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What is Tsunami Sound?

John has a question for readers:

“I am thinking of getting into model train hobby again after several years absence. I notice many of the diesel engines are now listed as Tsunami sound along with DCC. What is Tsunami sound? Just asking. Been out of model trains for years.”

5 Responses to What is Tsunami Sound?

  • Ron Hebb says:

    Tsunami is the name of a line of digital sound decoders manufactured by the Soundtraxx company, and installed in locomotives by numerous model train manufacturers. They can also be purchased separately by hobbyists and retrofitted in non-sound models. Tsunami decoders provide highly accurate and realistic sounds to locomotives, making them sound “true-to-life”.

  • Fire1 says:

    Tsunami is a brand name of Soundtraxx Corp for their sound-producing DCC circuit boards that get installed in DCC friendly locomotives. There is a variety of companies that make sound boards.

  • J.Oscar says:

    Well DCC is a digital command control, digital control for the locomotives models.
    Previously, the locomotives is controlled by varying the voltage applied to the track. Today, the digital system maintains a fixed voltage to the rails and control of the locomotives is done by digital commands applied to the track and understood by decoders that are installed on locomotives that receiving these commands, they make the necessary adjustments to control the locomotives . Initially these decoders controlled only the motor and the lights of these locomotives DCC type. Today, these decoders can also control sound devices installed in locomotives and/or railroad models.

    The Tisunami sound decoder is one of the models available for modelers who want sound effects in their locomotives.
    In addition to controlling the motor and the light effects of the locomotives, the Tisunami sound decoder also control sound effects such as bell, horn, brakes, couplings and some others, depending on each model or manufacturer.
    These sound effects can also be generic sounds or may be specific locomotive model has been applied, such as engine type, manufacturer or type of the horn model uses the actual locomotive and many others.

    Regards

    J.Oscar from Brazil

    • John Fish says:

      Thanks for the information on my question about Tsunami sound. As stated earlier, I am interested in this hobby but since I have not had a model train since my early years, I am not up on the latest. My question now. I not only see locomotives advertised with Tsunami sound and DCC, but now seeing listings for SoundTraxx(R) and Tsunami. Okay, now what is the SoundTraxx that is listed as available along with Tsunami sound. All info is appreciated. Thanks.

      • james penglase says:

        John, Soundtraxx is the name of the company which produces the Tsunami decoders. They also have a new line called Economi. The Economi decoders are a bit smaller than the Tsunami’s, are generally less expensive and still have the same sound quality and functions. Their website is soundtraxx.com and on the site they have installation information, sound selections from various decoders and a decoder selector which tells you which decoder will work best for a specific locomotive. They also produce an on-line news letter called Soundtraxx Soundbites. Hope this helped.

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