Railworks America

I'm trying to understand why an engine has no sound at idle.

If I move the throttle to Notch 1, everything sounds fine. If I go from Notch 1 to idle, it sounds as if the motor is being turned off.

This is my first encounter with such an issue. Sounds seem to give me the most trouble when a fix is needed, so any ideas/explanations should be as simple as possible.

Thanks!

Rob

It would be helpful if you told us what locomotive you are talking about.

buzz456 wrote:It would be helpful if you told us what locomotive you are talking about.

The locomotives are the SD-7 and SD-9 from Golden Age of Railroading, both of which are free downloads.

The sound is aliased to the Kuju default F-7. I attempted to change this to the Kuju default SD-40. As I mentioned, everything works fine except when the throttle is in idle.

Rob

The sound is there on the F7 at idle though right?

buzz456 wrote:The sound is there on the F7 at idle though right?

Yes, in notch 0, i.e. at idle, you can hear the engine both in the cab and in view # 2. What's interesting is notch 1 produces the exact same F7 idle sound as notch 0. It's as if the rpm doesn't increase until notch 2.

FHRob wrote:

buzz456 wrote:The sound is there on the F7 at idle though right?

Yes, in notch 0, i.e. at idle, you can hear the engine both in the cab and in view # 2. What's interesting is notch 1 produces the exact same F7 idle sound as notch 0. It's as if the rpm doesn't increase until notch 2.

IIRC most EMD prime movers don't increase in rpm until the second notch. Power is sent to the traction motors in the first notch, but at idle rpm. I think that's how it works but I'll have to double check unless someone else chimes in beforehand.

crocs4022 wrote:

FHRob wrote:

buzz456 wrote:The sound is there on the F7 at idle though right?

Yes, in notch 0, i.e. at idle, you can hear the engine both in the cab and in view # 2. What's interesting is notch 1 produces the exact same F7 idle sound as notch 0. It's as if the rpm doesn't increase until notch 2.

IIRC most EMD prime movers don't increase in rpm until the second notch. Power is sent to the traction motors in the first notch, but at idle rpm. I think that's how it works but I'll have to double check unless someone else chimes in beforehand.

You are correct.

I'd bet what's happening here is the idle rpm for the two locos is not the same. Its an easy fix.

krellnut wrote:I'd bet what's happening here is the idle rpm for the two locos is not the same. Its an easy fix.

I have noticed that idle sounds will stop after awhile for no apparent reason. My gut tells me it has to do with your new 2015 wagon sounds in some way cuz I don't recall this issue with your prior versions installed. It could just be a complete coincidence and just the result of one of DTG's updates that screws things up. I haven't tested it extensively without your wagons installed to confirm.

It goes down like this....

Today I was playing "Arrival of the thunderheads" scenario on Sherman Hill. The consist is a ES44AC on the head, followed by two SD70Ms and an SD40-2. I was playing it in cinematic trackside camera mode the whole time. Since I'm in throttled power mode the whole trip up the western slope.... no problems.

But when I come down the eastern slop, I'm in notch 0 idle and have the dynamics running. You clearly hear the engines at idle and the sound of the whining dynamics. It runs fine for awhile.... then all of a sudden you hear no sounds out of the ES44AC or the SD70Ms.... and the SD40-2 just has an idle sound with the dynamics sound missing. The only other sound I heard were my windshield wipers running on the lead.

If I exit out and resume my save, the sounds come back.... only to eventually go silent again at some point. Happens while in the cab too. Your wagon sounds keep running just fine though. Just a loco issue. Another reason I suspected your wagon sounds maybe a culprit is the sheer size and number of them. Maybe the sound buffers get overloaded after awhile and it affects other sounds. Just pure speculation on my part.

I have had this happen on at least Cajon Pass as well. I'll resume the save on SH and if it keeps happening, I'll make a video and upload it for all to see.

crocs4022 wrote:

FHRob wrote:

buzz456 wrote:The sound is there on the F7 at idle though right?

Yes, in notch 0, i.e. at idle, you can hear the engine both in the cab and in view # 2. What's interesting is notch 1 produces the exact same F7 idle sound as notch 0. It's as if the rpm doesn't increase until notch 2.

IIRC most EMD prime movers don't increase in rpm until the second notch. Power is sent to the traction motors in the first notch, but at idle rpm. I think that's how it works but I'll have to double check unless someone else chimes in beforehand.

Not always the case, as with every EMD, it means Every Model Different.
EMDs prior to microprocessor control tend to be the same with the exception of ones modified with a Low Idle Governor, which will rev the engine from Low to normal idle coming out of Neutral.
60s are a slew of different operations. I've had BN ones that typically will only come out of low idle when going to Notch 1, other conditions not withstanding (low air pressure, water temp, or cool down cycle)
UP and NS ones tend to run at normal idle all the time, and don't seem to run a Low Idle at all and don't rev on Notch 1.
70s are much the same in operation, except the majority of 70MACs I have run will rev from Neutral to Notch 1 speed out of the low idle.
75s run much like the 60s,
ACes Rev out of Neutral as well.

krellnut wrote:I'd bet what's happening here is the idle rpm for the two locos is not the same. Its an easy fix.

You are 110% correct. I changed the idle rpm in the simulation.bin file, and it worked!

Thanks again for your help Krellnut.

Rob