DCC Sound and Consists

[crab]

In working myself up for changing to DCC sound, one question I have is will sound work fine with a loco consist? I'm guessing both locos would need at least identical relevant CVs, e.g. acceleration/decceleration, but would the sound function need to be turned off on one loco? What happens if both locos have sound working, does it sound ok? I'm thinking mainly of 2 x LMS 3F or 4F for big coal or goods workings to replicate their practice of doubling up.

[SRman]

Sound will work fine on both locos in a consist - or even for more than two. How they'll sound to you is a matter of personal taste. You might have to actually select the sound on for each of the locos separately unless you modify the decoder settings to work certain functions (like F1) in a consist).

I have done this before with similar locos, tuned to give slight variations in the sounds, as well as mixing types that worked in multiple in real life, such as a class 33 and a class 24, as used on the Kent coast lines in the early 1960s.

To avoid them fighting each other, it is important to speed match them as best as possible. I have an old clip I did of the class 33 and 24 but they had not been speed matched properly at that time, so you could observe them fighting just a little in the video. This video is over seven years old now, and sound files have moved on a little in quality, but these are still not bad.

https://youtu.be/0E03NTZ_8yE

[Bigmet]

There's no need to consist, temporarily give the pair of steamers the same number. I don't have sound, but in order to have double headers conveniently controllable on one number I have two programme track sidings one at each of the loco shed locations.
What is helpful in my opinion is identical decoders; and in the case of sound decoders, from the same sound project source. Different designs and set ups won't necessarily match easily or at all. Been there with some sound equipped locos owned by a friend, bought without thought of double heading, and perfect matching was unattainable. That experience is about ten years out of date, so things may be better now...

[RAF96]

Depending upon the consist method, decoder make/model and controller used (and/or software if invoked), you can set up a consist that runs as one (obviously) but the sounds are controllable individually, which can allow whistle dialogue between locos if you want prototype running. Sounds can also be directional - for say HST types - with the lead end providing horns, etc and tail end providing guards noises, etc.
Unfortunately to find out which consist(s) is(are) possible you have to read the various associated famous manuals.

[Peterm]

Zimo have their own method of setting up for consist/double heading. very easy to use.

[aleopardstail]

never had a layout large enough to try a consist, curious though. am I right in thinking in effect you create a second DCC address, for the consist and that you assign others to it?

and if so do they still respond to the base address?

[Bigmet]

...am I right in thinking in effect you create a second DCC address, for the consist and that you assign others to it?

Yes.

...and if so do they still respond to the base address?

No. That's the PITA aspect. Consisting was I feel structured to suit North American operations where lash ups of three or more were not unusual, and might operate in that way long term on the layout. It's overkill for an occasional double header, which would be the regular UK use. Far simpler to just re-address one loco temporarily. Or even not bother, and use two handsets to control the pair together, I do that quite often when wanting to move a couple of locos together, on or off shed, and the like

[aleopardstail]

...am I right in thinking in effect you create a second DCC address, for the consist and that you assign others to it?

Yes.

...and if so do they still respond to the base address?

No. That's the PITA aspect. Consisting was I feel structured to suit North American operations where lash ups of three or more were not unusual, and might operate in that way long term on the layout. It's overkill for an occasional double header, which would be the regular UK use. Far simpler to just re-address one loco temporarily. Or even not bother, and use two handsets to control the pair together, I do that quite often when wanting to move a couple of locos together, on or off shed, and the like

figures, a bit like how JMRI assumes all you ever want to do is move freight wagons about

[SRman]

...am I right in thinking in effect you create a second DCC address, for the consist and that you assign others to it?

Yes.

...and if so do they still respond to the base address?

No. That's the PITA aspect. Consisting was I feel structured to suit North American operations where lash ups of three or more were not unusual, and might operate in that way long term on the layout. It's overkill for an occasional double header, which would be the regular UK use. Far simpler to just re-address one loco temporarily. Or even not bother, and use two handsets to control the pair together, I do that quite often when wanting to move a couple of locos together, on or off shed, and the like

Multiple lash-ups may not be common for steam, diesel or electric locomotives, but some of us run multiples of DMUs and EMUs. I recently ran a combination of 2 x 4 CEP, 1 x 4 BEP and 2 x MLVs when visiting a club layout. I currently have a formation of 4 CEP + 4 TEP + MLV running and also a set of three 2 HAP units. Consists do make it easier to control and change those formations at will.

[RAF96]

The most common consist/double-header is achieved by setting CV19 to the consist address on each decoder. This address is prioritised over the individual CV1 or CV17/18 address.
How this address is allocated depends upon your controller. Usually by allocating the address then adding your locos to it whereupon the controller does the CV19 change for you.
Other methods are available and some decoders allow the sound for each decoder to be operated individually and directionally.

[Bigmet]

...Multiple lash-ups may not be common for steam, diesel or electric locomotives, but some of us run multiples of DMUs and EMUs.

I have devised an alternative way for my Cravens DMUs thanks to the excessively powerful Bachmann motor units in these 2 car sets. Removal of the motor units to just one per permanent set formation does the job, and thus only one decoder required: mean streak satisfied, for the work of a little through wiring so the end cars have head and tail lights working and for all vehicles picking up.

[centenary]

The most common consist/double-header is achieved by setting CV19 to the consist address on each decoder. This address is prioritised over the individual CV1 or CV17/18 address.
How this address is allocated depends upon your controller. Usually by allocating the address then adding your locos to it whereupon the controller does the CV19 change for you.
Other methods are available and some decoders allow the sound for each decoder to be operated individually and directionally.

This is my understanding as well.

[SRman]

The most common consist/double-header is achieved by setting CV19 to the consist address on each decoder. This address is prioritised over the individual CV1 or CV17/18 address.
How this address is allocated depends upon your controller. Usually by allocating the address then adding your locos to it whereupon the controller does the CV19 change for you.
Other methods are available and some decoders allow the sound for each decoder to be operated individually and directionally.

Yes. The NCE Power Cab / Power Pro works this way and makes it very easy to form, modify or disband consists. I haven't mastered this on a friend's Digitrax system, but that's more to do with unfamiliarity than anything Digitrax may (or may not) have done wrong.