All of the videos on this channel only use sounds from the real world that are carefully dubbed over footage taken on the layout - until today!
DCC Sound has been a revelation for many in the model railway world for the last 2 decades - and I can see why. It offers many additional features and a whole new dimension to operating a model railway.
When done well, DCC sound is excellent. However, if done badly, its just not worth doing at all!
Because of my Custom Weathering Studio, I have had many excellent DCC sound equipped locomotives through these doors. My customers have been kind enough to let me run them on Neville Grove, and because they invariably have a high spec chip and speaker - I have been genuinely impressed and had hours of enjoyment operating them.
By comparison, running my home fleet now actually feels rather flat as none of my locos are sound fitted. I won't be converting my collection though, because the cost and time involved would be prohibitive.
However, BR Green Class 31, D5627 is a new addition to the fleet, and because I had to remove the body to gain access and purchase a DCC chip anyway, I decided to install the affordable Hornby Class 31 TTS Sound decoder.
Using the excellent "Step by Step" guidance in Issue HM 163 of Hornby Magazine, I also upgraded the speaker with a Rail Exclusive 40 x 20mm "Big Boomer" unit.
This combination packs a punch with an array of 25 functions, good sound files and a decent noise output - and all at an affordable "budget" price point. Operationally, D5627 is one of my favourite locos in the fleet since the sound install, and weathering really helps to bring the wealth of detail included in the Hornby model to life.
This video shows it in action alongside visiting 31147 in "Dutch" livery. The dutch one isn't sound fitted, so I have dubbed real world Class 31 sound effects over in the video edit. Having both together, I thought would provide a fascinating comparison, and shine a light on just how good the installation in D5627 sounds.
Sure, the difference is pretty stark - the sounds from the real world are multi layered with various notes and a very deep rumbling bass which just isn't currently possible with DCC - especially at this price point. However, the microphone on my camera doesn't do DCC Sound equipped locos justice - it seems lighter and "tinnier" than when heard in person.
My Conclusion:
I think the comparison here with real world sound is clearly unflattering to DCC Sound in terms of realsim. But this is partly down to the affordable budget of this particular setup, and the limited reproduction of its quality through the microphone on my camera.
Will I be adding more DCC Sound to my fleet? - Because the experience of operating the model railway is so greatly enriched with DCC Sound - absolutely YES! But likely only to some new locos - and probably only diesels if and when I can afford it, and, if its an easy installation I can do myself.
All my future videos will continue to have Real World Sound added at the editing stage - even when filming locos with top of the range sound installations. I'm just too much of a train noise obsessive to settle for anything else.
Of course real world sound effects can only be applied at the editing stage of making a video - long after the running session has finished! So DCC Sound will long be king for operating model railways and the enriched experience it brings.
Негізгі бет PEELING PAINT & FADED WEATHERING EFFECTS: BR Green & "Dutch" Class 31 comparison.
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