ZIMO MX695, Instruction Manual

Page: 43 / 61

Large-scale Decoder & Sound Decoder MX695, MX696, MX697, MX699 Page 43
A sound project is composed of…
... sound samples, schedules and CV settings.
To produce the sound of a locomotive, the sound sample contains the following components:
1)
the "main engine" or
“driving sound”
: this is the central sound, such as the chuff or
diesel engine sound, or the cooling fan (which is the key sound in electric locomotive
projects).
This "main engine" sound is the only sound component associated with a
schedule ,
which defines important properties, especially the transitions between different sound
samples in various speed, acceleration and load situations.
This schedule can only be changed in the "ZIMO Sound Programmer" ZSP, not by
CV's. However, there are numerous possibilities for
fine-tuning the main engine
sound
through CV’s
(eg relation between chuff frequency and speed, lead-chuff ac-
centuation, coasting/notching functions, etc.)
2) Other scheduled sounds (often inaccurately called background sounds): these are
boiling, draining, turbocharger or brake squealing sounds and many others; also in the
case of electric locomotives the actual primary sounds of the thyristor unit and the
electric motor.
"Scheduled" sounds - both the "main engine" and "other" - are characterized in that
the decoder plays them back automatically based on the driving situation, while the
"function sounds" (see below) are activated with the cabs function keys.
These "other" -
sounds (ie all except the "main engine” sound, see above) are NOT
played back according to a schedule; they are fully defined by CVs , and can be
modified directly by these CV
’s or CV # 300 - procedures, even during operation
(speed, load dependence, etc.). Only the underlying original recordings, that is the
sound sample or a selection of samples, is stored in the sound project (or in the sound
collection).
3) The function sounds , which are played back by pressing the corresponding function
keys includes acoustic signals such a whistles, horns, bells but also other sounds like
coal shoveling, coupler clank, lowering of pantographs as well as station announce-
ments.
The volume of each sound and whether it is “looped” (for continuous playback as long
as the function key is pressed) is
defined by CV’s
and can be modified by these
CV’s
or with the CV #300 procedure. Here too, only the sound samples of the project
or selections of several projects are predefined.
4) and 5) the switch input and random sounds are normally sounds that can also be
used as function sounds but are triggered by switch inputs or random generators.
The occasionally used term "driving sound" refers to a subset of all the sounds, namely the "main
engine" sound and most of the "other" sounds; the "departure whistle" sound for example is not in-
cluded because it is not dependent on driving data.
7.1
The “CV #300 procedures”
The term "CV # 300 - procedure" means the "pseudo-programming" of CV # 300, which allows
the modification of the currently loaded sound projects during normal operation, in relation to:
- the selection
of sound samples within sound groups (i.e. “ short whistle”) of a
“sound collection” (which has several sound samples in some of its sound groups) or
a “normal” sound project with several sound samples in specific groups.
-
the volume and the sound loop behavior for individual sounds; for example, how
loud the whislte blows in relation to the driving sound volume (i.e. chuff beats).
A convenient procedure (w/o the use of CV #300) is available with ZIMO MX31/MX32 cabs
Selecting another chuff set (if several sets are present in a sound collection):
(only possible for steam projects, not for diesel or electrics)
The following procedures are always used in the same way in spite of the flexible decoder lay-
out and different sound sample compilations. It is also worth mentioning that the sound sam-
ples can be listened to and evaluated under actual operating conditions (with the engine run-
ning), not just on the computer.
The selection procedure
is started with a “Pseudo-Programming” in operations mode (“on-
the-
main”):
CV #300 = 100 (only for steam / not possible with DIESEL engines!).
The “Pseudo-Programming” (meaning that the entered value is not really stored in memory)
has the effect that the
function keys F0 to F8 no longer actuate function outputs but instead
are now available for special tasks within the sound selection procedure. The function keys
should be set to momentary, if possible, which would facilitate the procedure. CV #300 proce-
dures must be done in operations mode (on the main), NOT in service mode!
The function key identifications (and the MX31/MX32 cab displays) shown are typical for a
ZIMO cab during the selection procedures (and for other sound adjustment procedures) but
is
analogous to the function keys of third party cabs, although the layout may be different.
The function keys have the following special
meaning during the selection procedure!
!
F0 = play : plays back the current chuff sound for evaluation; only possible with
the engine at standstill; the chuff sounds are played back automatically
when the engine is moving
.
F1, F2 = prev, next : plays back the previous or next recording stored in the decoder; the
sound file can immediately be evaluated with the engine stopped, with
the engine running the selected file replaces the currently active.
F3 = CLEAR + end : The selection procedure is stopped and the selection is cleared, that
is no chuff sound will be stored (boiling and blow-off sound remains).
F8 = STORE + end : The selection procedure is stopped with the last selected chuff set
replacing the current set.
The selection procedure is also stopped when programming anything else (e.g. CV #300 = 0
or any other value or any other CV) or by interrupting power . In these cases, the current
chuff set remains.
Such “forced endings” are also useful when the “old” sound should remain
as the current sound without first having to locate it again.
The selection procedure is supported with acoustic signals :
The
“cuckoo jingle”
(confirmation jingle) sounds when:

the last stored chuff sound is reached; use the key to scroll in the opposite direction
(F1, F2) to listen to the other stored chuff sounds,

play-back is tried (F0) but no sound sample is assigned ,
SOUND SELECTION
.
CHUFF --- SAMPLE ---
((((( play ((((( prev ((((( next
CLEAR
((((( + end ((((( (((((
STORE
((((( ((((( ((((( + end
SOUND SELECTION
.
Chuff Beat --- SAMPLE ---
((((( play ((((( prev ((((( next
CLEAR
((((( + end ((((( (((((
STORE
((((( ((((( ((((( + end
Tasten-Anordnung ZIMO MX31:
(((((
1
F0
(((((
2
F1
(((((
3
F2
(((((
4
F3
(((((
5
F4
(((((
6
F5
(((((
7
F6
(((((
8
F7
(((((
9
F8
ZIMO cab key arrangement:
(((((
1
F0
(((((
2
F1
(((((
3
F2
(((((
4
F3
(((((
5
F4
(((((
6
F5
(((((
7
F6
(((((
8
F7
(((((
9
F8
NOTE : If setting the volume of individual sounds is the main concern, it is more convenient
to use the direct CVs, see chapter "Drive-independent basic settings"; in many applications
the CV #300 procedure is therefore NOT needed.