some LDRs (Light Dependent Resistors) to identify the approximate location of the train and use that to guide the panning process.

From listening to sound equipped locos at exhibitions I don't think even at O Gauge there is room for big enough on board speakers.

...R

trainsdownunder · July 16, 2013, 09:24:54 AM

Quote from: Mark K on July 16, 2013, 08:03:57 AM
Don't feel daunted by the JMRI Yahoo group. It exists at several levels of knowledge from the raw basics to more advanced and the more geeky stuff happens off group anyway. So ask away and I'm sure you'll get a good response.

Mark K

Wasn't trying to imply anything nasty about the group or levels of response (I started with my first question on the MERG group with "What do I need to buy for DCC ?" and received nothing but great advice). It was more a case of the help files seem sparse on info for people to have an initial play/experiment, which what I feel most would like to do. I am sure the help will be there, similar to here, it just seems hard to find that starting point and I would hate people to be discouraged by this.